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**SlyThatGuy** » 2013-01-20 20:58

Please be careful not to confuse union with union representatives . The union is made up of workers. Those employees protesting at the bank is the union because they are united in their struggle to achieve the same goal. The union representatives are not really union members themselves,they are just acting as attorneys for the union fighting on its behalf.

**SlyThatGuy** » 2013-01-20 19:00

Some of you people who are criticizing the employees for taking this kind of action against the bank have no concept of union or contract. All over the world, workers(Truck drivers,Hospita l workers,firefig hters,school bus drivers,etc.), go on strike for different reasons. Some strike for better working environments,fo r higher pay(a raise),for uniforms,for fewer working hours,and for when company violate or fail to fulfill their contractual agreements. Whatever the reason,they all strike in response to something affecting them,which,in turn, affects the general public. Here, workers went on strike in response to how ABIB is treating them and a few bank customers got affected,but that is not nearly as bad as what those employees have to endure every work day,though.

**@Suffering** » 2013-01-20 12:53

Just like all other posters you have anonymity yet you fail to disclose the issues YOU claim are at the heart of this issue. From my vantage point then I would have to conclude the MEDIA and the PUBLIC was fed a healthy diet of SMOKE and MIRRORS. So again from an affected employees perspective what are the burning issues that have caused you to strike? What is this great STRESS you speak of?

**B-Easy** » 2013-01-20 11:53

I have to shake my head in disbelief when I read some of these comments condeming the workers for standing up for their rights. They have a binding contract with the bank and the bank ought to, no matter how bad things may be, respect and honour that contract. If it's a case where things have changed it is for them to have dialouge with the union and try to work out an amicable solution. But to ignore the workers/union and do nothing is disrespectful. The workers have every right to take whatever legal action necessary to remedy the situation.

Remember people, these very rights are what our fore fathers fought for when they gave birth to both unions years gone by. Lest we forget!

**GiveMeABreak** » 2013-01-20 10:46

Employees are 'suffering' and they have jobs. The people suffering are the ones that don't have a job and a salary at the end of the week. The saying 'when the going gets tough the tough get going' doesn't seem to have sunk into certain people's heads in Antigua. Covet your job if you have one and pull out all the stops to keep it. Help the organisation/ba nk/company you work for, they too have problems in these hard economic times. Walking out on strike in a bank that has had and still has problems is a recipe for disaster. A run on the bank would put A LOT of people out of work including yourself! :sad:

**Jackie Spence** » 2013-01-20 07:36

If Messiah and Cort could have met for 5 minutes during the Senate to discuss the CAUSE, then perhaps the resulting SYMPTOM could have been avoided! At the end of the day, all stakeholders have suffered - in my humble opinion - needlessly!

**fnpsr** » 2013-01-19 21:32

Suffering, you haven't said anything. Lay your cards on the table and tell us what the real issues are.

Much respect!

"Let's fix the little things with RWE before we attempt to fix the big problems."

**Morris** » 2013-01-19 20:32

Shoes have become a major show-stopper? Why not issue them the once very popular "$hit mashers" to solve the issue. Geez!!!

**Suffering** » 2013-01-19 20:08

It is amazing that people don't care about each other and how a story can get twisted. Caribarena has the story all wrong. The strike was not about shoes and uniforms, albeit that there are issues along that line. Only who feels it knows it. Employees are suffering and have been for years. I guess as long as persons get the friendly smile and courteous greeting they feel great, but have no idea what that smiling person is dealing with. The staff has continued to serve the public amongst EXTREMELY challenging circumstances and the one time people are inconvenienced then the staff should hang? We are people too, with families and lives. The public is not aware of the level of STRESS that employees have undergone and the patience that has been exhibited by staff. I just wish reporters would refrain from publishing lies at the expense of other peoples' reputation.

**B-Easy** » 2013-01-19 19:29

The union although affliated with the ruling party is in itself a separate entity and is there to represent the interest of it's members not the interest of the government. This is why over the years the unions (both AWU & AT&LU) have lost their bargaining power and membership has dwindled because they become complicit in their dealings with these companies while representing their membership. You cannot serve two masters.

**Jackie Spence** » 2013-01-19 18:30

Very good point "casual Friday" or Monday or any other day - for that matter. What is most amazing is the fact that the Union is the ABWU - which is part of the Government. David Messiah is in the Senate with the same Errol Cort who had to intervene. These guys really lost it...for sure!

**Cool Ruler** » 2013-01-19 14:38

I remember in the 90's there was talk amongst the staff about becoming unionized and mackie got wind of it. Meetings were called and promises were made, we even got an increase and a bonus that year and the idea died on the vine. After that, the grumbling returned there were no more bonus or increase to be had. Times have realy changed. Lets hope they don't have a run next week.

**fnpsr** » 2013-01-19 14:09

This is unbelievable! I agree with those that say that the bank is on "Life support" and that the workers are willing to pull the plug because the bank is in breach of its uniform allowance agreement. While the workers may have been within their rights to put down their pens and pencil ans stop servicing customers, that they desperately need, it seems to me that they are cutting off their noses to spite their faces. How about showing up to work in a pair of jeans and a tee shirt, red, blue or white, and call it casual Friday. There are many ways to skin a cat and I believe that the bank would have gotten the message. Sometimes, as here, the juice is not worth the squeeze.

"Let's fix the little things with RWE before we attempt to fix the big things."

**jasper** » 2013-01-19 12:07

ONLY in Antigua! They issue the messengers with shoes!!!- can only think this must have been the result of the famous industrial relations woman/ambassado r, a couple of years back!

**SlyThatGuy** » 2013-01-19 11:42

It was necessary(and the workers were well within their rights)to stage the protest because the Antigua and Barbuda Investment Bank (ABIB) has been ignoring the needs of its employees for much too long. The workers obviously took this kind of action after all other efforts to get ABIB to live up to its contractual obligations have failed. To me,if the bank has a dress code because it wants to maintain a certain standard of appearance but does not have the money to provide uniforms,it should relax the dress code - otherwise it would be forcing its employees to pay for it out of their pockets.

**skyewill** » 2013-01-19 09:25

Amazing, this is petty on both sides. 1. the bank -if you promise them, you should delivered - Why do they need uniforms in a contract at a civilian organization is beyond me although many banks do the same thing world wide. 2 the union- was there a real need to lock down the bank? Think about the customers and the heat if people stop using ABI for all sort of other reasons. Employees - why the obsession with uniforms any way? I spent 22 years in uniforms. All I am saying did customers have to suffer because of something so simple to fix?

**Conscious** » 2013-01-19 07:17

This is a bank that had to be taken over by the ECCB because it was going to go under due to poor and reckless decisions made by Management. It is now hanging on by a thread and many customers who have money with the bank are thinking of pulling out. If several do then the bank is doomed.

And the union is striking because of SHOES??????? It seems as if employees are willing to forfeit bread to feed their kids for uniforms and the unions in Antigua continue to be ridiculous, out of touch with reality and not having a clue about how businesses stay viable/afloat. How else can you explain such a reckless action at a commercial Bank in peril?

**zzzzz** » 2013-01-19 05:55

absolutely embar**ing. a bank already on life support, striking! way to go ABI, irritate the customers you have left. perhaps you guys should picket the minister of finance,the former manager and reckless shareholders who put the bank as well as your jobs at risk.

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