ABWU Wants an Administration That Respects Workers
St John’s, Antigua – 10 January 2023 – The Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU) has for several months been agitating on the issue of the National Minimum Wage. Throughout 2022, the ABWU researched and contemplated this issue in considerable detail as a member of the National Minimum Wage Advisory Committee.
We were greatly disappointed and flabbergasted by the Cabinet’s rejection of the Unions’ recommended rate of increase, and by their unilateral decision to set the new minimum wage at $9.00 per hour which represented an increase of only 80 cents on an already outdated minimum wage.
The Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union notes the United Progressive Party’s (UPP) proposed minimum wage of $10 per hour. We consider this to be a fair and reasonable rate that will allow those in the lowest bracket of the income spectrum to earn a livable wage. We also applaud the urgency with which they propose to implement the new minimum wage.
The unpleasant reality is that many Antiguans and Barbudans, Caricom Nationals and individuals from the Dominican Republic have been plunged into abject poverty through astronomical increases in the cost of living and the stagnation of the National Minimum Wage. This crisis requires swift action to bring relief to the thousands of workers who have kept our economy from complete collapse.
Further, we note the UPP’s pledge to adhere to the statutory requirement to review the National Minimum Wage every two years.
This is a matter that we take very seriously! Between 2014 and 2022, Gaston Browne and the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) Administration refused to honour this statutory requirement. Moreover, the Labour Minister repeatedly ignored our missives calling for the establishment of the National Minimum Wage Advisory Committee.
Unfortunately, it is only now – on the heels of a General Election – that discussions on a minimum wage have suddenly become a priority for the Gaston Browne Administration. By their own track record, it is evident that the ABLP Administration has no interest in the well-being of workers, especially the most vulnerable.
The Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union recognizes the pivotal nature of the pending General Elections. It is an opportunity for the nation to part ways with an administration that has repeatedly bullied and trampled upon the rights of workers.
To date, hundreds of workers are yet to be compensated by the government after they were wrongfully dismissed for asserting their right to choose what goes into their bodies. Additionally, hundreds of former LIAT workers are still languishing after being denied a fair severance settlement, and the Gaston Browne Administration refuses to entertain any dialogue with their legally recognized bargaining agent, the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union.
The United Progressive Party, on the other hand, is already demonstrating a willingness to cooperate with the Unions and an interest in addressing the issues that are affecting workers.
The ABWU believes that the United Progressive Party will be a respectful partner in labour relations; a partner that will not bully and intimidate other stakeholders in the world of work. It is on these grounds that we publicly offer our endorsement and support for the United Progressive Party as they contest the January 18th General Elections.
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90 PORT WORKERS SENT HOME BY UPP! Wilmoth Daniel spoke about it in Parliament
RESULTS ELECTION 2023.
ABLP. WIL ALL. 17 SEATS
UPP. ZERO SEAT ( 12 CANDIDATES LOSE DEPOSITS )
DNA. ZER0 SEAT ( CANDIDATES LOSE DEPOSITS)
BPM. . . ZERO SEAT
ASOT. MICHAEL. ZERO SEAT
LANDSLIDE ELECTION VICTORY FOR ABLP.
Those were the regular Ghost Workers. ALP is notorious for this and it continues up till now. After the ALP’s fall in 2004, they failed to turn up for their cheques. You should’ve asked Bill Abbott before making ’empty noise’; then again, you well know.
This DESPICABLE semblance of a “union” tried and FAILED with every tactic from their playbook to TRY and DELAY, UNDERMINE and BADMOUTH the ABLP government who put the former Jolly Beach workers monies in an ESCROW ACCOUNT. That is why the Jolly Beach workers will OVERWHELMINGLY VOTE FOR THE ABLP!
Thank you HON. GASTON A. BROWNE!!
We are definitely SAFER WITH LABOUR.
@ Hmmmmmmmm…………
……….thats assuming that you will be voting for all Jolly Beach workers. I am one of them AND I WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR LYING GASTON NOR THE ABLP, especially SAMANTHA.
You don’t love yourself
ABWU is a UPP mouthpiece, all that you said is expected. It doesn’t equate to votes though
RESULTS ELECTION 2023.
ABLP. WIL ALL. 17 SEATS
UPP. ZERO SEAT ( 12 CANDIDATES LOSE DEPOSITS )
DNA. ZER0 SEAT ( CANDIDATES LOSE DEPOSITS)
BPM. . . ZERO SEAT
ASOT. MICHAEL. ZERO SEAT
LANDSLIDE ELECTION VICTORY FOR ABLP.
