Labour Day celebrations 2022

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The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Union will use Labour Day celebrations on Monday to celebrate its accomplishments says Alrick Daniel, the General Secretary of the AT&LU.

May Day or Labour Day is celebrated every year on 1 May to honor and appreciate the great work done by workers or labour class.

Daniel said the country has experienced some of the most difficult times over the past three years and the union continues to fight for social justice and the descendants of slavery.

“The global health pandemic and the war in Ukraine have significantly affected lives and livelihoods. They have tested the fortitude of economic, social, and political foundations which have been the bedrock of our people’s advancements over the years. Imported inflation, job losses, and job insecurity are some of the main resultants of these scourges which our people have faced through these years to present” Daniel said.

Despite the global outlook, Daniel said AT&LU is optimistic that there is hope for the future.

“We have seen tangible signs of rebounding. Our union has been steadfast and diligent in restoring workplace benefits, safeguarding workers’ rights, and improving livelihoods. Between March 1, 2022, and the present, the AT&- LU has concluded 31 bargaining units’ negotiations resulting in wages/salary increases ranging from 5.5 percent to 12 percent” he added.

He said the Union continue to fight for the rights of workers in Antigua and Barbuda where their benefits and working conditions are concerned.

“In one instance, the workers at State Insurance Corporation received retroactive payments amounting to $1.3 million which was shared among 111 workers. The AT&LU has also been successful in advocating for the government’s adoption of ILO Convention 190 – the Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work. This materialized in May last year, making Antigua and Barbuda the first country in the English-speaking Caribbean to do so,” he said.

The AT&LU he said “remains committed to protecting and enhancing the rights and benefits of workers in Antigua and Barbuda”.