CHAD: STRIKE DRAGS ON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NDJAMENA 000523 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ELAB PGOV ASEC CD SUBJECT: CHAD: STRIKE DRAGS ON ¶1. SUMMARY: Some progress has been made, but the general strike in Chad still drags on. The government is holding to its offer of a 15 percent salary increase. Some minor unions have accepted but the major union has again balked. Meanwhile, a peaceful group of female teachers on June 21 blocked the major street running in front of the Embassy. END SUMMARY. Endless Strike Dribbles On -------------- ¶2. Chad's strike of civil servants has continued since May ¶2. The umbrella union group (Intersyndicale) on June 21 again rejected the offer of a 15 percent salary increase, which President Deby announced a month ago. The Intersyndicale, which had opened with a demand for a 300 percent increase and then modified it to 200 percent, appeared to be prepared to accept 15 percent on condition of guaranteed pay raises in subsequent years. But the government held firm to 15 percent with nothing guaranteed thereafter. Three minor unions did sign on the government's offer, but the major sectors -- education, health, justice -- continue to be affected. ¶3. The strike has taken place largely without violent incident. The greatest potential flash point was at the high schools during the first week in June, the period of final examinations. (Chad has a history of violence at the high schools, including the spark that led to the greatest outpouring of violence in 1979.) The examinations took place under heavy police guard, with substitutes overseeing exams and in the absence of many students -- but largely without violence. Ladies Block Embassy Street -------------- ¶4. Thereafter, quiet prevailed until June 21, when primary teachers staged a peaceful protest. These teachers had gathered at the teachers' union office where they normally get paid, which happens to be located across from the Embassy on one of Ndjamena's main streets. The government has paid university-level teachers, despite the strike, but not primary- or secondary-school teachers. On being informed they would get no salary for the month of May unless they signed a statement that they would resume work, a group of these teachers moved benches onto the street. Approximately 100 female teachers then sat down in the street, completely blocking traffic all day. (The male teachers helped move the benches but opted not to participate in the sit-down.) ¶5. The protest was not directed against the Embassy, although the proximity of the Embassy may have given the women confidence that the police might not harm them. The police requested the women to leave, which they refused to do. The police then asked them not to gather too close to the Embassy, so that Embassy vehicles could come and go more easily. They complied. The police made no attempt to break up the protest, despite the complete blockage of one of Ndjamena's main arteries. The protesters dispersed at dark. On June 22, it appeared that these teachers were going to get paid for May after all, without having to sign any statement. Not Without Consequences -------------- ¶6. The strike has not hobbled Chad, but there have been consequences. The end of the school year was disrupted, and health services have been held to a minimal emergency level. The judicial process -- such as it is in Chad -- has ground to a halt, impeding legal transactions and forcing arrestees to remain in jail without trial. (The judges have called off a separate strike, which protested recurrent violence against them throughout the country, but lower level civil servants in the justice system are part of the Intersyndicale and continue their strike.) The absence of customs officials has slowed importation of goods, causing increasing prices and increased unavailability of goods. Even the government's offer of 15 percent is, according to the World Bank, beyond what it can afford. ¶7. We anticipate that the strike will slowly wind down. The government appears determined to wait out the Intersyndicale. The populace is sympathetic with the strikers but tired of the strike. The Intersyndicale lost its most effective pressure point when the school session ended. It does not NDJAMENA 00000523 002 OF 002 appear to have the willingness or ability to turn up further pressure on the government, at least during the summer season. WALL