Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CONAKRY735
2008-12-05 10:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:  

BANK WORKER STRIKE PROMPTS 30% INCREASE IN SALARIES

Tags:  ELAB PHUM ECON PGOV ASEC 
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VZCZCXRO9284
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0735 3401000
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 051000Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3189
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
UNCLAS CONAKRY 000735 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PHUM ECON PGOV ASEC
SUBJECT: BANK WORKER STRIKE PROMPTS 30% INCREASE IN SALARIES

REF: CONAKRY 0708

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000735

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PHUM ECON PGOV ASEC
SUBJECT: BANK WORKER STRIKE PROMPTS 30% INCREASE IN SALARIES

REF: CONAKRY 0708


1. (U) Following its November 14 pre-notification of intent
(reftel),Guinean's union of private bank employees launched
a nationwide labor strike on December first. By the
following day, the union had reached an agreement with bank
managers, which included a commitment to increase salaries by
30%. The union had initially requested a 100% increase.
Banks were closed on December first in observance of the
strike, but began reopening late in the afternoon of December
second.

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COMMENT
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2. (U) The recently released International Trade Union
Confederation Survey for 2008 ranks Guinea as the second
worst trade union oppressor in the world (out of 138
countries). The survey period covers the widespread violence
associated with the strikes of early 2007. This bank
workers' strike is the third strike to take place in Guinea
over 2008. In each of these cases, the labor unions
carefully followed the letter of law and succeeded in
negotiating with employers, usually the government, to reach
acceptable agreements that brought the strikes to peaceful
ends. END COMMENT.
RASPOLIC