Caribbean trade unions must fundamentally rethink how they recruit young workers and women, a senior regional labour official has warned, cautioning that traditional methods are no longer effective in an era defined by rapid shifts in communication and information consumption.
According to Antigua Observer, UNI Americas Regional Vice President Trevor Johnson issued the call during a recent regional engagement, challenging unions across the Caribbean to adapt their strategies to meet workers where they are — particularly in digital and online spaces.
Johnson's remarks underscore a growing concern among labour organisations that a generational divide is widening the gap between unions and the workers they seek to represent. With younger generations relying heavily on social media and digital platforms for information, officials say conventional recruitment drives and outreach programmes are failing to resonate.
The warning signals an urgent need for Caribbean labour movements to modernise their approach if they hope to remain relevant and representative of the region's evolving workforce. Women and youth, two demographics historically underrepresented in union membership, were identified as priority groups requiring targeted and contemporary engagement strategies.
As reported by Antigua Observer, Johnson's address highlights the broader challenge facing trade unions not only in the Caribbean but across the Americas, as labour organisations grapple with declining membership and shifting workplace dynamics in a post-pandemic landscape.
