DRC'S NEW LEADING LABOR UNION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000398

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

LABOR FOR ANNE ZOLLNER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ECON PGOV PINR CG
SUBJECT: DRC'S NEW LEADING LABOR UNION

Ref: 05 Kinshasa 1578


1. (SBU) Summary. The successor to the Mobutu-era's single
trade union has lost its place as the nation's leading labor
organization to a better-organized, savvier competitor, the
Confederation Syndicale du Congo (CSC). During a meeting
with EconOff March 6, the CSC's president, Symphorien Dunia,
outlined his union's organizational and political plans,
mused on the presidential contenders' prospects, and shared
his views on the 2006 DRC budget. Although union influence
will not increase significantly in the near-term, unions are
making a step toward increased political involvement. End
summary.


2. (U) January 10, the Ministry of Labor published the
results of union elections that took place nationwide in
hundreds of private and state enterprises and schools during
the last half of 2005. Voter participation was substantial
and enthusiastic, though elections reportedly did not occur
in ministries. Of 117 syndicates that participated, the top
three vote-earning unions were the CSC, UNTC (Union
Nationale des Travailleurs du Congo),and OTUC (Organisation
des Travailleurs Unis du Congo). CSC won 2531 seats via
40,173 votes, UNTC earned 1542 seats with 31,098 votes, and
OTUC won 914 seats with 13,041 votes. CSC is now the
dominant union in eight of eleven provinces. The
Confederation Democratique du Travail (CDT),previously one
of the top three unions, slipped to fourth place. (Note:
Each workplace has from three to twenty union
representatives, depending upon the number of employees.
The top twelve unions form the Intersyndicale Congolais
(reftel),although this group has yet to prove itself
effective. End note.)


3. (SBU) Dunia attributes CSC's win to its strong campaign
efforts and a record of success on behalf of workers.
Conversely, the UNTC (the former lead union and successor to
the Mobutu-era's single trade organization) reportedly lost
support due to its failure to represent its members
effectively. The UNTC did not respond effectively to
workplace disciplinary actions nor force employers'
compliance with collective bargaining agreements that
increased salaries and provided medical benefits.


4. (SBU) Union elections, last held in 2001, also afforded
unions the opportunity to assess their membership rolls and
nationwide organizational capacity. Dunia estimates that
CSC now has 30,000 to 40,000 formal-sector workers who call
themselves members, and claimed there are as many as 300,000
total members (not all dues-paying),when informal-sector
workers are included. (Comment: The latter figure is
probably overly optimistic. End comment.) Dunia said that
CSC's plans include improving intra-organizational
communication and infrastructure and increasing training
opportunities for members to build institutional capacity
and advocacy skills. CSC is already receiving support from
CSC-Belgium in the form of equipment and training funds.
CSC has a long way to go in equipping its provincial offices
if its bare skeleton of an office in Kananga is any
indication (septel).


5. (U) Though noting that the CSC, by its own statute, is
apolitical, Dunia said the CSC holds the institutional seat
as Vice President for External Relations of the Front Social
des Independents (FSI),a civil society group composed of
major labor unions, NGOs and religious leaders. Dunia said
that FSI will present candidates for the DRC's national,
provincial and local elections. He also said that in his
capacity as CSC President he has made a point to promote
voter participation during his travels in the DRC.



6. (SBU) Dunia shared his views of the potential
presidential candidates. He said that Joseph Kabila is the
clear front-runner because he has significant support in
eastern Congo as a result of his reputation as a
"peacemaker" and unifier who removes himself from petty
frays. He dismissed Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba's
chances as well as the RCD's (without specifically
mentioning a candidate),simply stating "they have some
accounts to settle with the people." He said that Vice
President Z'ahidi Ngoma wants to run, but has inadequate
support.

KINSHASA 00000398 002 OF 002




7. (SBU) Turning to discussion of the DRC's finances, Dunia
called the GDRC's 2006 budget "suicidal and anti-social."
Unsurprisingly, he said that the budget neglects health,
education and other social spending in favor of expenses for
the Espace Presidentiel and other less pressing needs. He
called the 2005 6.6 percent GDP growth rate "theoretical,"
explaining that average Congolese were not experiencing any
increase in their standard of living.

Comment
--------------


8. (SBU) Union elections are a positive exercise in the
democratic process. Until economic conditions improve
substantially, however, most unions will likely make little
progress, as the GDRC and private sector employers currently
lack the resources and will to increase salaries and
benefits. Dunia may be an interesting leader to watch, as
he is well-known, affable, media savvy, relatively
articulate, a good organizer and has a clear economic and
political vision. End comment.

MEECE