CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
The Antigua and Barbuda Trades & Labour Union (AT&LU) wishes to bring clarification to the matter involving the security officers at Public Works.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
On 15th July 2025 a delegation of security officers from the Public Works met with Industrial Relations Officers of AT&LU, to include the General Secretary. These workers expressed several grievances in relation to their Department.
Having heard from the delegation it was agreed that the first course of action was for the Union to meet with the all of the security officers in that Department.
Consequently, meetings were arranged for 24th July, 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. respectively, at the Public Works Head Office.
The purpose of the two meetings was to accommodate the various shifts thus ensuring that every security officer was afforded an opportunity to attend and air his/her views.
The meetings were well attended and the AT&LU recorded the grievances, to include matters concerning: health and safety; renumeration; uniform; procedural issues; and the person appointed to the position of senior supervisor for that Department.
The day following the meeting (25th July) the AT&LU contacted the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works to arrange a meeting to discuss the grievances expressed by the security officers.
The Permanent Secretary agreed to meet with the AT&LU to discuss these matters but also requested an opportunity for him and his
team to conduct internal investigations into some of the matters before the meeting. The AT&LU accepted the Permanent Secretary’s request since it was not unreasonable.
Five (5) business days later a few security officers (approximately 20 in total) whether coerced or uncoerced decided to engage in protest action by withholding their labour, supported by the People’s Union. This protest action was without the knowledge or consent of the AT&LU.
Having learned of the protest action from several Security officers who had decided not to participate in such activity, the AT&LU arrived at Public Works and dialogued with the protesting workers.
From the discussion it was clear that the protest action was as a result of the same grievances previously expressed, with the main issue being the appointee to the position of senior supervisor.
Notwithstanding, the previous agreement with the Permanent Secretary, the AT&LU decided to reach out the PS Cenac once again in light of the protest action.
Recognizing that the AT&LU had previously reached out on these matters, the Permanent Secretary agreed to meet with the AT&LU Officers and a representative of the security officers upon his arrival to Public Works.
From that meeting a framework was established to address grievances, to include the grievance of the security officers.
The framework included but not limited to investigating allegations made by security officers relating to the person appointed to the post of senior supervisor; a joint meeting between security officers, AT&LU and senior officers of the Public Works to include the Permanent Secretary.
The AT&LU was also able to get the Management of Public Works to agree to full payment for the security officers who were engage in protest action notwithstanding their decision to withhold their labour.
After the meeting the AT&LU addressed the protesting workers who subsequently ceased their action. The representatives of the People’s Union were not present at that time.
As expressed by the AT&LU to the protesting workers, our Union respect the right of workers to take industrial action; provided however, that such action is in accordance with law and good industrial relation practices.
• The workers had withheld their labour on a day that was the last scheduled workday, before the public holidays (4th and 5th August), for some of the security officers.
Those security officers were at risk of losing not only payment for the day of the protest action but also for the public holidays as well;
The protest action was taken while discussions between the AT&LU and Public Works had already commenced;
• Only the Sole Bargaining Agent is authorized to adjust terms and conditions of employment through the process of negotiations;
• The protesting workers, who are security officers, abandoned their respective post without providing any form of notice of intent to the employer.
The protesting security officers informed the AT&LU that they had not been advised by the People’s Union, of the consequences of their action, especially the fact that they could have loss pay for the day of the protest and the public holidays.
While the competitive nature of trade unions in Antigua and Barbuda is a reality, the AT&LU believes that trade unions must, at all times, operate with high ethical standards, putting the workers interest before the trade union’s personal aspiration to gain membership by whatever means.
Further, the trade union has an obligation to ensure that workers are fully aware of the consequences of their actions and safeguard workers against engaging in any act that could be harmful to them or their goals.
The AT&LU always endeavour to operate in a professional and responsible manner in pursuit of its core mandate to protect and advocate for the rights of workers.
In doing so we will always ensure that the actions of workers while pursuing their goals are not detrimental to themselves or the goals being pursued.
End
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
