Employees attached to the Ministry of Agriculture staged an industrial action on Thursday, citing chronic building defects, health risks, and salary disputes they claim have been left unaddressed despite years of complaints.

The work stoppage came after union representatives said ministry leadership cancelled what was to be a critical consultation scheduled for earlier this week—the latest in a series of postponed discussions that employees argue reflect official indifference.

According to the Antigua Trades and Labour Union, staff across the ministry’s field operations have endured crumbling infrastructure, environmental hazards, and payroll irregularities that threaten both their well-being and the integrity of the country’s agricultural safeguards.

Industrial relations representative Kerry Dyer pointed to widespread structural failures, including water damage, fungal contamination, and equipment shortages affecting divisions responsible for animal health, meat inspection, crop protection, and border biosecurity.

“Conditions at some of these facilities are simply unacceptable,” Dyer said, noting that internal safety reviews were forwarded to senior officials but yielded no remedial work.

She cited the livestock and veterinary operations as particularly affected, where personnel have worked for several years in premises compromised by persistent moisture intrusion and biological contamination.

At the meat processing facility, she said staff are stationed in a workspace riddled with fungal growth. “No one should be expected to perform duties under those circumstances,” she remarked.

Employees from technical, administrative and inspection units participated in the coordinated stoppage, assembling at their duty stations in a display of collective grievance.

One meat facility staffer described ongoing resource shortfalls. “We’ve gone years without basic supplies—no drinking water provided, no reliable transport to site,” the individual said.

Another employee referenced structural vulnerabilities in the workspace. “When it rains, there are serious issues with the timber framework. Mold is present throughout,” the worker stated.

Officers tasked with preventing agricultural pest incursions say their situation is especially precarious. Sherry McIntosh, a quarantine and protection officer, explained that her unit was relocated to makeshift premises following the reassignment of their former facility, but the replacement site suffers from extensive contamination and lacks proper laboratory or storage capacity.

She said staff have experienced recurring illness linked to the environment. “We documented everything—including the fact there’s just one way in and out, which is a safety concern,” McIntosh noted, adding that promised meetings with ministry officials have been repeatedly scrapped without justification.

(file photo)

“We’ve reached our threshold. This can’t continue,” she said.

Employees outlined a range of grievances: promotions left pending, overtime wages owed from 2019 still unpaid, and staffing levels inadequate to sustain operations. Quarantine officers reported their complement has fallen to half the required strength, leaving essential border functions understaffed and personnel unable to take scheduled leave.

A Greencastle-based worker said both units under his charge face similar challenges. “We require proper housing for operations, functional tools, protective gear, and compensation that reflects the risk involved,” he said.

Union officials said approval was given more than a month ago for a joint session set for 25 November, but the ministry postponed, citing the unavailability of a key official. Workers say this represented yet another deferral in what has become a protracted cycle of inaction.

Several employees indicated they are prepared to maintain the work stoppage until direct engagement with the minister and permanent secretary is secured.

“We’ll be here every day if necessary—until we sit down with the minister,” one worker said.

At the time of the demonstration, neither the minister nor the permanent secretary had issued a statement or visited the affected locations.

The union has advised that site inspections are planned for today (28 November), after which next steps will be determined.