STRIKING GUARDS AGREE TO RETURN TO WORK

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000860

SIPDIS
STATE FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/IP/FPO, AF/EX, AF/S
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC MZ
SUBJECT: STRIKING GUARDS AGREE TO RETURN TO WORK

REF: A. A. MAPUTO 00834

B. B. MAPUTO 00846

C. C. MAPUTO 00849

D. D. MAPUTO 00858


1. SUMMARY. As reported in Refs A through C, individual
employees of the local guard force contracted through
Wackenhut have been striking since July 5. As stated in Ref
D, the EAC met again on July 8 both to discuss the latest
guard strike situation and to discuss the London bombings and
the Embassy's current security posture. Wackenhut officials
met with the guard union on July 8 and reached an agreement
for the guards to return to work and arbitration to begin
immediately. An All Call will be conducted at 1000, July 9,
to update all direct hire Americans of the guard strike
situation.


2. All residences had coverage last night, partly due to the
21 subcontracted guards Wackenhut hired. However, some
guards continue to work consecutive 12 hour shifts. This
situation should be resolved by the next shift change. The
U.S. Embassy and U.S.AID had 5 guards each causing the
Embassy to be at approximately 40% and U.S.AID to be at 50%
of their normal guard staffing. Peace Corps, Public Affairs
and the GSO Warehouse each had 2 guards causing each entity
to be at 66% of their normal guard staffing. All U.S.
agencies again were fully operational but were closed to
visitors. CDC's one guard left the morning of July 7 and
never returned. Wackenhut sent a guard replacement at
approximately 1300 July 8, but CDC had closed for the weekend
and secured its office.


3. Wackenhut requested and received police support to remove
strikers from Wackenhut headquarters prior to the scheduled
1000 meeting between Wackenhut officials and the guard union.
Most of the strikers departed the area without incident.
Approximately 50 strikers remain as of 1500, July 8.


4. Wackenhut's Regional President for Southern Africa and
Human Resources Director met 6 guard union representatives in
the presence of officials from the Ministries of Labor and
Interior. Wackenhut and the guard union signed an agreement
that the guards would return to work, the strikers would not
block access to the Wackenhut headquarters, and arbitration
would begin immediately. RSO and Wackenhut Program Manager
agreed that guards will begin wearing their Wackenhut
uniforms at the next shift change. If the next 24 hours
remain calm, Wackenhut will turn the radio network on and the
house alarms will then be connected to the regular Wackenhut
command center thus providing instant response by Mobile
Patrols. RSO and Wackenhut Program Manager will continue to
conduct random checks on all guard posts.


5. Information from this cable will be shared at Post's EAC
meeting scheduled for 0800, Monday, July 11.
Dudley