Social Security – By Jeressa Jeremy
Social Security Staff Protest
Approximately 40 workers at Antigua and Barbuda Social Security Board’s (ABSSB) Long Street branch took industrial action yesterday to force management to address health and safety and other issues.
On behalf of the workers, Samuel James, the President of the Antigua & Barbuda Free Trade Union (ABFTU), said that the industrial action was for two reasons.
“Now, we have had some concerns with management and the chief two concerns involve the completion of employee appraisals and the payment of associated increments, and most importantly, matters of health and safety,” he told Observer Media.
James said that the physical condition of the building is posing a health hazard to employees.
“Concerns have been expressed that there’s mould and other conditions in the buildings at Social Security which may be negatively affecting our membership.“
He added that assessments have been done but to date, the results have not been made known to the staff or the union — a detail which further intensified the situation into the current stage of the protest.
“We understand that some reports were done by Dr Christian, which we have tried to obtain copies, and today, months have passed [and] we have not received those copies of the reports. So, we are not in a position to say whether or not conditions in the building are adverse and may be affecting our membership, and we are saying that is a no-no. We’re not taking it anymore,” James said.
“We have made the necessary requests, we have not gotten it, and we are saying that today we are taking a stand. We are not sending our membership back in those buildings until we know what they are working in.”
James told Observer that the issue with the mould has been going on for a while. “ It has been going on for several months. Maybe as early as early 2025. We requested from management to have copies of those reports said to be done by Dr Christian. And we are now in April. And we are nowhere close to getting those reports,” James said.
On the matter of employee appraisals and increments, James said that they have not been properly appraised for years.
“In some cases, [they] have not been appraised for years, and some of them are now being appraised and told that ‘you did not pass’; it is nonsense. Employees must know in due time where they are failing and what they need to do to pull their socks up. You can’t come years after the fact and tell me I failed, just because maybe you don’t want to pay an increment.“
James said that the industrial action today has led to conversations with the Labour Commissioner and Board Chairman which he “hopes to be fruitful”.
He said a skeletal staff was appointed to keep operations opened for the public.
