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RR RUEHGI
DE RUEHNJ #0523/01 1731457
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
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INFO RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 1416
RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI 1395
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0467
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1709
RUEHNM/AMEMBASSY NIAMEY 2972
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RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 1570

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NDJAMENA 000523 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ELAB PGOV ASEC CD
SUBJECT: CHAD:  STRIKE DRAGS ON 
 
 ¶1.  SUMMARY:  Some progress has been made, but the general 
strike in Chad still drags on.  The government is holding to 
its offer of a 15 percent salary increase.  Some minor unions 
have accepted but the major union has again balked. 
Meanwhile, a peaceful group of female teachers on June 21 
blocked the major street running in front of the Embassy. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
Endless Strike Dribbles On 
-------------------------- 
 
¶2.  Chad's strike of civil servants has continued since May 
¶2.  The umbrella union group (Intersyndicale) on June 21 
again rejected the offer of a 15 percent salary increase, 
which President Deby announced a month ago.  The 
Intersyndicale, which had opened with a demand for a 300 
percent increase and then modified it to 200 percent, 
appeared to be prepared to accept 15 percent on condition of 
guaranteed pay raises in subsequent years.  But the 
government held firm to 15 percent with nothing guaranteed 
thereafter.  Three minor unions did sign on the government's 
offer, but the major sectors -- education, health, justice -- 
continue to be affected. 
 
¶3.  The strike has taken place largely without violent 
incident.  The greatest potential flash point was at the high 
schools during the first week in June, the period of final 
examinations.  (Chad has a history of violence at the high 
schools, including the spark that led to the greatest 
outpouring of violence in 1979.)  The examinations took place 
under heavy police guard, with substitutes overseeing exams 
and in the absence of many students -- but largely without 
violence. 
 
Ladies Block Embassy Street 
--------------------------- 
 
¶4.  Thereafter, quiet prevailed until June 21, when primary 
teachers staged a peaceful protest.  These teachers had 
gathered at the teachers' union office where they normally 
get paid, which happens to be located across from the Embassy 
on one of Ndjamena's main streets.  The government has paid 
university-level teachers, despite the strike, but not 
primary- or secondary-school teachers.  On being informed 
they would get no salary for the month of May unless they 
signed a statement that they would resume work, a group of 
these teachers moved benches onto the street.  Approximately 
100 female teachers then sat down in the street, completely 
blocking traffic all day.  (The male teachers helped move the 
benches but opted not to participate in the sit-down.) 
 
¶5.  The protest was not directed against the Embassy, 
although the proximity of the Embassy may have given the 
women confidence that the police might not harm them.  The 
police requested the women to leave, which they refused to 
do.  The police then asked them not to gather too close to 
the Embassy, so that Embassy vehicles could come and go more 
easily.  They complied.  The police made no attempt to break 
up the protest, despite the complete blockage of one of 
Ndjamena's main arteries.  The protesters dispersed at dark. 
On June 22, it appeared that these teachers were going to get 
paid for May after all, without having to sign any statement. 
 
Not Without Consequences 
------------------------ 
 
¶6.  The strike has not hobbled Chad, but there have been 
consequences.  The end of the school year was disrupted, and 
health services have been held to a minimal emergency level. 
The judicial process -- such as it is in Chad -- has ground 
to a halt, impeding legal transactions and forcing arrestees 
to remain in jail without trial.  (The judges have called off 
a separate strike, which protested recurrent violence against 
them throughout the country, but lower level civil servants 
in the justice system are part of the Intersyndicale and 
continue their strike.)  The absence of customs officials has 
slowed importation of goods, causing increasing prices and 
increased unavailability of goods.  Even the government's 
offer of 15 percent is, according to the World Bank, beyond 
what it can afford. 
 
¶7.  We anticipate that the strike will slowly wind down.  The 
government appears determined to wait out the Intersyndicale. 
 The populace is sympathetic with the strikers but tired of 
the strike.  The Intersyndicale lost its most effective 
pressure point when the school session ended.  It does not 
 
NDJAMENA 00000523  002 OF 002 
 
 
appear to have the willingness or ability to turn up further 
pressure on the government, at least during the summer season. 
WALL