The National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) is facing a critical challenge: an ageing membership and a struggle to connect with younger workers.
While retirees currently make up a significant portion of the union’s ranks, its youth arm is working to combat common misconceptions and rebuild trust with a new generation.
At the NUPW’s International Youth Day forum, the NUPW Youth League’s chairperson, Randicia Kellman, acknowledged that many young professionals view unions with scepticism and see them as being “too political” or only for “agitation purposes”.
“A lot of young people see the union as just for agitation purposes — when you have issues at work, when you’re struggling,” Kellman told Barbados TODAY on Tuesday at the NUPW’s headquarters. “But they don’t see the good days.”
She noted that this perception is widespread, even among public service unions across the Caribbean.
“Across the unions, you find that retirees build up a big part of the grouping… Now is the time for us to encourage the younger people to get into the unions, build the trust, let them recognise that it is really a community.”
Kellman stressed that unions are not just for fighting workplace battles but are also a vital resource for education and training. The Youth League is working to showcase this positive side of the union movement by hosting events that highlight the benefits of membership, including support for young entrepreneurs.
She explained that while young people may not see the work happening behind the scenes, unions still fight for many of the same issues they have always championed.
Kellman pointed out that while the challenges may look different today — such as the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs, disability rights and the rising cost of living — they are rooted in the same struggle for fair treatment and economic stability.
As she put it, “The more things change, the more they remain the same. It’s good to look back, see why people were fighting and realise they were fighting for the same things we’re fighting for today.”
According to Kellman, the power of a union lies not with its leaders but with its members. “We are the ones with the real power,” she said, noting that when the general membership comes together, they are the ones who can truly drive change. She believes that rebuilding this trust and fostering a sense of community is crucial to attracting younger members.
Why do some sectors, like sanitation workers, rally more fiercely during disputes than office employees? Kellman pointed to workplace culture: workers in the field, less under the eyes of supervisors, tend to forge closer ties. “Sanitation… they are community, they are family,” Kellman said. In contrast, office dynamics may inhibit a similar camaraderie, a situation shop stewards must address.
The Youth League plans to launch recruitment drives, partner with businesses for more member discounts, and offer other incentives to attract younger workers.
However, Kellman also acknowledged that without the engagement of young members, unions risk losing the grassroots strength that is essential to protecting workers’ rights.
“The union will always be relevant. People will always — and it’s sad to say — not be treated fairly,” she said, emphasising the need to rebuild trust with a new generation to ensure the movement’s future.
(SZB)
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