Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CONAKRY528
2008-09-15 16:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:  

HEALTH UNIONS REFUSE TO BACK DOWN, LABOR STRIKE

Tags:  ELAB PGOV PHUM ASEC GV 
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VZCZCXRO3160
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0528 2591643
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151643Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2929
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
UNCLAS CONAKRY 000528 

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PGOV PHUM ASEC GV
SUBJECT: HEALTH UNIONS REFUSE TO BACK DOWN, LABOR STRIKE
CONTINUES

REF: A. CONAKRY 0440

B. CONAKRY 0506

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000528

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PGOV PHUM ASEC GV
SUBJECT: HEALTH UNIONS REFUSE TO BACK DOWN, LABOR STRIKE
CONTINUES

REF: A. CONAKRY 0440

B. CONAKRY 0506


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Guinea's health unions have entered into
the second week of a nationwide labor strike they resumed on
September 8. Unions leaders are refusing to back down,
despite alleged "intimidation tactics" on the part of the
government, because they are concerned that the government
will not follow through on its promises. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) Leaders of Guinea's health union FSPDS (Guinean
Federation of Health Workers) are refusing to back down from
the nationwide labor strike they resumed on September 8.
FSPDS Secretary General Pierrette Tolno told Pol LES on
September 11 that the strike will continue until President
Conte signs a health statute, which was one of the terms of
the agreement negotiated on August 11. She said that the GoG
lacks the political will to satisfy the union's demands,
which is why the strike must continue.


3. (SBU) Union contacts report that they are under
significant pressure from the Guinean Government to call off
the strike. According to Secretary General Tolno, the GoG
has already resorted to "intimidation tactics," but the union
members are not afraid. Daouda Conde, a member of the FSPDS
Executive Bureau, told Pol LES that several union members
have been receiving verbal threats from the Director of the
Central Communal Medical Center. As of September 15, the
Ministry of Health reportedly planned to send out inspectors
to conduct a "roll call," in order to record the names of
health workers who have not reported to work. Conde told Pol
LES that striking union members have started to express
concern that they will be dismissed or transferred from their
posts, or that their salaries will be docked.


4. (SBU) The Minister of Health appeared on national
television on September 10 stating that the statute is on the
president's desk awaiting his signature. She encouraged
patients to go to the military hospital at Camp Samory Toure
for treatment.


5. (U) Health workers continue to maintain emergency
services at select hospitals and clinics. Private health
facilities continue to operate as normal.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


6. (SBU) This is the first time in the union's history that
a labor strike has exceeded a week in duration due to the
sensitive nature of the services provided. Unions leaders
seem to feel that if they back down in the face of government
pressure, the government will not follow through on its
promises. END COMMENT.
BROKENSHIRE