The Antigua and Barbuda Public Service Association has officially signed a collective bargaining agreement covering 2018 to 2023, but union leaders are calling on government to stop negotiating contracts after the fact.
ABPSA President Joan Peters told Observer Media the signing marks a critical milestone, making the negotiated benefits legally binding rather than subject to verbal promises that can be challenged.
The agreement delivers concrete gains for public servants: shift allowances have doubled from $100 to $200, while uniform allowances increased from $1,000 to $1,350. Peters emphasized the benefits extend beyond monetary compensation to include improved working conditions.
However, General Secretary Janela Evanson expressed frustration with the timing, noting union members are signing a deal in 2025 that should have been finalized years ago.
“I am calling to the government to begin negotiating in the present so that workers can realize the full benefits of the agreements immediately,” Evanson stated.
The agreement provides 5% increases for 2018 and 2019, 4% for 2020, and 0% for 2021-2023. Evanson explained the union accepted no increases for those latter years due to COVID-19’s revenue impact, in exchange for role reclassification scheduled for 2024—which government is now attempting to delay until 2025.
The association has already prepared its next proposal covering 2024-2026 and plans to submit it before week’s end.
Evanson expressed hope it can be signed by the first quarter of 2026 “to show workers that the government cares about them.”