St. Peter RAWDON TURNER is not in office yet and ALREADY he DEVELOPED AN ENTREPRENEURIAL HUB for YOU!!! No handouts! No gimmicks! REAL DEVELOPMENT. He not giving you fish. He is EMPOWERING YOU TO FISH!!! True legit sincere REPRESENTATION. Cast your “X” for ABLP and RAWDON TURNER on January 18th!!🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
RAWDON TURNER 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
#TogetherWithTURNER
#weTRUSThim
GRAND OPENING OF ENTREPRENEURIAL HUB IN PARHAM this Saturday!!! Let’s Gooooo ST. PETER🚩🚩
RAWDON TURNER 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
RED and REDy
You are so correct. He has not been elected and he’s already figured in some THINGS, to be identified very soon. Listen up.
Really!!? Really now?!!
Why only now on the brink of elections? Now that the ruling party is trying to squeeze him in through the back door?
Billboards been up for over a year introducing him as the ‘PARTY’S CANDIDATE OF CHOICE’ for the constituency: why didn’t he start all those things back then? They would not have needed to demolish the ‘youth man hut’ by the corner of the school fence. ‘Youths would have been benefitting for a while now with the hubs’. Perhaps all of the ‘planned’ booths along the same school fence could have been completed and commissioned, occupied and functioning.
Is joke somebody making man!!
Not everyone in St. Peter’s constituency is looking for hand-outs. Same way, not everyone in there wearing rose tinted or blue tinted glasses either. There are many people who can think for themselves, who are not fooled by this ‘sudden care’ for the ‘safe seat’.
Soo long has Turner never seen how bad it was? And as a visionary, with political aspirations, why hadn’t he stepped up and done something?
As a youngster, whom the heads seem to think that, by virtue of being a PARHAMITE, will be a shoe-in, I urge them all to remember another Parhamite who was REJECTED because he did nothing for the area and refused to help the people (nobody was looking handouts), when he was in a position to do so….if they’re too young to know, their parents and grandparents will remember. This reminder is for RED, BLUE, ORANGE, GREEN, OR WHITE… A word to the wise is sufficient!
In this enlightened age, nobody willingly tolerates rejection ‘for the children’s sake’ anymore! More than five decades of rejection, it’s time to wake up St. Peter’s… Neither RED nor BLUE has your best interest at heart!!
Suffer with labour while we the ministers enrich ourselves.
Economic poor house
Workers Union talking now? Wow! Them dey really wicked. How long we wait before they taalk? David Massiah and Chester Hughes help to close the hotel because them use to come down here for free. Wicked people.
@Bolands Vere
WICKED. SPITEFUL. VINDICTIVE. SELFISH
Chester Hughes contributed to the downfall of Jolly Beach. All kinda people and sports team stayed for free. Now that same union a try “play hero”
WIKKID SETTA PEEPLE ABWU!!!!!
GEORGE “STEEL FRAME” WALTERS would be proud
UNTIL THE TWO MAJOR UNIONS CUT THEIR TIES FROM POLITICAL PARTIES AND FOCUS ON WORKERS FIRST, THEY WILL NEVER BE TRULY RESPECTED. BOTH UNIONS SIT BACK AND ALLOW THE ABLP AND THE UPP TO HYJACK LABOUR DAY, A DAY SET ASIDE FOR WORKERS.
THE TAIL WAGGING THE DOG
Antigua Unions continue to play partisan politics, which is not good for democracy . When the party they are with in power they don’t even criticize constructively. David got on to regional and international labour organizations. As a result he said little to upset the PM of Antigua. Now it’s election season he is talking and then if Labour win because Lapdog again. On the other hand Ridley is silent,especially since Gaston promised to use his political power to replace him. Is as silent as a mouse.
Do you remember the lavish life style Chest. lived when UPP was in office. She was competing with Asot at football. Spending like a multimillionaire. Importing players, purchasing busses , paying players and accommodation too. They were lavishly in a private box at ARG. Some suggested she was bed with employers and that is where the money comes from. So the increase the employees should get she settles for a small portion of it on their behalf.
the CLOWN in the white shirt and european tie was FIRED BY BALDWIN SPENCER AND BEG BACK! Khem Riley might be small down there, but he never had to BEG BACK BALDWIN “ASHE LIED” SPENCER.
Big up to the HON. GASTON A. BROWNE! ABLP REALLY CAME THRU FOR JOLLY BEACH WORKERS! Thank you PM GASTON BROWNE. you know how to GET THINGS DONE FOR THE PEOPLE!
Gaston the Bot! We know that you’re Hmmmmm, Just Saying, Smh and many others. Your lack of confidence is showing — you’re worried about this election, amirite?
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