Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KINSHASA797
2006-05-22 05:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:
IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?
how-toVZCZCXRO2256 RR RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR DE RUEHKI #0797 1420554 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 220554Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3914 INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000797
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DRL/IL-MHARPOLE
LABOR FOR DOL/ILAB-TFAULKNER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ECON PGOV SOCI CG
SUBJECT: IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000797
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DRL/IL-MHARPOLE
LABOR FOR DOL/ILAB-TFAULKNER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ECON PGOV SOCI CG
SUBJECT: IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?
1. (U) DRC's physicians launched a general strike in public
hospitals May 8, and are now providing only emergency
services. The doctors' primary demands are a wage increase
and the payment of salary arrears.
2. (U) April 28, Synamed, a physicians' union, advised the
Health and Civil Service Ministries that its members would
strike if the GDRC did not meet demands to increase
salaries, pay salary arrears and reinstate certain staff.
Negotiations were unsuccessful, and the strike commenced.
The GDRC has not paid public hospital physicians for
fourteen months or more, despite a 2005 agreement to
increase monthly salaries by about USD 50 and pay their
wages in a timely fashion. Doctors' monthly salaries
currently range from about USD 42 to USD 59. In addition
to the salary grievance, Synamed is calling for the
reinstatement of doctors whom it says the Ministry of Health
wrongly terminated as fictitious employees, following a
recent civil servant census.
3. (U) If no resolution is reached, Synamed will meet May 20
to discuss what additional measures the union may implement
to pressure the government. (Note: One possible step is to
cease even the minimum emergency service. End note.) The
Ministry of Health confirmed the strike's existence, but
refused to discuss any details with Post.
MEECE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DRL/IL-MHARPOLE
LABOR FOR DOL/ILAB-TFAULKNER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ECON PGOV SOCI CG
SUBJECT: IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?
1. (U) DRC's physicians launched a general strike in public
hospitals May 8, and are now providing only emergency
services. The doctors' primary demands are a wage increase
and the payment of salary arrears.
2. (U) April 28, Synamed, a physicians' union, advised the
Health and Civil Service Ministries that its members would
strike if the GDRC did not meet demands to increase
salaries, pay salary arrears and reinstate certain staff.
Negotiations were unsuccessful, and the strike commenced.
The GDRC has not paid public hospital physicians for
fourteen months or more, despite a 2005 agreement to
increase monthly salaries by about USD 50 and pay their
wages in a timely fashion. Doctors' monthly salaries
currently range from about USD 42 to USD 59. In addition
to the salary grievance, Synamed is calling for the
reinstatement of doctors whom it says the Ministry of Health
wrongly terminated as fictitious employees, following a
recent civil servant census.
3. (U) If no resolution is reached, Synamed will meet May 20
to discuss what additional measures the union may implement
to pressure the government. (Note: One possible step is to
cease even the minimum emergency service. End note.) The
Ministry of Health confirmed the strike's existence, but
refused to discuss any details with Post.
MEECE