The party was established in 1949, backed by the Saint Lucia Workers Cooperative Union.

Led by Dr. Kenny Anthony, former cabinet minister in the 1979–1982 government, it won the 1997 elections, taking 16 of the 17 seats.

It lost the 2006 elections to the UWP, who had called back John Compton[5] as leader a year before - he had retired in 1996.

The Labour Party won the 2011 Saint Lucian general election (28 November 2011), winning in 11 out of a 17-seats contest and defeating UWP leader Stephenson King who had succeeded John Compton as Prime Minister (d. 2007, in office).

Former Deputy PM Philip J. Pierre was confirmed as party leader on 18 June 2016.