Section 6 Worker Rights a. The Constitution specifies the right of workers to form or belong to trade unions under the broader rubric of the right of association. Unions are independent of the Government and are free to choose their own representatives. Union elections are often vigorously contested. All unions are free to publicize their views and choose policies to advance their members' interests.
Unions are free to affiliate with international organizations, and some have done so.
Strikes in both public and private sectors are legal if efforts by the Government to resolve disputes fail. Strikes, as well as slowdowns and total work stoppages, do occur from time to time. In 1992, there were disputes between two unions over representation in the electricity company, Lucelec, and in some hotels. The industrial disputes were resolved after the Labour Ministry conducted polls of employees to determine which union had collective bargaining rights. Because St. Lucia does not have trade union recognition legislation, the polls were done based on past practice rather than on local labor law.