Staff at the Office of National Drug Control and Money Laundering Policy (ONDCP) have taken industrial action in protest of what they describe as unsafe and unsanitary working conditions at the Camp Blizzard facility.
According to State Media, the action follows a report from the Department of Analytical Services which raised serious concerns about mold and excessive moisture within the building. According to General Secretary of the People’s Union, Andie Stephen, the findings confirmed long-standing complaints raised by employees about the condition of the facility.
Stephen said that despite numerous letters and formal representations from both staff and the union, the issues were never addressed, leaving workers with no choice but to take industrial action in the interest of their health and safety.
She explained that employees will remain off the job until a new, comprehensive assessment of the building is conducted and all outstanding concerns are properly resolved.
Union officials say the conditions at Camp Blizzard pose potential health risks to staff, particularly with prolonged exposure to mold and damp environments. They maintain that workers should not be expected to operate in conditions that compromise their well-being.
As of the time of reporting, there has been no official response from the relevant authorities or ONDCP management regarding the industrial action or any immediate plans to remedy the situation.
Why are you paying Union Dues?
People in Antigua need to understand that the government does not perform preventive maintenance. The government builds but doesn’t maintain its buildings—sometimes it tries a little corrective maintenance here and there, but not enough. The labour force, or workforce, is always there at the PublicWorks Department, so that’s not a problem.
1. Perform Frequent preventive maintenance inspection
2. Corrective maintenance to repair or replace the problem(s) found from the inspection.
3. Materials to carryout the corrective action should always be on hand.
If ONDCP staff protesting then we in trouble
Imagine going to work every day breathing in mold. That alone could make people sick. Address it properly.
The union doing what they supposed to do. Workers health must come first.