The Antigua and Barbuda Public Service Association (ABPSA) has welcomed recent steps to improve conditions for public servants while pressing the government to move more decisively on unresolved issues, including reclassification, equitable pay, and outstanding payments linked to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
According to Antigua News Room, the union issued its Labour Day message on May 4, 2026, paying tribute to public officers as the "backbone of the nation" and acknowledging their often-overlooked contributions to national life.
The ABPSA recognised recent gains — among them the clearing of long-standing back pay and a five percent interim salary increase — as encouraging signs. However, the union cautioned that those achievements fall short of what is ultimately required.
"While we acknowledge progress, we must also speak with clarity as progress is not completion," the Association stated.
A central concern raised is the planned public service reclassification exercise scheduled for July 2026. The ABPSA described it as a significant reform effort with far-reaching implications for wages, staff morale, employee retention, and the overall attractiveness of public sector employment. The union is urging authorities to conduct the process fairly and transparently, with implementation timelines consistent with those applied to other unions.
The Association also renewed its call for payments to workers who were sent home during the vaccine mandate period, insisting that commitments made to those employees must be honoured without further delay.
More broadly, the ABPSA outlined principles it believes should guide reform: transparency, alignment with current economic conditions, and compensation that reflects workers' qualifications, duties, and performance. The union also raised concerns about rising cost-of-living pressures, arguing that salary structures must keep pace with modern economic realities.
"This is not about entitlement; it is about equity," the ABPSA said, adding that properly compensated public servants strengthen national institutions and broader development.
While reaffirming its willingness to engage with the government, the Association stressed that dialogue must translate into concrete outcomes. As Labour Day is observed, the union called for solidarity among its members and urged policymakers to act decisively, noting that the pursuit of fairness, dignity, and opportunity remains an ongoing effort both at home and abroad.
