Workers at Hammock Cove Resort & Spa, a luxury Caribbean property under the Elite Island Resorts umbrella, have formally voted to recognize the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU) as their official collective bargaining agent, closing a years-long push for formal worker representation at the resort and delivering tangible gains for its entire staff.
This milestone was cemented earlier this week, with the resort’s workforce gathering Wednesday for their first official collective meeting with ABWU leadership following the union’s official certification. Attendees heard opening remarks from Kem Riley, ABWU President and Senior Industrial Relations Officer, who walked attendees through the next steps for worker representation and the terms of the newly agreed collective bargaining framework.
Riley confirmed that resort management has formally agreed to adopt all existing provisions laid out in the master collective bargaining agreement that already covers all other Elite Island Resorts properties across Antigua and Barbuda. This alignment brings Hammock Cove workers in line with their peers across the group, standardizing working conditions and benefit guarantees across the brand.
Among the most noteworthy provisions for workers is a scheduled 50-cent hourly wage increase set to take effect on July 1, 2026, a win that will raise base pay for all hourly employees at the property. The agreement also formalizes the resort’s obligation to uphold public holiday pay entitlements, codifying a rule that guarantees workers either a full day of pay or an alternative paid day off if they are scheduled to work on a recognized public holiday—closing a gap in previous informal workplace policies that left many workers undercompensated for holiday shifts.
In addition to wage and scheduling protections, Riley highlighted the value of the joint ABHTA/ABWU Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan, which is now available to all Hammock Cove workers. He emphasized that the plan is designed to be affordable for working households, extending coverage not just to employees, but also their immediate family members, addressing a key unmet need for many resort workers who previously lacked access to affordable family healthcare.
Closing the meeting, Riley reaffirmed the union’s ongoing commitment to advocating for Hammock Cove staff. He noted that the certification of the union and adoption of the collective agreement is just the first step, and that ABWU will continue to work with workers to negotiate further improvements to working conditions, compensation, and overall quality of life for all employees at the resort.