In a significant stride toward workplace inclusivity, trade union representatives across Antigua and Barbuda have enhanced their capabilities to advocate for workers of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. This development follows an intensive two-day workshop conducted on January 28-29, 2026, designed to foster greater understanding and operational competence regarding LGBTQ+ issues within labor environments.
The initiative, orchestrated by Public Services International (PSI) with collaborative support from the Rainbow Network of the Dutch Trade Union Confederation (FNV), marks a pivotal component of an extensive 18-month project dedicated to promoting equal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals throughout the Caribbean sub-region. Sandra Massiah, PSI Sub-Regional Secretary for the Caribbean, emphasized the program’s strategically focused methodology, distinguishing it from previous advocacy endeavors.
“Our current project in the Caribbean involves introspection—specifically examining dynamics within trade unions themselves,” Massiah elaborated. “We are prioritizing the education of shop stewards and union representatives to deepen their comprehension of LGBTQ+ matters and their implications in labor contexts.”
The curriculum addressed pressing challenges confronting LGBTQ+ workers, exploring practical strategies through which unions can partner with organizations to champion and bolster the community. Interactive group sessions and facilitated dialogues covered multiple critical areas: LGBTQ+ terminology clarification, identification of vulnerable groups alongside the protective role of trade unions, implementation guidelines for ILO Convention 190 and Recommendation 206 concerning the eradication of workplace violence and harassment, and examinations of discrimination, stigmatization, and intersectionality.
Participants expressed profound appreciation for the transformative experience. One delegate remarked that the workshop reinforced fundamental human rights principles, noting that “everyone, including LGBTQ+ individuals, deserves respect and equitable treatment.” Another described the sessions as profoundly enlightening, voicing optimism about integrating acquired knowledge into their respective union practices.
Representatives from major labor organizations including the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union, the Public Service Association, the Nurses Association, and the Union of Teachers participated actively. The event also featured expert contributions from Lina Bogle-Mienzer, a noted Labor Relations Practitioner and LGBTQ+ Advocate from Bermuda, and MESH Antigua and Barbuda, a dedicated advocacy and support organization for the LGBTQ+ community.