News

Almost all Branches of major Banks in Antigua including Royal Bank of Canada, Scotia Bank, First Caribbean Bank and Bank of Antigua were forced to close or operate with skeletal staff today as the ABWU Antigua Workers union called on all Finance Sector Workers to demonstrate their resistance to the proposed Banking Act 2015 which will have a very negative impact the priority and right to Severance Pay Benefits as mandated under the existing Labour Code of Antigua.

This rushed piece of Legislation, intended for all O.E.C.S countries, has very serious implications on the right and priority of severance pay of Finance Sector workers, has already been passed in the House of Representatives and is tabled to be put before the Senate today in Antigua.

UNI is advised that a similar situation has also occurred in Grenada despite the concerns voiced by GTAWU Grenada Technical and Allied Workers Union to Parliamentary leaders last week.

UNI Americas has written to the Prime Minister and Parliament in both jurisdictions urging the fullest consultation with the respective Unions ABWU and GTAWU to prevent the rights and benefits that workers and their Union fought and won many years ago from being removed or compromised by the new proposed Legislation.

We remain in fullest support of our affiliates in Antigua and Grenada