TEACHERS UNIONS THREATEN NATIONWIDE LABOR STRIKE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000684

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ASEC PGOV GV
SUBJECT: TEACHERS UNIONS THREATEN NATIONWIDE LABOR STRIKE

REF: A. CONAKRY 0663

B. CONAKRY 0668

C. CONAKRY 0670

D. CONAKRY 0675

E. CONAKRY 0678

F. CONAKRY 0325


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Citing the government's continued failure
to fulfill its commitments, Guinea's teacher's union is
threatening to resume a nationwide labor strike that was
suspended in June. The teachers are demanding that the GoG
address their demands before November 10. Union contacts
have indicated that they will likely decide to go forward
with the strike sometime after the November 10 deadline.
Most of the union demands are consistent with previous
demands, but union leaders are now calling for the GoG to
further reduce the fixed fuel price. A $10 million grant
from the World Bank will likely give the GoG the resources it
needs to address the union's most critical demands. END
SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) On November 4 , Guinea's teacher's union
(FSPE-SLECG) signed a declaration demanding that the Guinean
Government address a number of outstanding labor issues
before November 10. Although signed November 4, the
declaration was not actually released until November 6. The
document details four immediate concerns, most of which are
related to previous demands. However, the unions have added
a new demand, asking that the GoG reduce the price of fuel to
GnF 4,500. The union's declaration comes after four days of
civil demonstrations related to fuel price issues (reftels).


3. (SBU) The teacher's union launched a nationwide labor
strike on June 19, which they later suspended on June 22
after the GoG made a number of promises to resolve
long-standing compensation issues over the ensuing months
(reftel). In the November 4 declaration, the union notes
that the GoG has violated the negotiated agreement, failing
to fulfill at least six of its commitments. According to a
union contact, the teacher's union is not required to file a
pre-notification of strike since the previous strike was only
suspended, not cancelled. Contact told Pol LES that the
union may legally decide to strike anytime after the November
10 deadline if the GoG fails to address the union's concerns.


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NON-RECOGNITION OF REGISTERED TEACHERS
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4. (SBU) In the declaration, the union notes that the
Guinean Government, in concertation with the union, conducted
a verification campaign to confirm the employment status of
7,021 teachers. The list of teachers was thought to contain
a number of "ghost workers," i.e. false names under which
other individuals were collecting a salary. A union contact
told Pol LES that the verification campaign identified a
about 1,000 of these ghost teachers, but also confirmed the
legitimacy of the remaining teachers on the list. However,
source said that the GoG continues to refuse to pay these
teachers a salary even though they have been officially
accounted for.

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NEED FOR FUEL PRICE REDUCTION
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5. (SBU) Low salaries have been a point of contention for
the teacher's union for years. The union emphasizes that its
members cannot understand how the GoG can repeatedly deny the
salary increases when it is willing to spend irresponsibly in
other areas, highlighting as an example the recent purchase
of expensive vehicles for high-level officials. The
declaration states: "Must we continue to accept these
expenditures and corruption when our salaries can not even
feed us?" The union uses the salary issue to call for a
reduction in the fixed price of fuel to 4,500 GnF in order to
reduce the general cost of living. (COMMENT. The GoG
subsidizes fuel. The price was raised from 4,300 GnF to
7,000 in April, under significant pressure from the IMF and
the international community. Falling world oil prices
prompted the GoG to reduce the price to 5,500 GnF effective
November 1. The price reduction was reportedly less than the
population anticipated, sparking violent demonstrations for
most of this week. END COMMENT).

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SALARY INCREASES
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CONAKRY 00000684 002 OF 002




6. (SBU) The union also underscores its "astonishment" that
the GoG has suddenly decided to increase base salaries for
all military personnel given that the GoG refused to
negotiate a similar increase for teachers in June, citing
extraordinary budgetary difficulties. In the declaration,
the union questions the government's obvious double standard,
accusing the GoG of favoring one group over another.

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DEMANDING ACTION
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7. (SBU) In conclusion, the union demands the immediate
payment of two months of salary arrears, payment of salary
arrears for teachers hired in 2005 and 2006 (referring to
those teachers being denied per para 4),payment of four
months worth of arrears in basic allowances, and a reduction
in the price of fuel. The union states that if these demands
are not met before November 10, the union reserves the right
to utilize "all legal means at its disposition."

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WORLD BANK TO THE RESCUE
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8. (SBU) On October 30, the World Bank announced a $10
million grant to be given to the Guinean Government in
November and December 2008 "to support Guinea's education
program as it seeks to embark on far reaching reform to
improve access, management and conditions for teaching and
learning in its school system." The World Bank notes that
the Guinean Government has had difficulty "finding money to
pay teachers' salaries," and that the Bank's grant will
ensure that teachers can be paid on time. (This grant will
be further explored in a septel).

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COMMENT
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9. (SBU) By late October, union contacts told Embassy
officials that the teachers would likely agree to resume the
nationwide labor strike that was suspended in June, citing
the GoG's continued failure to fulfill its promises.
However, the World Bank's education grant will probably give
the GoG the resources it needs to resolve the union's most
critical issues in the immediate term. At the same time, the
GoG's recent decision to increase military salaries across
the board (effective January) raises troublesome questions
about priorities and budget management. Union contacts have
indicated that they understand that the GoG cannot reduce the
price of fuel further, but may be adding this demand into the
mix in order to drum up popular support, capitalizing on the
demonstrations earlier this week. END COMMENT.
RASPOLIC