“I don’t think I could honestly say that I envisioned this career path when I first started out,” says Debbie-Ann Ottley, who grew up wanting to become a lawyer. She even obtained a diploma in the field in her early 20s.
But life had other plans. She ended up in the labour movement. On October 1, she will officially become the new President of the Banking, Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU)—the first woman to hold the post.
Looking back at the little girl who grew up in Morvant, she should not be all that surprised.
From as far back as she can remember, she stood up, not just for herself, but for others.
She could never remain silent when she witnessed someone being treated unfairly—even when saying nothing was much easier.
“I wouldn’t describe myself as confrontational by nature,” she tells We Life in a recent chat.
“In fact, people who know me personally would probably tell you that I am quite the opposite. I prefer to listen, understand the situation and try to find a solution. But once I believe that something is fundamentally unfair, there is another side of me that comes out.
A day on the job
We hear the term ‘union president’ all the time. But what kind of responsibilities truly come with such a title?
On any given day, Ottley deals with a smorgasbord of issues—a worker dismissed, a grievance with labour relations officers, preparation for negotiations with an employer, a branch committee meeting, or an issue that could affect hundreds of her members.
“You have to think strategically about where the Union is going, whether its finances and governance are sound, whether we are growing our membership, whether our representatives are being properly developed, and whether the organisation is preparing for changes… Above everything else, you serve.”
She doesn’t do it alone. She is backed by a central executive, general council, labour relations officers, staff, branch committees and shop stewards. Together, they see the “very human side” of the job that doesn’t always make headlines.
“Sometimes a member calls you frightened because they have been suspended or dismissed and don’t know how they are going to support their family,” she shares, adding that, “at that moment, they simply need to know that their Union is standing with them, and that everything reasonably possible will be done to protect their rights.”
A love for negotiations
Before all of this, Ottley began in labour in 2009 at the Police Credit Union and rose to the rank of branch president two years later. It is a role which she says gave her the opportunity to serve people directly.
That was when she began to understand that representation was becoming part of who she was. One of her highlights included bargaining for and successfully achieving a double-digit percentage wage increase for workers.
It taught her that good negotiation begins even before you enter the room.
“Preparation is everything. You must understand the facts, know the collective agreement, the law and industrial relations principles, and, most importantly, what the workers actually need,” she explains.
“Behind every proposal for a wage increase is a family dealing with the cost of living. Every grievance is a worker who may feel that he or she has been treated unfairly.”
Striving among men
At 42, Ottley has accomplished what many haven’t. But it wasn’t easy. There were times when she felt underestimated.
It manifested itself subtly—people often assumed she was there simply to observe rather than to lead, and she had to work harder to have her contribution taken seriously.
“I decided very early, however, that I was not going to allow it to make me bitter or cause me to question whether I belonged.”
Instead, she used those situations as motivation. She studied—pursuing a certification in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations, and an MBA in Business Administration. She also made it a point to learn from her experienced peers.
Whenever she entered a negotiation or represented a worker, she made sure she understood the facts and was prepared to defend her position. Competence became her voice—and that changed everything.
“Over time, people who initially underestimated me recognised that I could stand my ground. Eventually, the work speaks for itself,” she declares.
Leading with a difference
A former student of Success Laventille Composite School, Ottley’s proudest moments are those that don’t appear on her résumé—especially when someone says, “Thank you, this is going to make a difference for my family,” after improved benefits for members.
She is grateful to have worked alongside outgoing BIGWU President Don Devenish, whom she credits for “deliberately involving me” in succession planning and exposing her to the various aspects of leadership.
“He didn’t simply tell me what leadership was; he allowed me to experience it.”
Believe it or not, if Ottley had it her way, she would lead from the shadows.
“But I have come to understand that this position is not about me. When I stand before the media, address a conference, meet with an employer or speak publicly on a national issue, I am not there because Debbie-Ann Ottley wants attention.
“Thousands of members need their President to be visible, to be heard and to speak confidently on their behalf. That changes the way I look at it.”
When it comes to leadership, don’t expect the same old.
Her goal is to bring a fresh style to the trade union movement by raising the standard of representation, while not abandoning the principles on which trade unionism was built.
The world of work is very different from the one she entered.
Today, employees are dealing with artificial intelligence, automation, digital banking, remote and hybrid work, outsourcing, contract employment and increasingly sophisticated employers.
“We are also representing a younger generation of workers who communicate differently and have different expectations,” she notes, stating that being proactive rather than simply reacting must be the aim, as yesterday’s methods cannot solve tomorrow’s challenges.
“I want BIGWU to anticipate changes, research them, educate our members about them and engage employers before decisions are made that affect people’s jobs. If an employer is introducing AI or automation, for example, the Union should already be asking: ‘What jobs will be affected? What new skills will workers need?’”
More than a title
Outside of her corporate accolades and media interviews, Debbie-Ann Ottley describes herself as a God-fearing, humble woman who believes life should be anchored in purpose and service.
“My journey has not always been easy, but every challenge has helped to shape the woman and leader I am today. And now, as the first female President of BIGWU, I carry with me that same brave young woman from Morvant determined to make a difference. My journey is still being written,” she concludes.
