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