TUCA’s 5th Congress concludes in Punta Cana, outlining path for workers

Punta Cana, DR.- The Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA/CSA) concluded its impactful 5th Continental Congress on May 17th, gathering over 400 union delegates representing 53 affiliated centrals and a collective voice of more than 55 million workers. Hosted in the Dominican Republic, the five-day assembly served as a critical forum for labor leaders from across the Americas to confront shared challenges and solidify their strategic priorities for the coming years amidst a complex global landscape.

A central outcome of the Congress was the election of the confederation’s leadership for the 2025-2029 term. Demonstrating strong continental unity, delegates unanimously elected the new executive and secretariat. Brazil’s Rafael Freire was convincingly re-elected as Secretary General, while Fred Redmond of the AFL-CIO in the United States was elected President, forming a powerful leadership duo tasked with guiding the organization through its next phase of action and advocacy.

Under the banner of “Democracy and Integration in Latin America and the Caribbean,” the Congress hammered out a comprehensive agenda addressing demographic, technological, and climate shifts. Key resolutions included a firm commitment to defending union freedom and collective bargaining rights, expressing solidarity with workers facing repression (notably in Argentina, Haiti, and Panama), calling for the elimination of child labor, and demanding equitable participation for women and youth, alongside a robust stance on climate justice.

The host country’s labor context was also highlighted. Dominican Minister of Labor, Eddy Olivares, addressed the delegates, showcasing recent significant wage increases achieved through tripartite social dialogue involving the government, employers, and local unions. He presented these raises – including substantial boosts for non-sectorized, free zone, domestic, and hospitality workers – as concrete examples of successful negotiation possible through collaboration. The Congress also recognized Rafael Santos Badía for his contributions to union rights and technical training in the Dominican Republic.

The V TUCA Congress represents a unified mandate for the confederation’s direction, reaffirming its crucial role in championing workers’ rights, fostering regional integration, and advocating for social justice. With a newly elected leadership and a clear four-year action plan solidified in Punta Cana, the confederation is poised to tackle the multifaceted challenges facing working families across the Americas.