Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TEGUCIGALPA1054
2008-11-21 22:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Cable title:
HONDURAN TEACHERS DEMANDING PAYMENT OF BACK WAGES
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 001054
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2018
TAGS: ELAB PGOV KDEM SOCI HO
SUBJECT: HONDURAN TEACHERS DEMANDING PAYMENT OF BACK WAGES
THREATEN TO BLOCK POLLING STATIONS ON ELECTION DAY
Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens, reasons 1.4 (B & D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 001054
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2018
TAGS: ELAB PGOV KDEM SOCI HO
SUBJECT: HONDURAN TEACHERS DEMANDING PAYMENT OF BACK WAGES
THREATEN TO BLOCK POLLING STATIONS ON ELECTION DAY
Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens, reasons 1.4 (B & D)
1. (C) Teachers unions are threatening to close polling
stations, mostly located in schools, for the November 30
primary elections due to an ongoing pay dispute with the
government. While President Manuel "Mel" Zelaya gave into
demands of the teachers unions on October 13, promising to
pay over 300 million lempiras (USD 16 million) in back wages
owed since February to a group of questionable teachers, the
government has not yet made good on his promise.
Representatives of the six main teachers' unions met November
19 in Tegucigalpa and agreed to take a proposal back to their
membership in which the teachers would take over, on November
25, schools were voting booths are installed in order to
impede voting in the November 30 primary elections. The
teachers' threats are doubly damaging, because the Supreme
Electoral Tribunal (TSE) was actually counting on them to
assist with the electoral process. In October, the teachers
signed an agreement with the TSE to serve as impartial
observers and assist with the early transmittal of results
from the polling stations. The teachers also threatened to
withhold report cards and not file their appropriate
administrative paperwork, which would keep students from
graduating or moving onto the next grade level. The Public
Ministry has publicly stated that anyone who impedes the
electoral process can be arrested and charged. The TSE has
demanded that the GOH take steps to resolve this conflict
before November 25.
2. (C) The Minister of Security told an Embassy officer he
doubted the teacher's strike would affect the election, and
he was not preparing any special security measures to handle
it. President Zelaya also told the Ambassador on November 21
that he expected the issue to be resolved next week and did
not see the teachers as able to disrupt the elections.
3. (C) Comment: We do not believe that Zelaya is behind this
latest move to stop the elections, but he certainly is in a
position to take advantage of the chaos. We doubt Zelaya
would be willing to instruct the police or the Armed Forces,
which monitor and provide security for the elections, to
arrest or take any other action against the teachers,
especially since they have had a mutually supportive
relationship in the past. Thankfully the teachers have
proposed taking over the schools a few days before the
elections are scheduled, so as to give the GOH time to
negotiate. As the teachers are widely disdained, we do not
foresee the public supporting them in their efforts, but
there is always the possibility of scattered violence in
various locales. End Comment.
LLORENS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2018
TAGS: ELAB PGOV KDEM SOCI HO
SUBJECT: HONDURAN TEACHERS DEMANDING PAYMENT OF BACK WAGES
THREATEN TO BLOCK POLLING STATIONS ON ELECTION DAY
Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens, reasons 1.4 (B & D)
1. (C) Teachers unions are threatening to close polling
stations, mostly located in schools, for the November 30
primary elections due to an ongoing pay dispute with the
government. While President Manuel "Mel" Zelaya gave into
demands of the teachers unions on October 13, promising to
pay over 300 million lempiras (USD 16 million) in back wages
owed since February to a group of questionable teachers, the
government has not yet made good on his promise.
Representatives of the six main teachers' unions met November
19 in Tegucigalpa and agreed to take a proposal back to their
membership in which the teachers would take over, on November
25, schools were voting booths are installed in order to
impede voting in the November 30 primary elections. The
teachers' threats are doubly damaging, because the Supreme
Electoral Tribunal (TSE) was actually counting on them to
assist with the electoral process. In October, the teachers
signed an agreement with the TSE to serve as impartial
observers and assist with the early transmittal of results
from the polling stations. The teachers also threatened to
withhold report cards and not file their appropriate
administrative paperwork, which would keep students from
graduating or moving onto the next grade level. The Public
Ministry has publicly stated that anyone who impedes the
electoral process can be arrested and charged. The TSE has
demanded that the GOH take steps to resolve this conflict
before November 25.
2. (C) The Minister of Security told an Embassy officer he
doubted the teacher's strike would affect the election, and
he was not preparing any special security measures to handle
it. President Zelaya also told the Ambassador on November 21
that he expected the issue to be resolved next week and did
not see the teachers as able to disrupt the elections.
3. (C) Comment: We do not believe that Zelaya is behind this
latest move to stop the elections, but he certainly is in a
position to take advantage of the chaos. We doubt Zelaya
would be willing to instruct the police or the Armed Forces,
which monitor and provide security for the elections, to
arrest or take any other action against the teachers,
especially since they have had a mutually supportive
relationship in the past. Thankfully the teachers have
proposed taking over the schools a few days before the
elections are scheduled, so as to give the GOH time to
negotiate. As the teachers are widely disdained, we do not
foresee the public supporting them in their efforts, but
there is always the possibility of scattered violence in
various locales. End Comment.
LLORENS