APUA walkout led by AT&LU President Bernard De Nully and other officials (photo by Robert Andre Emmanuel)
The Antigua Trades and Labour Union (AT&LU) says its latest round of negotiations with the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) has ended on a positive and encouraging note, raising hopes for a resolution to several longstanding issues affecting workers.
AT&LU President Bernard de Nully revealed that a crucial meeting held yesterday, Wednesday with Utilities Minister Melford Nicholas and senior APUA management extended into the early evening and resulted in movement on a number of the union’s key demands.
Minister Melford Nicholas
While describing the outcome as constructive, de Nully said he could not yet disclose the details of the proposals discussed, explaining that the union must first present the information to APUA employees before making any public announcement.
“The monthly staff at APUA have made it clear that they want to be fully involved in the negotiations, and I have heard them loud and clear,” de Nully stated. “This means I must first take the proposals back to the workers and secure their acceptance before anything is made public.”
To ensure transparency and allow workers to directly participate in the decision-making process, the union has scheduled a meeting of the bargaining unit for Friday afternoon at the Multi-Purpose Cultural Centre at Perry Bay.
During that meeting, union leaders will present the proposals to staff and hear their feedback before determining the next steps.
The negotiations come amid mounting frustration among APUA workers, who took to the streets earlier this week to protest what they described as the slow pace of discussions with management.
Workers have been demanding a resolution to several longstanding issues, including delayed pension payments for retired employees and a 10 percent salary increase.
Many retirees have reportedly been waiting years to receive their pension benefits, a matter that has become a central concern for both current and former employees.
Despite the tensions that led to Monday’s protest action, de Nully commended Utilities Minister Melford Nicholas for playing a key role in helping to move the discussions forward and facilitating a tentative understanding between the parties.
The outcome of Friday’s meeting with workers is expected to determine whether the proposals will be accepted and whether the dispute can move closer to a final resolution.
Damn and here I thought APUA was one of the best places to work. This has certainly darken their image in my eyes