Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ABIDJAN120
2007-02-01 11:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abidjan
Cable title:  

COTE D'IVOIRE: PARAMEDICS END DEBILITATING STRIKE

Tags:  ELAB ECON PGOV IV 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4781
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHAB #0120 0321151
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011151Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2531
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ABIDJAN 000120 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ECON PGOV IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: PARAMEDICS END DEBILITATING STRIKE
AS GOCI ANNOUNCES FORUM TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SECTOR LABOR
GRIEVANCES

UNCLAS ABIDJAN 000120

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ECON PGOV IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: PARAMEDICS END DEBILITATING STRIKE
AS GOCI ANNOUNCES FORUM TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SECTOR LABOR
GRIEVANCES


1. (U) Cote d'Ivoire's "paramedics" (public health workers
excluding doctors, who have pursued their own pay grievances
independently) ended a 3-week old strike on January 29,
following government commitments to give them two thirds of
the pay increase they were demanding. This agreement,
increasing the so-called paramedical allowance from CFA
20,000 to CFA 40,000 (about USD 40 to USD 80) per month has
brought back to work 6,000 nurses, 2,500 midwives and 2,500
health technicians who had refused to work in public
hospitals and clinics during the strike's duration.


2. (U) According to unconfirmed press accounts, up to sixty
people died as a result of being denied treatment at
government facilities, particularly university teaching
hospitals in populous sections of Greater Abidjan. Public
attention to the strike was high, and even family members of
domestic staff of Embassy employees reported being affected
(the death of one such family member has been attributed to
denial of care). Negotiations involved the Ministers of
Health, Labor and Finance, but finally required the personal
intervention of Prime Minister Banny, who brokered the
eventual compromise.


3. (U) Several outstanding demands remain (new allowances
for risk and housing, review of current pay scales) and the
implementation of the agreement hinges on payment of the
increased allowances in July, retroactively back to January.
The outstanding concerns of the paramedics are to be
addressed at an upcoming February 15 "Social Forum" which was
announced after the January 17 Cabinet meeting (presided over
by President Gbagbo and attended by Prime Minister Banny).
The Forum is intended to cover labor grievances throughout
the public sector, such as dangerous work conditions,
training, pay scales and job classification.
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