The industrial action by teachers in the public education system has ended as the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers has advised its members to return to the classroom.
The Ministry of Education, which announced the cancelation of all classes within the public school system for Monday, issued a statement later that day to indicate that classes will resume on Tuesday (today).
This comes after the ABUT issued its own missive to its members for them to return to the classroom as the outstanding matters that were the source of the contention between them and the Ministry of Education had been resolved.
“The general public is hereby notified that all public schools will resume classes on regular schedule from Tuesday, 13th May, 2025.
“This notice is in response to the information from the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers, which was communicated to its membership instructing them ‘to resume your requisite duties effective immediately’,” the ministry statement noted.
The ministry was responding to the ABUT which issued the following; “The Executive of the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers hereby informs you that we have confirmed that our demands in respect to Travel, Telephone and Technical Vocational Allowances, as well as, Head of Department Ex gratia payments for the period 2018 – 2024, have been met by the Ministry of Education, as of Monday, May 12, 2025.
“Consequently, the Executive of the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers hereby instructs you, its membership, as well as all public school teachers, to resume your requisite duties effective immediately.
“The Executive of the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers thanks you for your support during this challenging period. We look forward to your support in our upcoming activities,” the release stated.
The union had instructed it members from participating in actual teaching effective Friday May 2, until Monday May 12, over the outstanding allowances issue. Teachers were therefore engaged in a ‘work to rule’ where they were present at school by did no teaching.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne called out the union leadership over the issue noting that the government had given a commitment to pay all outstanding amounts and that the delays were mainly due to administrative issues rather than any intention by the government not to pay.
He called the action ‘disproportionate’ in scale relative to the issue at hand.
