Workers at the Eastern Caribbean Amalgamated Bank (ECAB) are set to enjoy improved compensation and working conditions after bank leadership and the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU) signed a new three-year Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The multi-year deal, which will run from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028, guarantees an overall 11% base salary increase across the three-year term. High-performing staff will also be eligible to earn an extra annual pay boost of up to 2%, creating additional incentives for outstanding work performance. Beyond salary adjustments, the agreement introduces a suite of updated employment benefits designed to support employee well-being and work-life balance. These include new paid study leave to support professional development, a doubling of paternity leave from five days to 10 days, five days of paid leave for new adoptive parents, shorter Friday working hours, and enhanced compensation for employees with long tenures at the institution.
Leadership from both sides praised the collaborative tone of the negotiation process, which resulted in a mutually satisfactory outcome. Fernando Samuel, Senior Industrial Relations Officer at ABWU, framed the talks as uniquely constructive, highlighting the consistent spirit of cooperation between the two negotiating teams. “The negotiations were very smooth and all parties were pleased with the outcome. I am satisfied that the benefits contained in this agreement represent real progress for our members,” Samuel shared.
Glenroy Aaron, an ABWU Shop Steward, welcomed the successful conclusion of talks, noting that the agreement reflects a shared commitment to preserving a productive, positive working relationship between the bank and its staff. “This agreement shows that the bank and the union are working together for the benefit of both employees and the organisation,” Aaron explained.
Fellow Shop Steward Natasha Joseph-Richards echoed that satisfaction, while calling for continued efforts to streamline negotiation timelines in future talks.
ECAB General Manager Michael Spencer emphasized that collaborative collective bargaining is a core part of building a balanced, high-productivity workplace. He noted that the new agreement underscores the bank’s long-term dedication to maintaining a strong, healthy partnership with the union and its member employees. “We are determined to ensure that our staff are treated fairly and that we are operating in an extremely harmonious environment. We’re very focused on that,” Spencer said.
Sandra Abbott, ECAB’s Human Resources Manager, reiterated the bank’s commitment to maintaining open, transparent, and respectful communication with union leadership moving forward. Tracy Benn-Roberts, ECAB General Counsel and Corporate Secretary and a member of the bank’s negotiation team, added that the years-long positive working relationship between the two institutions was a key factor in delivering the deal. “This win-win outcome for both parties would not have been possible without the foundation of trust we have built over time,” Benn-Roberts noted.
Both negotiating teams left the signing confident that unresolved issues deferred during the current round of talks will be addressed efficiently in the coming months, aligned with the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect that guided the entire process. The ABWU reiterated its ongoing commitment to partnering with regional employers to negotiate fair agreements that lift up working people and support stable, productive work environments across Antigua and Barbuda.