US embassy cable - 05LAGOS521

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000521 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/W 
STATE FOR CA/OCS/SDENYER 
STATE FOR EB/ESC/IEC/ENR/BLEVINE 
STATE FOR DS/IP/AF 
STATE FOR INR/AA 
STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS JBRODMAN AND CGAY 
STATE PASS TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS AND SRENENDER 
STATE PASS DOC FOR PHUPER 
STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD 
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND MSTUCKART 
STATE PASS TDA FOR BTERNET 
STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER 
STATE PASS USTR FOR ASST USTR SLISER 
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2015 
TAGS: EPET, EINV, CASC, PGOV, ASEC, MOPS, NI 
SUBJECT: TIDEX MANAGEMENT IN ABUJA TO WORK ON RESOLVING 
CRISIS 
 
REF: A. LAGOS 509 
 
     B. LAGOS 503 
     C. LAGOS 502 
 
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reasons 1.4 (D & E) 
 
Summary 
-------- 
 
1.  (C)  Striking employees continue to hold Tidex vessels 
and non-Nigerian crew members at Onne, Escravos and Brass 
ports.  Ten Americans are detained in Onne.  Management from 
Tidex and U.S. parent company Tidewater are meeting in Abuja 
with GON officials.  Tidex management reports no substantive 
changes in the situation during the last two days. 
 
No Major Changes in Strike Situation; 
Workers Returning to Work Threatened 
-------------------------------------- 
 
2.  (C)  Tidex management reports no substantive changes in 
the situation.  Striking employees continue to prevent the 
vessels and crew members from leaving Onne, Escravos and 
Brass. Ten Americans continue to be detained in Onne port. 
Tidex Managing Director Vaughn told us the local executive 
council of NUPENG issued threats to the Nigerian crews who 
crossed the picket line in Escravos to return to work on 
Saturday, April 2 (ref A). 
 
Mission Working to Shift Focus to Plan of Action, Identifying 
Intermediaries for Negotiation with Strikers 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
3.  (C)  A Tidex and Tidewater senior management team 
traveled to Abuja to meet the Charge and senior GON 
officials, including the National Security Advisor, to 
request assistance in resolving the strike.  Mission is 
renewing contacts with Special Assistant to the President on 
Petroleum Matters Paki, Rivers State Governor Peter Odili, 
Delta State Governor James Ibori, Bayelsa State  Diepreye 
Alamieyeseigha, Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) President Adams 
Oshiomole, and the Department of Petroleum Resources, to urge 
them toward resolving the situation.  In this regard, mission 
is encouraging the GON to work with state governments and 
labor to formulate an action plan to respond to this crisis, 
including sending trusted intermediaries to encourage the 
strikers to release the Tidex employees and vessels unharmed. 
 In meetings, mission will express concerns that such a 
coordinated action plan does not yet appear to have been 
formulated. 
 
Mission Working with Tidex Management on 
Reluctance to Meet with Union Representatives 
------------------------------------------- 
 
4.  (C)  Tidex management and the unions have not met 
directly to discuss the situation.  We agree with 
Tidex/Tidewater management's view that they should not forced 
to the negotiating table by strikers using the safety of 
their workers and vessels as bargaining chips.  However, 
Tidex could perhaps explore ways that it can signal a 
willingness to go to the negotiating table.  This could help 
coax the strikers off the boats and toward a peaceful 
resolution of the crisis. 
BROWNE