The emergence of the trade union movement in the region in the 1920’s has had tremendous positive impact on the working class. Pubic sector workers have benefited immensely from that favourable outcome.

While this is so, and there has been some documentation of the achievements of the movement over the years, there is still much more that can be said to adequately record these details from a different perspective for future reference. Recognising that limitation, the Caribbean Public Services Association (CPSA), a fifty-year-old regional umbrella organisation comprising of 18 public sector unions from 15 territories.

In this historical outlook events which occurred prior to 1970, that is before the establishment of CPSA, are captured. Progressive minds at the time had the foresight to recognise that there was the need for a united approach to confront the issues affecting public sector workers of the Caribbean under colonial rule. During its short span CPSA’s predecessor , The federation of British Civil Service Association in the Caribbean Area (FABRISCA), faced several challenges and limitations. CPSA evolved as part of the mechanism to overcome these challenges.

Through faced with its own challenges, even to the point of experiencing periods of dormancy, after 50 years the CPSA continues to toil towards success. Consequently during the last decade and a half the organisation has become very active building on its achievements ever present to extend solidarity to affiliates in times of difficulty. Structures have been put in place to strengthen the CPSA by making its objective more manageable. Affiliates have made great financial sacrifices to undertake training programmes. The Association has also developed a cohort of leaders who are constantly doing research in preparation to impart knowledge to their colleagues.

The challenges posed by globalisation have changed the landscape from which public sector unions operate. But the tasks, though appearing unsurmountable, are being tackled head on.