Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06YAOUNDE928
2006-06-16 06:36:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Yaounde
Cable title:
CAMEROON HIT BY A SERIES OF STRIKES
how-toVZCZCXRO1023 PP RUEHMA DE RUEHYD #0928/01 1670636 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 160636Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6292 INFO RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA PRIORITY 1064 RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA PRIORITY 0283 RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY 0687 RUEHLC/AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE PRIORITY 1196 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1247 RUEHMA/AMEMBASSY MALABO PRIORITY 0031 RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA PRIORITY 1156 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1430 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YAOUNDE 000928
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/C
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA ACTION OFFICERS
EUCOM FOR J5-A AFRICA DIVISION AND POLAD YATES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ELAB CM EAIR ASEC EFIN
SUBJECT: CAMEROON HIT BY A SERIES OF STRIKES
REF: BRUCKER JUNE 12 WEEKLY UPDATE EMAIL
-------
Summary
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YAOUNDE 000928
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/C
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA ACTION OFFICERS
EUCOM FOR J5-A AFRICA DIVISION AND POLAD YATES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ELAB CM EAIR ASEC EFIN
SUBJECT: CAMEROON HIT BY A SERIES OF STRIKES
REF: BRUCKER JUNE 12 WEEKLY UPDATE EMAIL
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (U) Cameroon has been hit by four strikes in the first
two weeks of June, some of which are related. Employees of
the national airline (CAMAIR),taxi drivers, Wackenhut
security guards and university students have all walked out.
While it is too soon to characterize this as a "wave," four
in two weeks is a lot and the fact that the taxi drivers and
(likely) the Wackenhut guards secured concessions by striking
could embolden others to strike to improve pay and/or working
conditions. End Summary.
--------------
Four Strikes in Two Weeks
--------------
2. (U) As reported in ref email, CAMAIR employees went on
strike in early June to protest the company's eventual
privatization and partial liquidation. The strike grounded
CAMAIR's two planes for several days but they were flying
again by June 10. A decision on the company's privatization
is expected by the end of June.
3. (U) To protest rising fuel prices, Cameroon's taxi
drivers orchestrated a one-day strike June 12 in an effort to
secure higher fare rates. The strike left many commuters
stranded as taxis are Cameroon's only real form of urban
public transportation. The Ministry of Labor and Social
Security agreed to a base rate hike (from FCFA 175-200 (about
40 cents)) during the day and to FCFA 250 (50 cents) at
night. Taxis were back on the street by June 13.
4. (U) The taxi rate hike prompted students at the
University of Yaounde II to strike June 13; the students
complain that the higher rates make taxis prohibitively
expensive. (Comment: Students are not alone in this
feeling.) For students at this branch of the university,
quite distant from town, the increase raises the one way fare
from FCFA 1000 to FCFA 1140 (about USD 2.25).
5. (U) Separately, Wackenhut guards went on strike the
morning of June 14 in an effort to secure contractually owed
severance pay due as a result of the company's recent
acquisition by the German firm Group Four. Day guards did
not show up for work at the Embassy and many diplomatic
residences, forcing dedicated night shift guards to work as
long as 36 hours without relief.
6. (U) The Wackenhut strike was not without violence.
Guards at the Peace Corps headquarters were attacked by
colleagues for staying on the job, though gendarmes at the
site quickly broke this up. There were other reports of
harassment and gendarmes forcibly removed and arrested nearly
100 Wackenhut guards who were protesting in front of
Wackenhut headquarters on June 14. The company reportedly
signed on replacement guards at Wackenhut headquarters even
as negotiations were going on.
7. (U) Wackenhut did not reach an agreement with the guards
on June 14, but representatives from the Ministry of Labor
plan to address senior guard delegates on June 16 to resolve
the severance pay issue. Day guards resumed their normal
duties June 15, but violence continued with angry guards
destroying a parked automobile.
