Non-established Agriculture staff assigned to work from home in ‘pandemic’ mode, their union confirms

The Gaston Browne Administration does not know what is priority
and continues to spend money on the wrong things, says Chairman
of the United Progressive Party D.Gisele Isaac.

Meanwhile, the people suffer and government workers are forced to
work in dilapidated buildings and under poor conditions, she says.
At the time, Isaac was responding to news that Ministry of
Agriculture workers have been reassigned to work from their
homes, effective Thursday, March 21.  

Reports say the Antigua Trades and Labour Union – the bargaining
agent for the Ministry’s non-established workers – had held
consultations with Minister E.P. Chet Greene.

They had agreed that these workers, stationed at the Independence
Drive headquarters, would work from home without loss of pay for
approximately two weeks.

Until further notice, they will be given assignments by their
supervisors and file their reports via agreed platforms.

Isaac notes that – while millions of dollars are being spent on non-
essential things, including palm trees, and renovating private
properties owned by the relatives of government officials – public-
sector workers continue to suffer.

And she is taken aback that the Ministry of Agriculture workers have
been placed in “pandemic” working mode.

Chairman of the United Progressive Party D.Gisele Isaac.

It has been months since the workers were told they would be
relocated to the Sir Cuthwin Lake Medical Centre building (the
former NTTC compound) on Lady Nugent Avenue.

They took to the picket line last week and continued their protest
this week, since the promises they have been given continue to be
broken.