Following a meeting held last Thursday with government officials, representatives of the General Post Office (GPO), the Antigua and Barbuda Public Service Association (ABPSA) and the Antigua and Barbuda Trades and Labour Union (AT&LU) an agreement was made to address the unsuitable working conditions at the High Street office.
Services at the GPO were put on hold last month as workers from the government-run post office walked off the job sighting a number of unsanitary conditions at the office as their reason why.
The public dispute has even seen in recent times Prime Minister Gaston Browne calling on military personnel to take up the various posts at the GPO following the protest action taken by the workers.
PM Browne however agreed to meet with the ABPSA, AT&LU and representatives of the GPO last week to discuss a way forward.
In that meeting, the Ministry of Works committed to complete repairs to address the unsuitable working conditions identified by workers weeks ago.
It was agreed to immediately meet proper health, safety and welfare requirements within the work environment by testing air quality, removing mold and improving internal physical aspects of the building. A joint review on the success of these efforts will be conducted tomorrow.
The Ministry of Works has also committed to spearheading long-term measures for a complete repair of the roof, which has been the main cause of flooding, as well as improving the external drainage system.
In the meantime, the public can receive services such as the sale of stamps at the Woods Branch and the Treasury building. This service began since last Friday.
From tomorrow, these services will resume at the Civil Registry, Dockyard and All Saints.
The General Post Office Headquarters will further accommodate with the sale of stamps, the issuance of Parcels and Registered Mail. This is subject to the review of the premises today.
Alternative office arrangements are being assessed to resume other core services such as mail-sorting and delivery of mail while renovation of the roof is in progress.
A further update will be issued at the conclusion of this process.