--------------
Comment
--------------
8. (SBU) While it is too soon to characterize these strikes
as a "wave," their high concentration -- and results -- have
caught attention. The taxi and student strikes underscore
the keen price sensitivity to rate hikes for everyday goods
and services. The Wackenhut walkout highlights the
frustration with heavy-handed labor practices and underscores
YAOUNDE 00000928 002 OF 002
the near desperation of the guards who were willing to risk
their (at most) USD 100 per month jobs in a high un- and
under-employment environment to make the point that they
expect to be treated fairly. Gendarmerie Minister Aleokol
told the Ambassador June 15 that he sees a direct connection
between recent achievement of the HIPC Completion Point and
the recent spike in social unrest: popular expectations are
too high, and more disappointments will follow. End Comment.
MARQUARDT
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/C
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA ACTION OFFICERS
EUCOM FOR J5-A AFRICA DIVISION AND POLAD YATES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ELAB CM EAIR ASEC EFIN
SUBJECT: CAMEROON HIT BY A SERIES OF STRIKES
REF: BRUCKER JUNE 12 WEEKLY UPDATE EMAIL
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (U) Cameroon has been hit by four strikes in the first
two weeks of June, some of which are related. Employees of
the national airline (CAMAIR),taxi drivers, Wackenhut
security guards and university students have all walked out.
While it is too soon to characterize this as a "wave," four
in two weeks is a lot and the fact that the taxi drivers and
(likely) the Wackenhut guards secured concessions by striking
could embolden others to strike to improve pay and/or working
conditions. End Summary.
--------------
Four Strikes in Two Weeks
--------------
2. (U) As reported in ref email, CAMAIR employees went on
strike in early June to protest the company's eventual
privatization and partial liquidation. The strike grounded
CAMAIR's two planes for several days but they were flying
again by June 10. A decision on the company's privatization
is expected by the end of June.
3. (U) To protest rising fuel prices, Cameroon's taxi
drivers orchestrated a one-day strike June 12 in an effort to
secure higher fare rates. The strike left many commuters
stranded as taxis are Cameroon's only real form of urban
public transportation. The Ministry of Labor and Social
Security agreed to a base rate hike (from FCFA 175-200 (about
40 cents)) during the day and to FCFA 250 (50 cents) at
night. Taxis were back on the street by June 13.
4. (U) The taxi rate hike prompted students at the
University of Yaounde II to strike June 13; the students
complain that the higher rates make taxis prohibitively
expensive. (Comment: Students are not alone in this
feeling.) For students at this branch of the university,
quite distant from town, the increase raises the one way fare
from FCFA 1000 to FCFA 1140 (about USD 2.25).
5. (U) Separately, Wackenhut guards went on strike the
morning of June 14 in an effort to secure contractually owed
severance pay due as a result of the company's recent
acquisition by the German firm Group Four. Day guards did
not show up for work at the Embassy and many diplomatic
residences, forcing dedicated night shift guards to work as
long as 36 hours without relief.
6. (U) The Wackenhut strike was not without violence.
Guards at the Peace Corps headquarters were attacked by
colleagues for staying on the job, though gendarmes at the
site quickly broke this up. There were other reports of
harassment and gendarmes forcibly removed and arrested nearly
100 Wackenhut guards who were protesting in front of
Wackenhut headquarters on June 14. The company reportedly
signed on replacement guards at Wackenhut headquarters even
as negotiations were going on.
7. (U) Wackenhut did not reach an agreement with the guards
on June 14, but representatives from the Ministry of Labor
plan to address senior guard delegates on June 16 to resolve
the severance pay issue. Day guards resumed their normal
duties June 15, but violence continued with angry guards
destroying a parked automobile.
--------------
Comment
--------------
8. (SBU) While it is too soon to characterize these strikes
as a "wave," their high concentration -- and results -- have
caught attention. The taxi and student strikes underscore
the keen price sensitivity to rate hikes for everyday goods
and services. The Wackenhut walkout highlights the
frustration with heavy-handed labor practices and underscores
YAOUNDE 00000928 002 OF 002
the near desperation of the guards who were willing to risk
their (at most) USD 100 per month jobs in a high un- and
under-employment environment to make the point that they
expect to be treated fairly. Gendarmerie Minister Aleokol
told the Ambassador June 15 that he sees a direct connection
between recent achievement of the HIPC Completion Point and
the recent spike in social unrest: popular expectations are
too high, and more disappointments will follow. End Comment.
MARQUARDT