
Browne Calls for Hospitality Workers to Form Independent Union
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has urged hospitality workers in Antigua and Barbuda to establish their own independent union, expressing disappointment with the representation provided by existing unions. Speaking on Pointe FM, Mr. Browne argued that a dedicated hospitality workers’ union could better address the sector’s specific challenges, such as low wages, poor working conditions, and a lack of housing support.
“Hospitality workers need a union that truly represents their interests—a union that is focused on securing fair wages, improving working conditions, and creating pathways to economic empowerment,” the Prime Minister said. “The current unions are failing to deliver for the people they claim to represent.”
Mr. Browne was particularly critical of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU), highlighting what he described as a lack of meaningful advocacy and financial mismanagement. He pointed to a recent wage negotiation in which the union secured only a $5-per-week increase for hotel workers.
“How does $5 a week improve anyone’s quality of life? It’s an insult to these workers who are the backbone of our tourism industry,” he said.
The Prime Minister also noted that many hospitality workers have become disillusioned with their unions, with some leaving the sector altogether due to exploitative practices and inadequate representation.
“Hotel workers are coming to us, seeking jobs in the public sector, because they feel abandoned by their unions,” Mr. Browne added.
Mr. Browne proposed that the new union adopt a cooperative model, which could include benefits such as a credit union, discounted supermarket services, and affordable housing programmes. He suggested that such a union would be more accountable to its members, as it would be led by hospitality workers themselves.
“I’m even willing to support this initiative by providing seed money or resources, including free use of facilities, to help them establish themselves,” he said. “This isn’t about politics. This is about giving workers the tools to empower themselves.”

The Prime Minister called for the union to be non-partisan, stating that its focus should remain on the welfare of its members rather than political affiliations.
“Keep the politics out of it. This should be about improving lives and ensuring equity for all hospitality workers,” he said.
Mr. Browne also addressed broader issues within the hospitality sector, including exploitative practices such as requiring workers to pool tips with management. He cited instances where companies have separated the ownership of hotels from employment contracts to avoid accountability.
“These practices are unacceptable and highlight the urgent need for a union that will stand up for workers’ rights,” he said.
The Prime Minister suggested that a strong hospitality workers’ union could also help address the increasing reliance on immigrant labour in the sector. “When locals leave because they’re not being treated fairly, it places additional strain on the public sector and forces hotels to look elsewhere for workers. This cycle needs to end,” he explained.
Mr. Browne announced that a preliminary meeting with stakeholders, including hospitality workers and trade union experts, is scheduled for next week. The meeting aims to lay the groundwork for the formation of the new union.
“As Prime Minister, I want to be a catalyst for this change. Once the union is established, it will be up to its members to lead and make decisions that benefit them,” he said.
The Prime Minister concluded by reaffirming his commitment to ensuring that all workers in Antigua and Barbuda share in the country’s economic growth. “We cannot have a situation where the economy is growing, but workers are being left behind. This new union is a step toward ensuring equity and fairness for everyone,” he said.
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It’s time to break away from the ABWU. They have gotten too big and do not account to their membership. If the annual union fees they collect is three million indeed than their is really much more that they should have been doing for their members. I guess when you’re big you think you cannot be touched. Time to take your fate in your own hands hotel workers.
The ABWU negotiated an increase of $25/Weekly, NOT ‘$5 a week’! PLEASE CORRECT.
You better keep out of politics!!! You are a pastor pickney and you should know by now that your job is to preach the gospel, not mix up yourself with Man Cow and Likkle Black Boy!
YOU SHOULD BE SHAMED! $25 a week is something to correct. Whats the difference between 5 and 25? 20$? Go way and do better
Whether a $5 a week or $25 a week increase makes no difference! This is 2025 not 1975! It’s a joke and shows how much the ABWU doesn’t care about its members and is fleecing them for millions of dollars a year while pretending to care about them. Open your eyes people, the ABWU doesn’t care about you.
Gaston you increased taxes, especially Social Security and after 3 years i still can’t get my money and my nephew can’t get his survivors benefits either. You too you wicked, love money and want see Antigua people suffer. All those persons that contributed to these statuary bodies and never claimed then died before pension age where is that money?
Gaston Brown is no different ..look how Apua a box we around With the water situration N ITS BEEN YEARS. What changes , taxes keep increasing , social security failing to pay us what we already put in , and the list goes on …what Gaston is doing about it? ..You cant get dig in ABWU funds so u bashing them. Boii oh boii.
Mr PM Browne, you’re chatting shit. In any other union, the hospitality workers get, they cannot do a better bargain than the ABWU. A union go into the hotel industry and do its best to bargain better wages and salaries for its staff. However, it would be up to the owners of these hotels to pay what the bargaining agent requested. Gaston needs to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour for hotel workers and also put into law that all 100% service charges go to the hotel workers, not a penny less, but all. There are chains of hotels on the island that poorly pay their workers and give them 25% of the service charge collected. The service charge starts at 1.0 to 1.5 service points. The union cannot negotiate the service charge because it is not part of the labour code law.
Some hotels on the island pay their staff well, including offers good service charges ranges from 2.5 to 6.0, and the ABWU is their representative.
Hospitality workers, Instead of listening to Gaston’s crap, pressure his administration to increase the minimum wage and to put service charges as part of the labour code law.
Also, it is time for the Caribbean to get their annual pay scale into law by education and skills.
George “STEEL FRAME” Walter must be rolling over in is grave. He badplay Papa Bird, breakaway and form his own union and now look at the DESPICABLE conduct of the thing he betrayed Papa Bird for…..Shame, Shame, Shame!!!
@Wharf January 20, 2025 At 1:30 am
Just for your edification Social Security is no Tax. And furthermore it is not Gaston Browne that introduce the increase. We have an independent actuary that comes here every year to look at the financial strength the funds. And it is on his recommendation that the pension age and the rate be increased in order to put the funds on stable financial footing. Social Security is like a savings. You get back what you put in it and most of the time many of us get more then what we put in it. What Gaston Browne did the other day which no one is commending him for is to increase the minimum pension to $500. Why don’t you talk about that.
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