FRESH THREATS OF AIRPORT STRIKE IN SURINAME

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000479 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR WHA/CAR - Jackie Rosholt E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ELAB PGOV NS SUBJECT: FRESH THREATS OF AIRPORT STRIKE IN SURINAME REF: PARAMARIBO 477 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY Immediate fears that all flight operations at the Johan Adolf International airport would be suspended from midnight on September 7 were alleviated when the labor union and the board of Airport Management chose the path of dialogue. However, union members almost immediately rejected the agreement, and the union issued a fresh ultimatum. The ultimatum is likely another bluff. END SUMMARY ¶2. (U) A strike at the international airport was averted late Friday evening (September 7) when the Government of Suriname and union leaders agreed on a ten percent salary increase over 2007, plus an additional lump sum payment of 400 Surinamese Dollars (approx. U.S. $143). However, employees later rejected this agreement, stating that it does not include enough guarantees that they would indeed receive the salary increase. Employees also demanded that the government take a decision regarding airport tax tariffs and on the title to the land the airport is built on. The union has given the government another ultimatum: suspension of all operations at the airport if demands have not been met by midnight Tuesday, September 11. ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT: Neither local media nor the Ministry responsible for the airport (Transport, Communication, and Tourism) has taken much note of the strike. The non-salary demands reflect more of a "management" agenda, lending credence to the theory (reftel) that union leadership and "Airport Management" are collaborating to achieve their respective aims. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Head of the Americas Division Terence Craig concurred privately that the strike threat was likely cooked up by the union and the management at the airport in an attempt to embarrass the government. As with the Friday ultimatum, the new Tuesday ultimatum is almost certainly a bluff. END COMMENT SCHREIBER HUGHES