Avellon Williams
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA- There are dozens of employees at the Antigua and Barbuda Transport Board (ABTB) who are benefiting from the latest Collective Agreement signed between the company and the Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union (ABWU).
The ABWU’s Senior Industrial Relations Officer, Kem Riley, explained during a recent signing exercise that the statutory body and workers were at odds on several matters which culminated in strike action. However, Riley noted that many pressing issues were ultimately resolved through skillful negotiation.
Several existing benefits are increased in the Agreement, including meal and snack allowances, shift allowances, special skills allowances, travel allowances, and cashier allowances.
As part of the Agreement, employees will also receive a salary increase of 7%, which includes retroactive payments.
Tyesha York, HR Manager at the ABTB, expressed delight that both parties could come to an amicable agreement before the contract period expired. As York pointed out, the Company values its employees and invests in their development beyond what is stipulated in the Collective Agreement.
“One of the things we have been promoting in the last two years is continued education. We have sent persons on short courses at the University of the West Indies – fully paid for by the Company,” York highlighted. As a result of the successful completion of a course, employees received an incremental increase, according to the HR manager. In the next Collective Agreement, York says the Company will include this educational initiative.
ABTB General Manager Hubert Jarvis said the Company enjoyed a “cordial” relationship with the Union, which enabled fruitful negotiations. According to Jarvis, the Company and the Union have always found common ground when it comes to empowering workers.
January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2023 are the dates covered by the Collective Agreement. Soon, contract negotiations will begin for the upcoming period.
