Security guards threaten to strike

St. John’s, Antigua – Workers at Multi-Purpose Security Service are threatening to commence prolonged strike action “soon”.

This follows years of failed negotiations with management over outstanding wages for regular and overtime work, public holiday pay, 12-hour shifts and unpaid statutory deductions.

Several workers complained to OBSERVER Media yesterday that the firm’s owner, Annetta Challenger, who could not be reached, has repeatedly failed to fulfill promises and meet deadlines set for payments dating back to 2004.

Multi-Purpose Security is a privately owned firm that is sub-contracted by government to provide security services to several government buildings, including the Fisheries Department and national library.

In all, approximately 15 workers are reportedly threatening to down tools.

“She has 27 of us and since the problem started a long time ago about 12 people stopped working but the rest of us are ready to stand up against this injustice and the union has pledged to give its full support. We will be taking action very, very soon,” one worker said.

Another worker said, “She keeps telling us one thing and asking the authorities for time to pay but every time the deadline comes around she never pays. She has to understand we have bills…after working so long we cannot just walk away from our years of service.”

The company has been plagued by strike action several times annually, but this time the workers said they would down tools “for as long as it takes”.

Earlier this year the worker’s representative, Antigua & Barbuda Free Trade Union (ABFTU), issued an ultimatum to the security company’s owner, demanding that all matters be settled by the end of August.

Workers had threatened prolonged industrial action if the conditions were not satisfied.

However, the deadline passed and the businesswoman reportedly got an extension until the end of this month.

The workers said they are waiting with bated breath for November 30 and then they’ll swing into action. They are not willing to disclose the exact date they’ll begin their protests.

Last year, OBSERVER Media reported that Challenger had blamed the government for her inability to pay workers.

Labour Commissioner Hesketh Williams had then indicated that Challenger accused government of refusing to honour outstanding invoices to the company.

However, Williams had said he had investigated and received “a clear communication” from the Treasury Department, maintaining that the government had no outstanding bills for the security firm.