Port workers in Antigua and Barbuda marked a historic milestone on Monday as both bargaining units convened jointly under the sole representation of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU) for the first time.

The gathering at Freedom Hall brought together administrative staff, equipment operators, mechanics, security personnel, and longshoremen, all rallying behind a unified cause.

Addressing the packed hall, ABWU Deputy General Secretary Chester Hughes declared: “One port, one mission, one union!”

A key focus of the meeting was the union’s stance on the ongoing use of contract workers for positions traditionally held by permanent staff. The ABWU’s negotiating team, also present at the meeting, pledged to prioritise this issue in upcoming talks.

The union said it intends to challenge the practice and push for stronger employment standards across the port.