ABWU to Tackle Workplace Stress and Mental Health at Annual Conference
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.
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Comments (5)
Anonymous September 19, 2025, 7:07 AM
Juju Bee September 19, 2025, 8:51 AM
So I applaud this move
Hadassah September 19, 2025, 10:40 AM
Beatrice September 19, 2025, 10:41 AM
Informed citizen September 19, 2025, 6:54 PM