TIDEX MANAGEMENT IN ABUJA TO WORK ON RESOLVING

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000521 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W STATE FOR CA/OCS/SDENYER STATE FOR EB/ESC/IEC/ENR/BLEVINE STATE FOR DS/IP/AF STATE FOR INR/AA STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS JBRODMAN AND CGAY STATE PASS TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS AND SRENENDER STATE PASS DOC FOR PHUPER STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND MSTUCKART STATE PASS TDA FOR BTERNET STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER STATE PASS USTR FOR ASST USTR SLISER STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2015 TAGS: EPET EINV CASC PGOV ASEC MOPS NI SUBJECT: TIDEX MANAGEMENT IN ABUJA TO WORK ON RESOLVING CRISIS REF: A. LAGOS 509 ¶B. LAGOS 503 ¶C. LAGOS 502 Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reasons 1.4 (D & E) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Striking employees continue to hold Tidex vessels and non-Nigerian crew members at Onne, Escravos and Brass ports. Ten Americans are detained in Onne. Management from Tidex and U.S. parent company Tidewater are meeting in Abuja with GON officials. Tidex management reports no substantive changes in the situation during the last two days. No Major Changes in Strike Situation; Workers Returning to Work Threatened -------------- ¶2. (C) Tidex management reports no substantive changes in the situation. Striking employees continue to prevent the vessels and crew members from leaving Onne, Escravos and Brass. Ten Americans continue to be detained in Onne port. Tidex Managing Director Vaughn told us the local executive council of NUPENG issued threats to the Nigerian crews who crossed the picket line in Escravos to return to work on Saturday, April 2 (ref A). Mission Working to Shift Focus to Plan of Action, Identifying Intermediaries for Negotiation with Strikers -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) A Tidex and Tidewater senior management team traveled to Abuja to meet the Charge and senior GON officials, including the National Security Advisor, to request assistance in resolving the strike. Mission is renewing contacts with Special Assistant to the President on Petroleum Matters Paki, Rivers State Governor Peter Odili, Delta State Governor James Ibori, Bayelsa State Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) President Adams Oshiomole, and the Department of Petroleum Resources, to urge them toward resolving the situation. In this regard, mission is encouraging the GON to work with state governments and labor to formulate an action plan to respond to this crisis, including sending trusted intermediaries to encourage the strikers to release the Tidex employees and vessels unharmed. In meetings, mission will express concerns that such a coordinated action plan does not yet appear to have been formulated. Mission Working with Tidex Management on Reluctance to Meet with Union Representatives -------------- ¶4. (C) Tidex management and the unions have not met directly to discuss the situation. We agree with Tidex/Tidewater management's view that they should not forced to the negotiating table by strikers using the safety of their workers and vessels as bargaining chips. However, Tidex could perhaps explore ways that it can signal a willingness to go to the negotiating table. This could help coax the strikers off the boats and toward a peaceful resolution of the crisis. BROWNE