VZCZCXRO5755
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0684/01 3121319
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 071319Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3133
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000684 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB ASEC PGOV GV
SUBJECT: TEACHERS UNIONS THREATEN NATIONWIDE LABOR STRIKE 
 
REF: A. CONAKRY 0663 
     ¶B. CONAKRY 0668 
     ¶C. CONAKRY 0670 
     ¶D. CONAKRY 0675 
     ¶E. CONAKRY 0678 
     ¶F. CONAKRY 0325 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY.  Citing the government's continued failure 
to fulfill its commitments, Guinea's teacher's union is 
threatening to resume a nationwide labor strike that was 
suspended in June.  The teachers are demanding that the GoG 
address their demands before November 10.  Union contacts 
have indicated that they will likely decide to go forward 
with the strike sometime after the November 10 deadline. 
Most of the union demands are consistent with previous 
demands, but union leaders are now calling for the GoG to 
further reduce the fixed fuel price.  A $10 million grant 
from the World Bank will likely give the GoG the resources it 
needs to address the union's most critical demands.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) On November 4 , Guinea's teacher's union 
(FSPE-SLECG) signed a declaration demanding that the Guinean 
Government address a number of outstanding labor issues 
before November 10.  Although signed November 4, the 
declaration was not actually released until November 6.  The 
document details four immediate concerns, most of which are 
related to previous demands.  However, the unions have added 
a new demand, asking that the GoG reduce the price of fuel to 
GnF 4,500.  The union's declaration comes after four days of 
civil demonstrations related to fuel price issues (reftels). 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The teacher's union launched a nationwide labor 
strike on June 19, which they later suspended on June 22 
after the GoG made a number of promises to resolve 
long-standing compensation issues over the ensuing months 
(reftel).  In the November 4 declaration, the union notes 
that the GoG has violated the negotiated agreement, failing 
to fulfill at least six of its commitments.  According to a 
union contact, the teacher's union is not required to file a 
pre-notification of strike since the previous strike was only 
suspended, not cancelled.  Contact told Pol LES that the 
union may legally decide to strike anytime after the November 
10 deadline if the GoG fails to address the union's concerns. 
 
 
-------------------------------------- 
NON-RECOGNITION OF REGISTERED TEACHERS 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) In the declaration, the union notes that the 
Guinean Government, in concertation with the union, conducted 
a verification campaign to confirm the employment status of 
7,021 teachers.  The list of teachers was thought to contain 
a number of "ghost workers," i.e. false names under which 
other individuals were collecting a salary.  A union contact 
told Pol LES that the verification campaign identified a 
about 1,000 of these ghost teachers, but also confirmed the 
legitimacy of the remaining teachers on the list.  However, 
source said that the GoG continues to refuse to pay these 
teachers a salary even though they have been officially 
accounted for. 
 
----------------------------- 
NEED FOR FUEL PRICE REDUCTION 
----------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Low salaries have been a point of contention for 
the teacher's union for years.  The union emphasizes that its 
members cannot understand how the GoG can repeatedly deny the 
salary increases when it is willing to spend irresponsibly in 
other areas, highlighting as an example the recent purchase 
of expensive vehicles for high-level officials.  The 
declaration states: "Must we continue to accept these 
expenditures and corruption when our salaries can not even 
feed us?"  The union uses the salary issue to call for a 
reduction in the fixed price of fuel to 4,500 GnF in order to 
reduce the general cost of living.  (COMMENT.  The GoG 
subsidizes fuel.  The price was raised from 4,300 GnF to 
7,000 in April, under significant pressure from the IMF and 
the international community.  Falling world oil prices 
prompted the GoG to reduce the price to 5,500 GnF effective 
November 1.  The price reduction was reportedly less than the 
population anticipated, sparking violent demonstrations for 
most of this week.  END COMMENT). 
 
---------------- 
SALARY INCREASES 
---------------- 
 
CONAKRY 00000684  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The union also underscores its "astonishment" that 
the GoG has suddenly decided to increase base salaries for 
all military personnel given that the GoG refused to 
negotiate a similar increase for teachers in June, citing 
extraordinary budgetary difficulties.  In the declaration, 
the union questions the government's obvious double standard, 
accusing the GoG of favoring one group over another. 
 
---------------- 
DEMANDING ACTION 
---------------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) In conclusion, the union demands the immediate 
payment of two months of salary arrears, payment of salary 
arrears for teachers hired in 2005 and 2006 (referring to 
those teachers being denied per para 4), payment of four 
months worth of arrears in basic allowances, and a reduction 
in the price of fuel.  The union states that if these demands 
are not met before November 10, the union reserves the right 
to utilize "all legal means at its disposition." 
 
------------------------ 
WORLD BANK TO THE RESCUE 
------------------------ 
 
¶8.  (SBU) On October 30, the World Bank announced a $10 
million grant to be given to the Guinean Government in 
November and December 2008 "to support Guinea's education 
program as it seeks to embark on far reaching reform to 
improve access, management and conditions for teaching and 
learning in its school system."  The World Bank notes that 
the Guinean Government has had difficulty "finding money to 
pay teachers' salaries," and that the Bank's grant will 
ensure that teachers can be paid on time.  (This grant will 
be further explored in a septel). 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶9.  (SBU) By late October, union contacts told Embassy 
officials that the teachers would likely agree to resume the 
nationwide labor strike that was suspended in June, citing 
the GoG's continued failure to fulfill its promises. 
However, the World Bank's education grant will probably give 
the GoG the resources it needs to resolve the union's most 
critical issues in the immediate term.  At the same time, the 
GoG's recent decision to increase military salaries across 
the board (effective January) raises troublesome questions 
about priorities and budget management.  Union contacts have 
indicated that they understand that the GoG cannot reduce the 
price of fuel further, but may be adding this demand into the 
mix in order to drum up popular support, capitalizing on the 
demonstrations earlier this week.  END COMMENT. 
RASPOLIC