Public schools across Antigua and Barbuda are without teachers as members of the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers (ABUT) stage industrial action over unpaid allowances dating as far back as 2018.
The protest began on Friday at midday, following a deadline given to the Ministry of Education to fully settle the arrears. Although partial payments were made, the union says numerous teachers are still owed various allowances and has vowed to continue the strike until all payments are received.
The allowances in question include travel and telephone stipends for principals and deputy principals, as well as technical and vocational coverall allowances for teachers in home economics, arts and crafts, industrial arts, pure sciences, and agricultural science.
Speaking on behalf of the union, ABUT General Secretary Casroy Charles said the issue dates back to the 2018–2024 period, with many of the payments still outstanding despite a collective agreement signed in 2023.
“Principals and deputy principals have not been paid their telephone and travel allowances,” Charles explained. “With the coverall allowances, there was a $200 increase as per the collective bargaining agreement, but those arrears remain unpaid. We’ve been in dialogue with the ministry since last year, and although they promised to resolve the matter by Friday, they didn’t.”
He confirmed that all government primary and secondary schools are affected.
The Ministry of Education had requested an extension last week to meet its obligations, but according to Charles, the ministry failed to fulfil its commitment by the new Friday deadline.
“As of Friday at noon, the full payments had not been made. That’s when the industrial action began, and it continues today,” he said. “This action will not stop until the matter is completely resolved.”
There has been no immediate comment from the Ministry of Education on the union’s latest statement.
The strike comes at a crucial time in the academic calendar, with exam preparation and classroom instruction disrupted across the country.
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Here we go again. Had I known this was going on I would have kept my child home
This man is clearly a trouble maker. You shut down a whole school system for missing payments of a few teachers? Our children are already backward. You are directly wicked.
During this time? I thought Gaston said yesterday he’s fighting for all people? So how are these people suffering for a earning? and in such a time as CXC and End of Year Exams and even Grade Six National Assessments. Shows the government don’t actually care about us.
“Speaking on behalf of the union, ABUT General Secretary Casroy Charles said the issue dates back to the 2018–2024 period”,
I would say that the union took too much damn time to stand up.
Six (6) years? Really, and we living in a powerhouse?
Antigua people really love pain.
Five years and still no allowances? I’d sit in too. That’s unacceptable.
How can we expect teachers to give their best when they’re not being treated fairly?
2018? That’s a long time to wait. I wonder how many left the profession because of this.
Where’s the Ministry of Education in all of this? Are they even listening?
You can’t build a strong nation while shortchanging the people shaping future generations.
Imagine any other sector being unpaid for five years—there’d be outrage.
Solidarity with the teachers. They deserve better. Our kids life are in their hands during school
@Teacher for life
Agreed… Parents should be backing the teachers too. Our kids are affected when they’re demoralized.
It only proves that the despicable boy is nothing but a liar. He said that during his reign, no one has marched against his administration. If ever that were true, workers have reasons to demonstrate almost everyday because of all the ignorance that are happening. The next thing should be a drive to oust him as prime minister until he is cleared of the Alfa Nero scandal.
And they paid Richie spice to perform and teachers not paid priorities are really mixed up and I’m sure they all are reading these comments but what would they care their children or child attends a private school ….. really really sad
In the greatest economy of Antigua’s history, workers are still not getting paid.
Huuumm. Now make that make sense?
The sense I make of it, is that the great sales man, Gatson Browne, has sold y’all on a bill of goods for the last 11 years now..
Open your eyes people, and stop falling for the lies. Spewing a bag of lies to people is not transparency..
This government is broke, and Gatson Browne have squandered the peoples money with bad deal after bad deal, and now he’s coming for more money from y’all to cover his corrupt Alfa Nero case.
I warned y’all that this man would be the scourge of Antigua, so keep playing.
Get him out of office, simple. His pockets are already full, so send him off to his luxury space he already secured for himself in Dubai, because this man thinks he’s too good for Antigua, and would never live here when he’s out of office, never. He will run to his safe haven in his Arab bungalow.
Yep!
101% support the hard working teachers… Government needs to stop paying lip service and pay people what they are owed…
Wow!!!I thought Gaston said on the platform on Monday that there hasn’t been any protest for pay since his government has been in office.
I guess the teachers want something other than money.
Come on you greedy teachers!!!!!
You are just trying to make Gaston look “truthful”.
The government doesn’t owe any of you.
The prime minister ca not lie.
At least no so blatantly when your protest began on Friday.
I guess the worst edication minister in Antigua’s history didn’t inform the prime.minister of what is happening in his ministry
The prime minister had absolutely no knowledge of the protest action which started on Friday when he said that there hasn’tbeen any pay related dispute under his watch as PM.
Teacher Percy say if you tell a lie you going to hell as soon as you die.
I don’t think you want to go there Gaston.
Or already you already there????
U voted for the economic power house
Ur children r only remembered when the dudu hits the fan
While is family gets millions the teachers must take the blade of the knife
U all must remember these n more issues when u all r dancing behind the bands n drinking the red coolant
U all forget short shirt who went where the money is once sang the writers words
The same stick licking the wild goat
It’s the same stick liking the tame
Were all drifting in the same
N we will sink just the same
U all feel that only upp supporters alone going to bawl
Teachers stand up n fight
No money no work
Hit them where it hurts
U all can go one nation concert now
The amount of money for over seas guest artist is huge not to say the least
But they care not of the teachers
Continue
Stand up n fight
Stand up n fight
As we can see
If it was not fir western union n money gram
Plenty antiguans wouldn’t have nutten for ynam