UNIONS POSTPONE STRIKES, CALL FOR DIALOGUE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CONAKRY 000029 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL ELAB KDEM ASEC GV SUBJECT: UNIONS POSTPONE STRIKES, CALL FOR DIALOGUE REF: A. CONAKRY 0013 ¶B. CONAKRY 0004 ¶C. CONAKRY 0020 ¶D. CONAKRY 0019 Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) At midnight on January 10, Guinea,s labor unions were able to reach a negotiated agreement to postpone a nationwide labor strike. A key provision of the agreement is the immediate establishment of a Committee of Collaboration and Dialogue, which is supposed to review the January 27 Accords and ensure their proper implementation. Union leaders are now looking at March 31 as an unstated deadline for resolving issues, in preparation for the April 4 opening of the next legislative session. Union leaders report that they are being threatened by the presidential guard and fear for their safety. Although the immediate political crisis has been diverted, Guinea,s current political power struggle is far from over. END SUMMARY. -------------- UNIONS AGREE TO DIALOGUE -------------- ¶2. (U) On the eve of a nationwide labor strike (Reftel A), unions leaders agreed to postpone the strike following a series of meetings that went into the midnight hour last night. After more than five hours of negotiations behind closed doors, which included unions, civil society, the Guinean Government, the Patronat, and religious leaders, participants signed a formal agreement. In return for postponing the strikes, the Government of Guinea agreed to immediately establish a permanent Committee of Collaboration and Dialogue (Committee de Suivi) in order to review the January 27 Accords and monitor their implementation. In addition, the government agreed to review the government restructuring decree (Reftel B),reconstitute the Watchdog Committee (Reftel C),immediately publish the results of recent ministerial audits, to rapidly proceed with investigations into the alleged human rights abuses of early 2007, and to ensure the safety and security of union leaders. -------------- DEFINING THE CAUSE -------------- ¶3. (SBU) On the afternoon of January 9, Ambassador and Poloff met with the unions at their downtown headquarters. During the meeting, which was led mostly by CNTG Secretary General Mme Rabiatou, the unions seemed committed to the need to go forward with the strike. Rabiatou noted that the unions were cognizant of the many outside demands to suspend the strike, but felt that the strike was a critical mechanism by which the unions could tell the Guinean Government that they would not tolerate violations to the January 27 Accords. ¶4. (SBU) When the Ambassador asked why the unions were pursuing the strike, Rabiatou said that the strike is to mark frustration. She stressed that the January 27 Accords had been violated by recent presidential actions, especially the restructuring decree and the firing of the minister of communication (Reftel D). In addition, she acknowledged that the unions and others were partially at fault for Guinea,s current political situation because of their failure to adequately monitor implementation of the Accords after the installation of Kouyate,s consensus government. Rabiatou also emphasized that while the Guinean population was not supporting the strike, the people still support the unions and the general principles they are fighting for. ¶5. (SBU) The Ambassador emphasized that Guinea,s current political situation requires a peaceful Guinean solution. He encouraged union leaders to consider extensive dialogue and consultation between interest groups. Furthermore, the Ambassador said that the strike could effectively derail recent progress, especially in terms of a return to an IMF funded program and concrete steps towards transparent legislative elections. ¶6. (SBU) Dr. Fofana, Secretary General of USTG, told the Ambassador that President Conte is trying to unravel the progress represented by the January 27 Accords, and in particular, to undermine the prime minister. According to Fofana, the planned strike was the only thing holding the president back from replacing more of Kouyate,s cabinet. CONAKRY 00000029 002 OF 003 Referring to government progress on elections and the IMF, Fofana said all of the progress we have today is because of the January 27 Accords. -------------- SEEKING A THIRD FORCE, -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Rabiatou told the Ambassador that even if the problem is a Guinean one, the U.S. can play a role in finding the solution, noting that it is in the U.S. interest to avoid backsliding. She emphasized the need for what she called a third force. Even if the government refuses to listen to the people, they will listen to the international community,, she said. -------------- A CHANGE OF HEART -------------- ¶8. (SBU) An hour after the Ambassador left, Political Section LES visited union headquarters to find union leaders deep in discussion. After consulting with each other and then their respective constituencies, union leaders reportedly decided that it was in everyone,s best interest to postpone the