CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
Paula Lee Tells Workers to Confront Digital Disruption With Persistence and Solidarity
Standing before delegates gathered for the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union’s 58th Annual Conference, guest speaker Paula C. M. Edwards-Lee invoked a simple image: a drop of water striking a rock. With enough time and persistence, she said, even the hardest stone changes.
Her message to the hundreds of trade unionists assembled was clear — as artificial intelligence and automation sweep through industries, workers and their representatives must persist, adapt, and refuse to be worn down by the speed of change.
Edwards-Lee’s feature address was delivered under the theme “Technology and Solidarity: Navigating the New Workplace.”
She warned that while digital tools and AI hold promise for productivity and innovation, they also threaten to upend traditional jobs and expose gaps in worker protections if left unchecked.
“The rock may seem immovable,” she told delegates, “but continuous effort, like water, will shape it.” The metaphor captured her call for unions to apply steady pressure on policymakers and employers to ensure technology works for people, not against them.
She urged unions to lead the way in re-skilling and education so that workers are not displaced as industries digitize. New tools, she said, should not only benefit businesses but also equip ordinary employees with opportunities to grow.
Edwards-Lee stressed that embracing innovation does not mean abandoning vigilance. “Change is inevitable,” she said, “but it must not come at the expense of fairness, dignity, and human rights in the workplace.”
Echoing the conference’s theme, Edwards-Lee described solidarity as the backbone of labour movements both in Antigua and abroad.
She said collective action remains the most powerful safeguard against exploitation in an age where digital platforms and remote work can fragment and isolate employees.
Her address resonated with delegates from across the Caribbean, who have faced similar debates about how unions should respond to automation, gig-economy jobs, and shifting employment landscapes.
The opening ceremony also included greetings from regional and international affiliates, cultural performances, and reflections from union leaders.
But Edwards-Lee’s feature address stood out for its blend of warning and encouragement.
She urged delegates not to shy away from the challenges posed by rapid technological change but to meet them with persistence, cooperation, and faith in collective strength.
Like the drop of water shaping rock, she said, labour’s influence grows through steady, united action.
As the conference moves into its working sessions this week, Edwards-Lee’s call for resilience and solidarity is expected to frame discussions on industrial relations, worker education, and strategies to secure decent work in the digital age.
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
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]
