Workers at the Government Printery have entered their second consecutive day of protest, staging a sit-in over what they describe as deteriorating and unsanitary working conditions inside the facility.

Employees have been working on a half-day shift for several years while retrofitting work on the building has been underway. However, staff say a new problem has recently emerged that has made conditions inside the workplace even more difficult.

According to reports from workers, pigeons have begun nesting inside sections of the building’s roof, leaving droppings that have been falling onto desks, documents, and printing jobs. Employees say the situation has created a messy and unhealthy environment, prompting them to take action.

Staff members began sitting in on the job earlier this week in protest, calling for immediate steps to address the problem and improve conditions at the government facility.

Sources indicate that the Permanent Secretary responsible for the department has since been engaged in discussions with management and officials from the Public Works Department in an effort to resolve the issue.

Antigua Printery staff during sit-in (photo by Shermain Bique-Charles)

When Antigua.news visited the Government Printery on Tuesday morning, several workers from the Public Works Department were seen on the compound. Sources say the team has been deployed to continue repair work on the building as part of efforts to address the ongoing concerns.

Employees say they remain hopeful that the matter will be resolved quickly, allowing the facility to return to normal operations under safe and sanitary conditions.