strike. The unions then headed to the National Assembly to negotiate the formal agreement. ¶9. (SBU) Later, Rabiatou and Fofana independently told LES that they had interpreted the Ambassador,s meeting to mean that the U.S. Government did not support the strike, which was reportedly a significant factor in their decision to postpone it. A Guinean internet news site reported that Dr. Fofana had mentioned his conversation with the U.S. Ambassador as one of the factors taken under consideration during union deliberations. -------------- WHAT NEXT -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Although the negotiated agreement did not specify a deadline for achieving the listed objectives, contacts report that everyone is looking at March 31. The National Assembly opens its spring session on April 4 and the President of the National Assembly, Aboubacar Sompare, reportedly told the unions and other participants that since the Committee de Suivi,s recommendations could involve amendments to the constitution and/or legal code, the Committee should be ready before the legislative session convenes. -------------- UNION LEADERS THREATENED -------------- ¶11. (SBU) ECON LES, who was outside the People,s Palace during the closed door negotiations, spoke at length with a group of five young PUP militants (ruling Party for Unity and Progress). Recognizing the group as the same individuals who had hurled insults at Dr. Fofana the previous day, LES asked them about their political agenda. The youths reportedly said that we will destroy whoever insults our leader ) Fofana needs to be tied up and taken to jail., LES said that when Fofana left the meetings, he was heavily guarded and did not even make a press statement. ¶12. (C) Fofana came to the Embassy on January 10 to meet with the Ambassador and Poloff. Fofana,s primary preoccupation was his personal safety and the safety of three of his children still residing in Guinea (he has five other children in the U.S. and in Europe). Fofana told the Ambassador that he continues to receive direct and credible threats from the Red Berets (Presidential Guard). He asked the Ambassador for assistance with visas for the three children in Guinea. Ambassador told Fofana that he would have the consular officer speak to him and that he would talk to other Ambassadors so that they all could encourage the Prime Minister and others to work towards ensuring the safety of union leaders. -------------- LEAVE THE PRESIDENCY OUT OF IT -------------- ¶13. (C) In regards to the negotiated agreement, Fofana told the Ambassador that he does not think the current National Assembly will do anything to advance union interests. When the Ambassador asked about the Committee de Suivi and whether the office of the president would be represented, Fofana said CONAKRY 00000029 003 OF 003 no. He said he didn,t see any need for them to be there because they have no interest in advancing the process. Fofana said that the three republican institutions that will be represented (the Supreme Court, the National Assembly, and the Economic and Social Council) should adequately represent the presidency. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶14. (SBU) The unions, decision to postpone the strikes was a bit surprising since they had made it clear to the Ambassador that they were committed to going forward despite the lack of popular support. According to union leaders, the Ambassador,s comments during the January 9 meeting played a significant role in shifting their game plan. The Ambassador was careful to appear neutral and did not recommend a specific course of action. It is possible that alluding to international pressure may have given the unions an acceptable way to back down from the strike without losing face. ¶15. (C) The tense atmosphere in Guinea seems to have abated, at least for the time being. However, the drama that started to unravel last week is far from finished. This new Committee de Suivi raises several questions and concerns. For one thing, they are going to have to find someone to chair the committee and it may be hard to find a mutually acceptable, objective mediator. For another, they may intentionally be looking to exclude the presidency, which doesn,t bode well for the long-term viability of whatever solution they come up. Last, if they are going to have to amend the legal code, how far are they going to get with a firmly entrenched National Assembly loyal to the old guard? ¶16. (C) Meanwhile, the strategists at the Presidential Palace cannot be ignored. The indefinite postponement of the labor strike may be perceived as a win for Conte. In addition, the PM is going to be forced to deal with the new minister of communication ) another point for Conte. If the presidency makes another move, it could further destabilize what is already a highly volatile political situation, forcing a strong public reaction. In addition, the perceived gains for Conte mean that Kouyate must take the hit. The PM is likely to be even more constrained politically. Guinea,s political situation is nothing if not fluid and these recent events suggest further troubles on the horizon. END COMMENT. CARTER