Coco’s staff and Solid Waste Authority haulers down tools on Monday in separate protests over pay issues

Workers at Coco’s Resort, located in the southern part of the island, staged a picket outside the gates of the establishment this morning.

Reports say they were protesting the resort’s refusal to pay an increase that was negotiated between their bargaining agent and the Antigua & Barbuda Hotel & Tourist Association last year.

Here, Chester Hughes, the Deputy General Secretary of the Antigua & Barbuda Workers’ Union, explains the action taken by the staff and the Union’s response.

Meanwhile, haulers in the employ of the National Solid Waste Management Authority parked their vehicles and staged a sit-in on the compound of the Cooks Sanitary Landfill today. They unloaded their frustrations to REAL News correspondent George Wehner.

The drivers claim they have spoken to the unions; to the management of the Authority; to their shop steward; and to anyone willing to listen.

However, they allege that General Manager Daryl Spencer has not delivered and are warning him not to come to them with anymore empty promises.

Meanwhile, the waste-collection drivers are vowing that no garbage will be collected until all outstanding monies are paid up.

Accordingly, Wehner is advising home-owners to secure their garbage bins within their premises since the regular waste- collection schedule is likely to be disrupted from today, Monday.