The Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association was on the 9th of September 2021 served with a letter from the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union.
The letter addressed to Mr Vernon Jeffers Sr Executive Chairman of the Association threatened the organization with legal action, if it does not immediately ask its members to cease and desist from sending home unvaccinated employees.
The letter state “this letter serves to advise you of our dissatisfaction with your membership’s unilateral decision and action in respect of employees in the hospitality industry regarding COVID-19 vaccination, quarantine payment and testing”.
The Union letter further stated “while we appreciate the need for all employees to be vaccinated for the country to reach herd immunity it is also important that the rights of all must be protected- both vaccinated and unvaccinated. Your memberships unilateral decision to threaten layoff and the sending home of unvaccinated individuals goes against the very principle of the constitution and the exercise of their right to choose”.
The Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union accuse some members of the Hotels Association of allowing their guests to behave recklessly in their activity.
The ABWU cautioned the Association to advise its members to cease and desist now from sending home employees who are unvaccinated or compelling them to pay for the Covid test without both parties reaching an agreement.
The Union asserted to the Hotels Association “if it cannot get a commitment to its request, it would consult its attorneys with a view of instructing legal action for a determination by the Courts”.
