Educators in Antigua and Barbuda are confronting persistent systemic failures as unresolved contractual disputes continue to undermine the nation’s educational infrastructure. The Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers (ABUT) has escalated its demands for governmental action, highlighting critical deficiencies in campus security, delayed salary adjustments, and uncompensated travel expenses for multi-campus instructors.
Security vulnerabilities remain a paramount concern, with General Secretary Sharon Clifford Kelsick revealing that numerous schools operate without mandated protection despite contractual obligations. ‘We are not satisfied with the security issue at all,’ Kelsick stated during a recent media engagement, noting instances where educators arrive at facilities with either absent or insufficient security personnel. While some individual institutions have addressed concerns temporarily, the union emphasizes that comprehensive national-level resolution remains elusive under current collective bargaining agreements.
Financial grievances compound the crisis, as retroactive salary payments continue to be distributed unevenly across the teaching workforce. Although partial disbursements occurred in December, many educators await full settlement despite governmental assurances of a January 31st deadline. Kelsick characterized the fragmented payment system as fundamentally unsatisfactory, stressing that ‘nobody really enjoys back pay when it comes in bits and pieces.’
ABUT President Casroy Charles provided alarming financial context, estimating that resolving outstanding arrears would require approximately 4.5 months’ salary allocations. He further questioned whether departed or retired educators would receive owed compensation, highlighting administrative gaps in maintaining contact and banking information for former staff.
The travel compensation crisis represents another dimension of the dispute, with Charles noting that teachers transporting themselves between multiple campuses using personal vehicles receive no reimbursement despite contractual provisions. The Ministry of Education has acknowledged this inequity yet has failed to implement practical solutions, leaving educators bearing unauthorized financial burdens.
With negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement currently suspended, union leadership vows to intensify advocacy until all outstanding matters receive satisfactory resolution.