Four Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union (ABWU) members are among over a thousand trade unionists from 109 countries participating in the UNI Global Union’s World Congress.

ABWU General Secretary Senator David Massiah led a delegation to Philadelphia, where the major conference is being held

He said the event is aimed at demanding a fair union contract for workers around the globe, but even before Monday’s discussions, several meetings were held on the sidelines.

“Discussions are centered around the changes that are taking place in the finance industry and the changes that are likely to come. The issues of artificial intelligence will be discussed in addition to the impact on climate change and its impact on small island states are all on the agenda,” he said

Meanwhile, in a monumental show of international solidarity, members of the ABWU, currently at the conference, are expected to join nearly a thousand commercial office cleaners, maintenance workers, and mechanics in a march through downtown Philadelphia to demand a fair union contract for local janitors whose agreement expires on 15 October.

The most considerable private-sector negotiation in the U.S. this year is being amplified by a historic march. 134,000 SEIU cleaners across the country are advocating for wage increases that keep up with inflation and protect vital healthcare benefits.

This global solidarity march highlights the significance of essential workers worldwide, not just in Philadelphia or the United States. It is a powerful reminder that the fight for workers’ rights transcends borders.

The World Congress is being held under the theme Rising Together