Epicurean Workers Secure Wage Increase and Enhanced Benefits Under New Collective Bargaining Agreements

Supervisory and Line staff at Pastry Ltd., trading as Epicurean, are set to receive a salary increase among other benefits following the signing of new collective bargaining agreements between the company and the Antigua & Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU).

The bargaining agreement covering the line staff provides an annual increase of $.50 on the hourly rate, which will see some workers receiving close to a 4% increase for each year of the agreement. Meanwhile, the agreement which covers supervisory staff provides an increase of $0.80 on the hourly rate, also translating into an annual increase close to 4%.

Senior Industrial Relations Officer and ABWU President, Kem Riley, described the negotiations as productive. “We are pleased to conclude these negotiations which resulted in a fair package of benefits for the workers.” Riley said. “Our goal is to ensure that wages and salaries keep pace with the rising cost of living and that added benefits reduce inconveniences and expenses associated with the job.”

In addition to salary increases, both agreements deliver improvements to the meal and call-out allowances, and supervisory staff will benefit from an enhancement to the uniform allowance.

The agreements also expand paternity leave from three days to five days, allowing new fathers additional time to support and bond with their families.

Workers whose shifts end after 9:00 p.m. will now be transported directly home, an improvement to the previous arrangement under which transportation was provided only to the bus station.

Both parties also agreed to the introduction of a death-in-service provision, which provides financial assistance in the event of an employee’s demise while in service.

The new collective bargaining agreements cover the period July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2028.

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