Minister of Labour the Honorable Attorney General Steadroy Cutie Benjamin along with the Labour Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner held discussions with members of the Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority ABAA Management team and it’s Legal Representative along with Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union and ABAA employees.
The meeting which took place on Monday 16th December at the Ministry of Legal Affairs sought to address the ongoing negotiations that have been paused between employees bargaining agent AWU and the Management of ABAA.
The Legal Representative of ABAA Hugh Marshal presented his case on his client behalf while, Chester Hughes Deputy General Secretary of AWU shared information on the employees’ behalf.
After hearing both sides the Attorney General the Hon. Steadroy Cutie Benjamin concluded, “that it is obvious that both parties are interested in coming to an amicable solution and must follow the right channels in order to do so.”
It was agreed by all parties present that the matter will be submitted to the labor department, where negations will continue. The first preliminary meeting will be held on Friday December 20th at 10.30am.
Benjamin concluded that workers at the V C Bird international Airport are essential workers and before any strike action is taken, there are legal procedures which must be followed before such actions are taken.
He added that any negative action, has a way of impacting negatively on the nation’s economy, and once the matter can be addressed, it should be done in a professional manner where all parties can come to an amicable solution that benefits everyone.
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INJUNCTION – ILLCONCEIVED IDEA – ADMINISTRATIVE BUFFOONERY
Whether so legally advised by ‘…an attorney’ or a ‘…Management Harbored Idea’ in addressing the employees ‘…Go Slow,’ over extant negotiation grievances may have been ‘…an Ill-Conceived Idea.’
This would have been borne out in the reported declared intention to have the Judiciary visited upon the aggrieved employees by way of ‘…an Injunction.’
Knowing or not knowing that the matter seems to have been ‘…purely industrial,’ and capable of being amicably resolved with discussions with all participating stakeholders, suggested a ‘…grave lack of managerial, communication or problem-solving skills.’
This follow-up news report as to how the matter might be easily resolved, has placed Management’s idea to be seen as ‘…Administrative Buffoonery.’
Even so, commonsense appeared to have prevail with referrals to the ‘…Labour Commissioner and intervention of the Labour Minister.’
It makes one want wonder what advise was given to the workers by their union. Was all fair in love and war or did politics get involve? Will not jump to any conclusions, but the words of a certain union official on a certain radio programme gave me my answer.
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