Abssb Staff – By Deslyn A Joseph
Abssb Staff Return Work
Operations at the Antigua and Barbuda Social Security Board (ABSSB) Long Street branch returned to normal Tuesday afternoon after the Antigua & Barbuda Free Trade Union (ABFTU) reached a resolution with management regarding hazardous working conditions and outstanding employee appraisals.
The breakthrough came following a five-hour meeting, involving the ABSSB, management, stewards, and selected employee representatives.
ABFTU President Samuel James confirmed that the workers officially returned to their posts at approximately 3 pm.
“Discussions, which began shortly after 10am, were fruitful and successful in mending fences between the union and the employer,” he said.
“Both matters have been effectively resolved through long, cordial discussion and we have charted a way forward hoping that we should not have to reach to this point again,” he added.
The union confirmed that the two primary catalysts for Monday’s industrial action have been settled. “First, the union is now in possession of the building assessment reports, previously withheld for months, regarding mold and air quality concerns at the Long Street facility. Second, management has provided firm commitments and timelines for the completion of all outstanding employee performance appraisals and the payment of associated salary increments,” he explained.
The resolution follows a tense Monday where approximately 40 workers walked off the job to force management to address health and safety issues, leaving only a skeletal staff to maintain essential services. The protest was triggered by what James described as a “no-no” situation regarding the physical safety of the staff. For months, the union had been seeking reports conducted by Dr. Christian to determine if mold in the building was negatively affecting the health of the membership. James said that while assessments began as early as early 2025, the union remained in the dark until the documents were finally handed over today.
Furthermore, the ABFTU had criticized a nonsense appraisal system, claiming some employees had gone years without an evaluation, only to be told that they failed after they had finally received feedback. James argued during the protest that employees must know in due time where they are failing so they can improve, rather than being told they failed years after the fact simply to avoid paying increments.
He concluded by stating that while the union will hold management’s feet to the fire, he expects the membership to meet their end of the bargain in what he described as a professional partnership.
