Costpro workers protest reduced work hours

By Aabigayle McIntosh

Staff at Crospo Supermarket at Woods Mall have taken Industrial Action due to management’s decision to reduce their hours of work without proper consultation with them or their bargaining agent, the Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union (ABWU).

Industrial Relations Officer Hugh Joseph said the company wrote to the union about the pending change in the hours of operation. However, they failed to outline how it would be implemented, which goes against the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

“As far as we are aware, the agreement speaks to a 44-hour work week, and it has been a situation where they have reduced it for about a year now down to 40, and the Collective Agreement gives them that right to reduce it if things are slow.

“For about a year the hours have been reduced. They are proposing now to reduce further, and they have not said to us exactly why or provided any details, and we have said to them we are not prepared at this time to accept any reduction,” Joseph said.

Despite the union’s advice, management apparently issued letters to the workers indicating a reduction in their working hours.

The new hours range from 30 to 36 hours per week, while some are still maintaining their 40.

“We are saying that should not be; if the pot is not so much, let us see how we can share it equitably among those you are to be impacted, and they have still gone ahead with the letters,” the union official said.