STRIKING UNIVERSITY STAFF STAGE DEMONSTRATIONS CLOSE TO

UNCLAS HERMOSILLO 000078 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ELAB ASEC MX SUBJECT: STRIKING UNIVERSITY STAFF STAGE DEMONSTRATIONS CLOSE TO CONSULATE SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. Tensions are rising between the Employee's Union of the University of Sonora and University Administrators, as the union is demanding renegotiated salary contracts and is threatening to strike on April 3. Due to ConGen Hermosillo's proximity to the University of Sonora and the Governor's Palace, there is a possibility that large demonstrations may pass near us, although it is not anticipated. End Summary ¶2. Classes at the University of Sonora have been suspended several times over the past two months due to a labor strike. The Union of Workers and Employees of the University of Sonora (STEUS) has engaged in several no-shows, the most recent of which was for three days ending March 24. Members of the union recently staged three marches, two of which went from the main building to governor's palace, about a kilometer away, to raise awareness of their plight. STEUS is demanding a 20 % salary increase and is threatening to go on a full strike if its demands are not met by April 3. ¶3. At least two other unions have expressed their solidarity with STEUS. The Local 65 Miners' Union of Cananea, and the Union of Academic workers of the University of Sonora (STAUS) participated in one of the marches to the governor's palace. The Miners' Union of Cananea numbers slightly more than 1000 members according to its website. STAUS and STEUS jointly staged a work stoppage on March 9th. STAUS claims that more than 1000 people participated in the march to the governor's palace at the beginning of the month. ¶4. A 21-day strike last year by STEUS began in a similar fashion. In March 2008, STEUS staged two work stoppages before launching a strike on April 3rd, 2008. In response to demonstrations by STEUS, a group organized by students from the accounting and medical departments staged counter-protests against the strike. COMMENT -------------- ¶5. CONGEN Hermosillo is located near the route from the university to the Governor's palace (one street west). While there is potential for demonstrators marching near the consulate, there is no history of any problems related to strikes in the past. Although a strike might be seen as a drastic measure, the breakdown of salary negotiations between STEUS and the university are a routine occurrence and one professor stated that it happens every year. That notwithstanding, if the strike were to go on for an extended period of time, then the university would expand the school year into the summer, affecting 30,000 students in the UNISON system - that includes the Hermosillo, Caborca, and Navajoa campuses. The participation of the miners' union, while adding numbers, appears to be little more than a public relations move. The Local 65 has been striking for 19 months, without making any progress, in order to obtain better working conditions. According to the Miners' website, they are exhorting members to take the strike beyond the mine and into Hermosillo. Expressing solidarity with STEUS provides the miners' union with the opportunity to bring the struggle to the city and out of the mine. BREIDENSTINE