Teachers’ union president says he is disappointed by stalled contract talks

Teachers’ union president says he is disappointed by stalled contract talks

Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers President Casroy Charles said he is disappointed that negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement have not begun, despite the union submitting its proposals more than six months ago.

“I must say I’m a bit disappointed in regards to where we are in regards to negotiation,” Charles said during a broadcast interview, noting that delays have become a recurring feature of the bargaining process.

Charles said the union signed its previous collective bargaining agreement for the 2018–2024 period only months before it expired, a situation he said the union sought to avoid this time.

“We signed that in 2024, a couple of months before the contractual period is scheduled to end,” he said. “We would have submitted that collective bargaining agreement in June of last year, June 2025, and we are now in January, which is seven months, and we haven’t commenced negotiations.”

He said negotiating contracts after their effective periods have passed creates ongoing problems for teachers.

“Negotiating a protracted period, that’s always problematic,” Charles said. “Over the years, it has become the norm to negotiate contract periods that would have passed.”

General Secretary Sharon Clifford Kelsick said the union has repeatedly written to the government seeking the start of talks for the 2025–2026 agreement.

“We have done our part. We have submitted our terms and we have written, and we have written again, you know, as a reminder that we are waiting for them to commence those negotiations,” Kelsick said.

She said best practice requires negotiations to begin well before a contract expires.

“It should have been done early last year, at least. That’s best practice,” she said. “It definitely should not be done in the last year of the contract period.”

Kelsick warned that prolonged delays risk placing the union back in a position where agreements are negotiated years late, leading to retroactive settlements and uncertainty for teachers.

Charles said while the union has been in communication with the Chief Establishment Officer, the lack of progress remains concerning.

“We will stick at it,” he said, adding that the union hopes future negotiations will be conducted in a more timely manner.

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