VETERAN trade unionist, government Senator Kavan Gayle, has been elected to the executive board of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).

This is the first time a Jamaican has been elected an executive member of the ITF.

Headquartered in London, the ITF is a democratic, affiliate-led federation recognised as the world’s leading transport authority.

who is president general of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU), was appointed on October 17 during the ITF’s 46th Congress held in Marrakech, Morocco, from October 13 to 19.

In a release last Thursday, highlighting the achievement, the BITU said the historic election was a “momentous occasion for the Jamaican labour movement and the nation at large”, as it pointed to Gayle’s long-standing dedication to negotiation and advocacy on behalf of workers’ rights and benefits locally and globally.

“The ITF World Executive Board sets the strategic direction for the organisation, shaping policies that seek to secure fair treatment, safety, and rights for transport workers worldwide. This election not only amplifies Jamaican representation on the global stage but also strengthens the Caribbean’s voice within the international labour movement,” the BITU said.

Gayle later told the Jamaica Observer that during his five-year stint on the body he intends to fiercely advocate for Caribbean transport workers.

“The transport industry is wide and far-reaching, and transport sustainably is very important. In the Caribbean, as we seek to make the transport sector more sustainable, we must recognise that it is not only an environmental imperative but also social and economic necessity. As part of the Caribbean initiative we intend to work strongly in promoting human rights and better labour standards for workers as part of the sustainable strategy,” said Gayle.

He added that he will also be working to strengthen transport workers unions across the region and focus heavily on promoting decent, safe, and healthy working environments for transport workers.

“The ITF recently incorporated a new sector — tourism — which the Caribbean is highly dependent on, so we are going to also focus on sustainability and resilience in that sector given the challenges faced with climate change,” said Gayle.

He expressed gratitude to the ITF members and highlighted the significance of this achievement for Jamaica and the Caribbean region.

“This is a testament to Jamaica’s rich legacy of strong advocacy for workers’ rights and to the dedicated efforts of our union to improve the lives and working conditions of the transport workers. I am honoured to represent Jamaica on the world stage and look forward to collaborating with global leaders to ensure fair practices and protections for our workforce,” added Gayle.

The ITF is widely recognised as the foremost authority on representing workers in the global transportation sector.

Representing more than 700 affiliated trade unions in more than 150 countries, the ITF stands as a powerful voice for nearly 16.5 million workers across sectors such as aviation, road, rail, and maritime transportation.