TEACHERS, PROFESSORS, MEDICAL WORKERS END STRIKES;

UNCLAS ABIDJAN 000314

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

ACCRA FOR USAID/WARP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ECON PGOV IV
SUBJECT: TEACHERS, PROFESSORS, MEDICAL WORKERS END STRIKES;
GOV'T EXPRESSES EXASPERATION, ISSUES WARNING DURING
NATIONAL "SOCIAL CONVENTION"

REF: ABIDJAN 203


1. (U) Summary. Within the last few weeks, striking
secondary school teachers (reftel),university professors and
researchers, and medical technicians and nurses all ended
their strikes, bringing a measure of labor calm to the
government-controlled zone (the strikes did not take place in
the Forces Nouvelles-held zones). End Summary.


2. (SBU) Secondary schools resumed classes on March 19
after twenty six school days were lost. The Ministry of
Education (controlled by FPI stalwart Michel Amani N'Guessan)
yielded significant ground, committing to implement
recommendations made at a 2006 Grand Bassam seminar to
increase housing allowances and boost the grade of teachers
with advanced degrees. More importantly, the Ministry agreed
to recognize the "illegal" union behind the strike that was
more than 90 percent effective in the government zone. In an
abrupt, politically embarrassing volte face, the Ministry
agreed to let the Coordination of Secondary School Teachers
(CES) apply for legal status. In an attempt to break the
strike, five CES leaders had been jailed (for declaring a
strike by an "illegal" group),but the government was later
forced to released them, bowing to public pressure to end the
strike as teachers remained firm in their demands.


3. (SBU) University professors and researchers ended their
two-week old strike on March 14 when President Gbagbo offered
to "consider" their demands for higher professional grades
and the reinstatement of doctors and nurses at teaching
hospitals into the national Civil Service.


4. (SBU) On March 12, the nation's paramedical corps ended
their eleven-day strike after the government issued a decree
implementing a January accord to boost allowances by 100
percent. The government had failed to put into effect the
January accord, prompting a resumption of the paramedics'
work stoppage from January.


5. (SBU) The end of the work stoppages took place shortly
after the conclusion of a week-long "Social Forum" in Grand
Bassam on March 2. At the closing ceremony, President Gbagbo
announced some modest changes in labor practices: the end of
mandatory retirement after 30 years of service, an increase
in family and transport allowances, consideration of more
sweeping recommendations put forth by public and private
commissions related to public salary levels (frozen since
1997),an overall revision of the public sector professional
grading system, and increased protections for private sector
employees against dismissal and layoffs. However, the
President asked participants to sign a "social truce" against
strikes on April 3, reinforcing not-so veiled threats of
stronger actions against strikers made by Labor Minister
Hubert Oulaye (also FPI) during the Forum.


6. (SBU) Comment: The government appears to have bought
some labor peace, at least in the short term, by acceding to
much of the unions' agenda. However, the relative success of
these strikes may encourage similar actions by other groups,
at least in the public sector. We would not be surprised to
see such labor challenges arise early in the existence of a
new transitional government, whether it be led by Soro or
someone else. End Comment.
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