IVOIRIAN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS LAUNCH SURPRISE

UNCLAS ABIDJAN 001083 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CI EAIR ECON ELAB FAA PREL SUBJECT: IVOIRIAN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS LAUNCH SURPRISE STRIKE ¶1. All air traffic at Abidjan airport was halted September 26 when Cote d'Ivoire's national air traffic controllers, the local branch of ASECNA, launched a strike. Union contacts told us the strike was called to protest "inappropriate working conditions", which included outdated radar equipment as well as unspecified contraventions of international professional standards related to pay and benefits. The strike, which grounded even UN flights in and out of Abidjan, was unannounced, and union contacts told us it is planned to last three days. Controllers did make an exception to allow President Gbagbo and South African President Mbeki to fly to Ouagadougou the morning of September 26, for a suddenly-announced trip to meet with President Campaore of Burkina Faso. ¶2. As of the afternoon of September 26th, the union was still in negotiations with the Ministry of Transport. No word was available as to the progress of talks. Contacts from Air France tell us that they have a flight en route from Paris scheduled to arrive around 1800 local time which they will divert to Lome if the aircraft is not allowed to land here. We will monitor the situation closely. Valle