Hospitality Workers to Receive Wage Increase in 2025

Hospitality Workers to Receive Wage Increase in 2025
St John’s, Antigua – December 27, 2024 – Hundreds of hospitality workers employed at hotels
that are signatories to the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Antigua and Barbuda
Workers’ Union (ABWU) and the Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association
(ABHTA), will receive a $25.00 weekly wage increase effective January 1, 2025.
The increase follows weeks of robust negotiations between both parties which have also brought
about enhancements to other benefits in the Collective Agreement. These include increases in the
meal allowance (from $15 to $30 per meal); Spread-over Allowance (from $29 to $35 weekly);
Graveyard Shift Allowance (from $27 to $35 weekly) and Paternity Leave (extended from 5 days
to 7 days). Workers will also receive a boost in their retirement fund contributions which will now
be moved to 3%. Other enhancements to existing benefits include an increase in the compassionate
leave to 5 days for parents, spouses or children and 3 days for grandparents and siblings.
ABWU Deputy General Secretary, Chester Hughes said: “These are important enhancements for
workers, but we cannot be complacent. We intend to make a powerful case for further increases in
years 2 and 3 of the Agreement.” Meanwhile, Hughes also called on hospitality workers to improve
their productivity and performance. “We continue to receive complaints of alarming absenteeism.
This is unacceptable! Workers must do better,” Hughes chided.
Taking into consideration the impact of climate change on the sector, the Union put forward an
extreme heat proposal which is being considered by the ABHTA.
Other items both parties will continue to negotiate include Mental Health Support for Hospitality
Workers; Updates to the Disciplinary Code; Updates to Job Titles and Job Descriptions; Probation
and Uniforms. Negotiations are expected to reconvene in early January 2025.
The Union commends its shop stewards and members within the hotel sector for their contributions
and steadfastness throughout the negotiating period.
As we move forward into a new year, we anticipate a deepening of the bonds of solidarity as we
strive toward a sustainable, equitable and prosperous tourism industry for all. We remind our
members that we are the workers powering our economy, and together we will r

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