TAXI DRIVERS RETURN TO WORK

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000300 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB PGOV ASEC GV SUBJECT: TAXI DRIVERS RETURN TO WORK REF: CONAKRY 292 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY. Taxi drivers ended a one-day strike on May 27 and returned to work this morning. An agreement was negotiated last night with CNDD President Dadis that significantly lowered a road tax and adjusted passenger load restrictions. Dadis' handling of the strike sets a troubling precedent and strikingly echoes the methods of late President Conte. END SUMMARY. -------------- AGREEMENT REACHED WITH DADIS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Conakry's streets were clogged with taxis this morning as taxi drivers ended their one-day strike after coming to agreement with CNDD President Moussa Dadis Camara last night (reftel). A contact in Guinea's transportation union (OUSA-CNTG) told Embassy LES that taxi drivers met with Dadis during the night and agreed to return to work when Dadis declared that the annual "road tax" -- that was recently raised by the CNDD to 300,000 GnF ($61.22)-- would now be reduced to 100,000 GnF ($20.00). In addition, taxis are now limited to only one passenger in the front and four in the back. Despite the new agreement, the majority of taxis on the road this morning had two passengers squeezed into the front passenger seat. ¶3. (SBU) The union contact told Embassy LES that she was disappointed in the negotiation process and in the tenuous nature of the agreement which she feared could be reversed at any time. She complained that there was no serious consultation with the taxi drivers or with other Cabinet officials. Dadis, claiming that his father was a former taxi driver, simply pronounced the new road tax and passenger configuration. In a scene reminiscent of many other public appearances, Dadis reportedly first announced to the taxi drivers that he would lower the road tax to 150,000 GnF. Following the crowd's wild applause, Dadis then lowered the tax even further to 100,000 GnF -- half of what private vehicles pay. ¶4. (SBU) COMMENT. By reaching a quick agreement with the taxi drivers, Dadis wins. Taxi drivers received a substantial reduction in the road tax, while new passenger load rules that would limit income and increase safety are already being ignored. Violence was avoided and the city is back in motion. However, a troubling paradigm has now been established -- one that strikingly echoes former President Conte's methods in which he unilaterally pronounced decisions at the last minute that settled disputes, but did not address systemic problems. According to some sources, the teachers may be the next to strike before the academic year ends in June. If that happens, Dadis may soon find himself once again negotiating alone with a special interest group on the brink of upheaval. END COMMENT. RASPOLIC