Friday, June 09, 2006

[Guinean news] Indefinite general strike launched

Earlier this year, the Guinean labor movement launched a several day general strike to target the high cost of living. The mere fact that that general strike was largely respected was a major success for Guinea's trade union movement, which has been traditionally weak, unlike that in Nigeria. The success of that action in highlighting the skyrocketing cost of living in the country led labor leaders to call an indefinite general strike. That strike started yesterday and was 'widely respected,' according to the IRIN news service.

Interior Minister Moussa Solano announced a wage rise for government workers on the eve of the strike, which would've amounted to an extra less than $1 a day. But the announcement cut no ice with the unions. Labor organizations are calling for areduction in fuel prices and the national staple food, rice.

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