The party was established in 1975 by union leaders in an attempt to unify the mainly black workers in the oil industry with the mainly Indian workers in the sugar plantations.[1] However, this was not achieved successfully, and the party was labelled communist by opponents, alienating key potential voters.[1] Despite this setback, the party received 27.2% of the vote in the 1976 elections, winning ten of the 36 seats and becoming the main opposition to the People's National Movement. It saw most of its success amongst Indian voters, and despite its intentions to become a multi-racial party, effectively became the successor to the Democratic Labour Party.[1] Having started with a collective leadership, the party eventually coalesced around Basdeo Panday.
