ISLAMIC ACTION FRONT CALLS FOR TWO-HOUR GENERAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 002404 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV KISL ELAB JO SUBJECT: ISLAMIC ACTION FRONT CALLS FOR TWO-HOUR GENERAL STRIKE REF: A. AMMAN 1986 ¶B. AMMAN 2114 Classified By: AMBASSADOR DAVID HALE FOR REASONS 1.4 (b and d) ¶1. (C) Jordan,s Islamic Action Front called April 3 for a two-hour general strike on Sunday, April 9. The Front said the work stoppage would be in protest against the GOJ,s fourth round of fuel subsidy cuts, which most here expect the GOJ to implement in the coming days (ref A). Post,s contacts in organized labor all report that the Front made no effort to coordinate the strike call with them, and none of the major unions plan to observe the work stoppage. Government employees are also unlikely to heed the IAF,s call. Jordan,s highly-politicized professional associations of lawyers, journalists and others will probably participate. GOJ security services will also discourage participation. ¶2. (C) COMMENT: The Front is feeling its oats after Hamas, electoral victory and a failed attempt by GOJ security services to block the election of its new Secretary General (ref B),though its failure to coordinate with actual unions should give solace to those who fear its momentum in Jordan. Whether or not non-unionized laborers and small traders can make the strike a success, we expect the Front will continue to try to exploit for political gain the discontent of those who believe they are losing as a result of Jordan,s economic liberalization. END COMMENT. HALE