COTE D'IVOIRE: UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS CALL

UNCLAS ABIDJAN 000589 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB PGOV ECON EFIN IV SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS CALL TWO-WEEK TRUCE REF: A) ABIDJAN 560 B) ABIDJAN 549 ¶1. (U) The coordination of university professors known as Coordination Nationale des Enseignants du Superieur et des Chercheurs (CNEC),has called a two-week truce after meeting with Prime Minister Banny on May 29. While the Prime Minister was not able to promise a salary increase, which is CNEC's main demand, Banny did put three concessionary offers on the table: a delay in the mandatory retirement age from 60 to 62, an increase in research bonuses to USD 1,200 for junior lecturers and USD 2,200 for full professors, and permission for professors over the age of 65 who have not yet completed 30 years in service to continue teaching. Currently, professors must retire at 65 regardless of the number of years of service. CNEC's members have resumed teaching duties until June 11, while they discuss the Prime Minister's proposal and attempt to negotiate further concessions from the government. ¶2. (U) What is CNEC: The university professors, coordination is a group of professors and researchers that was created ten months ago to address the professors' unmet demands for salary increases, and research and housing allowances. Although union-like in appearance and actions, CNEC is not a legally registered Ivoirian union. Two other formal teachers' unions already exist: the Syndicat National de la Recherche et l,Enseignement Superieur (SYNARES) and Union Nationale de l,Enseignement Superieur et de la Recherche (UNESUR). It is widely understood by the rank-and-file that CNEC is the only active, apolitical organization that carries the support and power of the professors. Approximately 80% of professors support CNEC's actions, arguing that the existing unions failed to defend the aspirations of their members on the key issues and are too pro-FPI to advocate for the rank-and-file in a balanced way. Legally CNEC does not have the right to organize a strike. The reality, however, is that this "coordination" body has succeeded in paralyzing university activity and suspending classes for more than 40,000 students because its members have respected CNEC's call to strike. The Prime Minister has recognized CNEC as the popular representative of the university professors. For that reason, Banny refused to heed the call of the Minister of Labor, Civil Servants and Administrative Reform to suspend the salaries of the professors participating in an "illegal strike" and Banny has agreed to continue his talks with the CNEC. Hooks