ABWU Deputy General Secretary Chester Hughes
The Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU) will place workplace stress and its impact on mental health at the centre of its 58th Annual Delegates Conference, set for Monday, September 22.
Union officials say the issue has become a growing concern as more employees struggle to cope with the demands of today’s work environment.
Stress-related problems such as burnout, anxiety, depression, and reduced productivity have been increasingly reported among workers.
ABWU Deputy General Secretary Chester Hughes urged both employers and unions to treat the matter with urgency.
“Stress on the job is not just a personal matter—it’s a workplace issue,” Hughes said. “Employers and unions must work together to create healthier environments where employees feel supported, respected, and valued. Mental health must be treated with the same urgency as physical safety.”
A panel discussion during the business session of the Conference will focus on practical strategies to manage stress, reduce stigma around mental health, and encourage a culture of care in the workplace.
Panellists include clinical psychologist Feona Charles-Richards, counsellor Harriet Warner, and Edgar Diaz, Regional Secretary for Latin America and the Caribbean at the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).
The session forms part of the Union’s wider initiative to make stress management and mental health support central to collective bargaining, workplace policies, and employer practices.
Yes please We are undergoing a lot of stress in the workplac especially at msjmc with no avenue to vent or to get the help needed. But yet still the public need for us to drain our blood. Not knowing we ourselves are crying out for help that is nowhere in sight
I know some workplaces that so stressful that it’s excessively TOXIC and certainly not good for its staff mental health.
So I applaud this move
Counselling services should be part of employee benefits, not just a conference topic.
Finally! Mental health on the job needs the same attention as safety gear and accident prevention.
Awareness is the first step, but what about ongoing support systems like counseling services or stress management programs?