UNIONISTS AT RUSSIAN BAUXITE MINE CONCLUDE STRIKE

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000275 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB PHUM PGOV KDEM ASEC GV SUBJECT: UNIONISTS AT RUSSIAN BAUXITE MINE CONCLUDE STRIKE PEACEFULLY ¶1. (SBU) Unionists at the Russian owned Rusal bauxite mine in Fria, about two hours to the northeast of Conakry, have been holding a peaceful labor strike since Monday, June 02. As of 15:00 on June 06, it appears that the unionists have been able to successfully negotiate an acceptable deal with the company. Throughout the course of the week, the mine was operating with a skeleton crew. Most employees reported to the mine as scheduled, but refused to work. Increases in salaries and cost of living allowances were at the top of the unions' demands. In addition, the general population was reportedly frustrated over an extended power outage in the city, which they blamed on Rusal since the plant supplies electricity to the surrounding community. ¶2. (SBU) According to sources, one of the factors driving Rusal's workers to strike was the fact that another company, The Guinean Bauxite Company (CBG) in Kamsar, a few hours away from Fria, had already agreed to increase their employees' compensation package to address high inflation. ¶3. (SBU) A union representative told Pol LES that Rusal agreed to provide each of its employees with a monthly cost of living allowance of $122 rather than the $30 initially proposed by the company. In addition, Rusal reportedly agreed to increase all salaries by 10%, effective the beginning of July. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Fria is a company town with most of the local community reliant on Rusal mine in one fashion or another. It is one of the few communities in the country that has power around the clock, thanks to the mine. Some civil demonstrations and labor strikes in Fria have been violent in the past, but the unionists were able to peacefully organize and successfully negotiate an amicable deal this time around, despite elevated political tensions in the capital. END COMMENT. CARTER