VZCZCXRO3308
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0275 1581331
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 061331Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2624
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000275 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB PHUM PGOV KDEM ASEC GV
SUBJECT: UNIONISTS AT RUSSIAN BAUXITE MINE CONCLUDE STRIKE 
PEACEFULLY 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Unionists at the Russian owned Rusal bauxite mine 
in Fria, about two hours to the northeast of Conakry, have 
been holding a peaceful labor strike since Monday, June 02. 
As of 15:00 on June 06, it appears that the unionists have 
been able to successfully negotiate an acceptable deal with 
the company.  Throughout the course of the week, the mine was 
operating with a skeleton crew.  Most employees reported to 
the mine as scheduled, but refused to work.  Increases in 
salaries and cost of living allowances were at the top of the 
unions' demands.  In addition, the general population was 
reportedly frustrated over an extended power outage in the 
city, which they blamed on Rusal since the plant supplies 
electricity to the surrounding community. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) According to sources, one of the factors driving 
Rusal's workers to strike was the fact that another company, 
The Guinean Bauxite Company (CBG) in Kamsar, a few hours away 
from Fria, had already agreed to increase their employees' 
compensation package to address high inflation. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) A union representative told Pol LES that Rusal 
agreed to provide each of its employees with a monthly cost 
of living allowance of $122 rather than the $30 initially 
proposed by the company.  In addition, Rusal reportedly 
agreed to increase all salaries by 10%, effective the 
beginning of July. 
 
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COMMENT 
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¶4.  (SBU) Fria is a company town with most of the local 
community reliant on Rusal mine in one fashion or another. 
It is one of the few communities in the country that has 
power around the clock, thanks to the mine.  Some civil 
demonstrations and labor strikes in Fria have been violent in 
the past, but the unionists were able to peacefully organize 
and successfully negotiate an amicable deal this time around, 
despite elevated political tensions in the capital.  END 
COMMENT. 
CARTER