VZCZCXRO8104
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHMV #0618 2241840
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111840Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0267
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS MONROVIA 000618 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W, INR/AA 
 
E.O. 12598: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB ECON PGOV LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: FIRESTONE LIBERIA CONCLUDES COLLECTIVE BARGAINING 
AGREEMENT WITH UNION 
 
REF:  A) 07 MONROVIA 1439, B) 07 MONROVIA 1418, C) 07 MONROVIA 887, 
D) 07 MONROVIA 518, E) 07 MONROVIA 253 
 
¶1.  (U) Firestone Liberia concluded a labor agreement August 6 with 
the Firestone Allied Agricultural Workers Union of Liberia (FAAWUL). 
 The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) covers over 4,000 workers 
and provides wage increases of 24% for rubber tappers (from a little 
over US$3 to just under $5 per day for three years) and 19.5% for 
salaried staff, retroactive to January 2007 when an internal union 
leadership battle halted previous CBA talks (ref A).  Other CBA 
provisions include a 20% reduction of the daily rubber tree quota 
for tappers from 750 to 450-600 depending on the class of the trees. 
 The CBA also provides for further upgrades to housing, health and 
educational facilities for rubber tappers and their families. 
Firestone agreed to provide transportation to workers bringing latex 
to weigh stations [Note: previously tappers had to walk and carry 
rubber to weigh stations. End note].  The agreement follows several 
strikes in 2007 over labor conditions and union leadership (refs B). 
 
 
¶2.  (U) Firestone initiated CBA negotiations with previous union 
leadership in 2006 and had already embarked on many of the 
improvements in social infrastructure (health, education and 
housing) included in the CBA.  Those prior talks broke down when the 
union split in early 2007 and an internal election was called in 
July 2007 (refs C-E).  Results of that election remained in dispute 
and generated episodes of violence and unrest until a Supreme Court 
ruling in December 2007 ratified the election.  Following the 
ruling, Firestone officially recognized the new FAAWUL leaders and 
CBA talks resumed in April, 2008. 
 
¶3.  (U) FAAWUL received support from the United Steelworkers Union 
(USW) and the AFL-CIO's Solidarity CenterQuring the negotiations 
and the Liberian Ministry of Labor mediated the discussions.  The 
USW also provided a radio transmitter to establish a FAAWUL radio 
station in Firestone, while the AFL-CIO has promised to contribute 
US$5,000 to FAAWUL for general administration. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Firestone Liberia representatives told EconOff that 
negotiations were professional and productive and that relations 
with the union had improved since the unrest in 2007.  FAAWUL told 
the Embassy that the present relationship with the management of 
Firestone is more cordial than before.  At the end of the agreement 
FAAWUL committed to doing everything in its power to avoid strikes, 
disruption or work stoppages during the period covered by the new 
agreement (2007-2009).  Firestone and FAAWUL will begin new 
negotiations in April 2009 for the 2010-2012 CBA. 
 
ROBINSON