ABWU Condemns PM Browne’s Recent Attempts at Union Busting
Prime Minister Gaston Browne continues to be deceitful about the Government’s willingness to properly resolve the LIAT 1974 Ltd severance matter. At a recent ceremony to mark LIAT 20’s inaugural flight, Browne falsely accused the Antigua & Barbuda Workers’ Union of stymying efforts to bring about a resolution.
Browne also reiterated his plans to bypass the workers’ legally recognised bargaining agent, in an attempt to coerce workers into accepting the Government’s latest offer of 32% of severance.
The Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union reiterates its position that no fair and reasonable settlement can be reached without genuine dialogue that involves the Union and the workers they represent.
Since the collapse of the airline in 2020, the Government and court-appointed Administrator have turned a deaf ear to the numerous calls for dialogue made by the Union.
Instead, the Gaston Browne Administration has been relentless in its attempts to bully workers into accepting an inferior offer that was unilaterally decided upon by his Government. Why is the Browne administration so vehemently opposed to meeting at the negotiating table with the workers’ representative?
We wish to remind the Prime Minister that the workers’ right to representation is enshrined in our local laws and protected by the International Labour Organisation Convention No. 98 of 1949, which asserts the workers’ Right to Organise and to Collective Bargaining. Attempting to engage workers directly and ignore their legally recognised representative is unacceptable!
The Prime Minister ought to be ashamed of himself for being the principal advocate for such disgraceful, union-busting tactics in what is supposed to be a modern, democratic country.
Every progressive society in the world is one where workers’ rights to collective bargaining are protected and unions are seen as partners in development and not “impediments” as the Prime Minister has described the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union. No amount of insults, threats or disingenuous maneuvers can subvert the workers’ right to representation at the negotiating table.
The Prime Minister’s recent pledge of 10 million dollars by year-end towards supporting former LIAT staff is nothing more than a rehashing of his Government’s so-called “compassionate offer” which was overwhelmingly rejected by the workers.
This disingenuous offer appears to be an attempt to prey on vulnerable and desperate workers, and ultimately manipulate them into relinquishing their rights to a fair and reasonable severance settlement. It is shameful and disgraceful for a government to treat workers in this manner!
Sadly, though not surprisingly, this Government’s anti-worker posture has continued into this new era of LIAT 20. We are aware that staff who transitioned from the former entity are subjected to rates of pay that are below industry standard, and in some cases earn as little as half of their previous salaries.
These workers have been twice violated by a brutish administration. These moral and economic atrocities are precisely the reason that this government has gone above and beyond to exclude the Union from the entire process. We call on the government to make available for public scrutiny, the full details of its agreement with Air Peace. This government has had a long history of entangling the nation in disadvantageous arrangements with private entities.
The Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union maintains that the workers of LIAT 1974 Ltd and Caribbean Airport Services (CAS) – a subsidiary of LIAT – have a right to their severance! No legal maneuver or ill–will can suspend that right. It is ironic that the Prime Minister, in his latest comments, would have purported that his Government believes in “fairness and equity” when his actions demonstrate the opposite. Where is the fairness and equity in dispossessing workers of their severance entitlement? Where is the fairness in dictating that the workers must accept a minuscule fraction of their severance? Where is the fairness in shutting out the workers’ representatives from the process? We insist that the workers deserve a better deal!
This offer of 32 % of severance does not even take into consideration the diminished value of each dollar due to skyrocketing inflation. The former workers of LIAT 1974 have been subjected to unimaginable hardship and contempt by the government, simply because they remain firm in asking for what is fair and right. We insist 32% of severance MUST NOT be the final settlement.
The Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union calls on the Prime Minister to respect the workers’ right to severance and representation. Respect for these fundamental rights will provide the common ground for the workers, the Union and the government, to reach a fair and final settlement on this issue.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
He’s trying to turn antigua into a communist country!
El commando!
El dictator!🤔☹️
Is it Union busting or is he honouring the Antigua and Barbudan obligations as a share holder of the now defunct LIAT 1974 Ltd. The former workers of that organisation need to make up their minds as to what they have to do to move on with their lives.
Lardah de geriatric Senator belly…sorry GUT, so big?? Where are the YOUNG PPL lovell and pringle promised to appoint 25% to the Senate so long???? LIES, LIES, LIES, LIES.
George “STEEL FRAME” Walters mussa turn over in he grave. Ungratefulness to Papa Bird and betrayal worse than witchcraft!!!
Well sah….a walk a fool off de liat workers dem…..what a wicked entity!!!!!!
The unions across Antigua & Barbuda are In place to protect workers rights, pay and conditions. Gaston Browne knows this, but yet he wants to be an ever present union buster.
This man is hellbent on destroying hardworking Antiguans their rightful place in wage rises and wage negotiations.
Yet, this “deracinated” (😁) Prime Minister looks out for the destructive rich building hoteliers (who are now trying to take-over adjacent public beach spaces as well).
But what is Gaston Browne’s main focus?
To destroy the major unions that want to protect and serve Antiguans now and their future wellbeing.
AN UTTERLY DESTRUCTIVE AND UNGODLY HUMAN BEING …
Here come the name calling ABLP crackpots that will focus on name calling, but WILL NOT address what I’ve actually written.
Innnn 3, innnn 2, innnn 1 … Antiguans we have lift-off 🚀
ALL SYSTEMS GO!!!
You are a very sad and troubled person. There has never been anything constructive from you. Seem like you have been hurt by your DADDY.
@rovi…maybe “brixtonian” doesn’t know his daddy…..but maybe you’re right….he seems sad and in need of a hug.
I hope the Union keeps the same energy when it comes to hotels and their games with staff..
keep what same energy??? This quasi-union is known to be in bed with hoteliers……..
And @ Rovi goes on to prove my previous point on the ignoramuses that follow Gaston Browne.
@ Dave Ray, help your fellow ABLP supporters out. Teach them how to debate properly, my adversarial friend. 👍🏾
Maybe the PM doesn’t want to come to table with you because whatever is discussed will be used by the union for political mileage publicly. It’s a waste of time really.
We are tired of reading this same thing. And if UPP we’re to get in power (yeah right!) they too would be unable to pay any 100%. .
Bad advice from union. Y’all making the workers suffer more. They never heard about bird in hand I guess.
Has our union written to the other regional government shareholders? It wasn’t an Antiguan company. Y’all fraid Mia? Go and ask her to pony up some
Comments are closed.