ABWU Demands $13.50 Minimum Wage Amid Soaring Living Costs
Senator David Massiah used his Labour Day address to demand an increase in the national minimum wage to $13.50 per hour, citing spiralling inflation and the economic strain on working-class families.
The General Secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU), Senator David Massiah, delivered a forceful call to action at the union’s Labour Day rally on Monday, urging the government to raise the national minimum wage in response to what he described as a deepening cost-of-living crisis.
“Our cost of living… is choking the working class,” Massiah told a crowd of union members and supporters, as he criticised the government’s failure to act decisively on inflation. He pointed to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which he said rose to 7.1% in the past year, as evidence of worsening conditions for ordinary citizens.
He said the current minimum wage of $9 per hour was insufficient and outdated, referencing higher rates in neighbouring countries such as Barbados and St Kitts and Nevis. “They are killing you and telling you that you must work for $9,” he said. “We say no to that.”
The ABWU leader called for the immediate convening of the Minimum Wage Advisory Committee, which by law should meet every two years to review economic trends and propose adjustments. “This government is not interested in seeing that you can have a good life, that you can earn a decent wage,” Massiah said.
He also criticised government ministers for what he called “empty gestures,” insisting that measures like paternity leave, while welcome, are not enough. “We don’t want five days anymore. We want ten,” he said, referencing the push for extended paternity leave provisions.
Among other proposals, Massiah demanded the creation of a Severance Protection Fund, the amendment of the Labour Code, the establishment of a national health and safety policy, and the formation of a tripartite committee involving government, employers, and unions to jointly assess the country’s economic challenges.
He accused the current administration of abandoning workers’ interests. “We need a government that is ready to do right by the people,” he said, urging marchers to continue demanding justice beyond the day’s rally.
As the crowd prepared to march through the streets of St John’s, Massiah declared: “Tell them to stop squeezing you… We are seeking a minimum wage that can help you do all you can for your children, without having to beg.”
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Blue don’t ever give up. Chuh
this is is fair. Minimum wage should keep up with inflation as well. As long as its not an increase way in excess of inflation no one can complain. Business and gov revenues have already increased significantly with inflation.
Definitely. Cost of living is ridiculous and don’t even mention the unregulated rent. People working for current minimum wage cannot afford to live and the job market is trash. Employers are taking advantage of job seekers by offering the bare minimum and sometimes below fair compensation. I know of a business still trying paying qualified, college educated individuals $1800 a month. Shame!