US embassy cable - 05MAPUTO846

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000846 
 
SIPDIS 
STATE FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/IP/ITA, DS/IP/FPO, AF/EX, AF/S 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC, MZ 
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON STRIKING LOCAL GUARD FORCE MEMBERS 
 
REF: A. (A) MAPUTO 00834 
 
B. (B) MAPUTO 00842 
 
1. SUMMARY: As reported in Ref A, on July 5, 2005, 
individual employees of the local guard force contracted 
through Wackenhut held a strike. The strike has continued on 
July 6 and RSO expects the strike to continue for the next 
several days. The number of roving bands of striking guards 
and laid-off workers was notably smaller than yesterday, with 
groups ranging from 5-20 individuals in each. We are not 
aware of any physical force being used today, unlike 
yesterday. All but one residence retained guard coverage. 
The U.S. office buildings and U.S.Embassy were significantly 
understaffed. Many of the guards on duty are on their 
second, third, or fourth straight shift. Meals were supplied 
to all guards working past their normal 12 hour shift. As 
stated in Ref B, an Emergency Action Committee (EAC) meeting 
was held this morning. END SUMMARY. 
 
2. On July 5, 2005, many members of the local guard force 
either did not report to or left their posts soon after the 
day shift began. This situation repeated itself on July 6, 
2005. RSO received no reports of residential guards missing 
work last night. Today, all residences except for one had 
guard coverage. However, many of the residential guards have 
been working for two, three, and in one case, four 12 hour 
consecutive shifts. The RSO and ARSO touched base with all 
the guards and advised them to wear civilian clothes during 
the first half of the day when the roving bands of striking 
guards wandered the streets. One such band of strikers was 
encountered by the RSO and ARSO, who photographed these 
strikers. In addition, arrangements were made to deliver 
food to all the guards working more than one shift. 
 
3. The U.S. official buildings were considerably 
understaffed on July 6. The U.S.Embassy conducted business 
with only 2 guards versus the standard 13 guards. The front 
doors leading from the main street were closed and locked and 
all visitors with appointments and Americans in need of 
American Citizen Services were allowed access via a side exit 
normally used only for mission employees. The standard 
number of police remain on duty at the Embassy, the EMR, PA, 
and U.S.AID; however, their presence has been ineffective in 
stopping the striking workers or barring unauthorized access 
to facilities. The Peace Corps and Public Affairs offices 
each had 2 guards versus the standard 3 each, the GSO 
warehouse had the regular number of 3 guards, the U.S.AID 
Miramar housing compound had 2 guards versus the standard 5 
guards, and U.S.AID had 6 guards versus the standard 12 
guards until one left to join the strikers. The Peace Corps 
and Public Affairs offices were instructed to close and lock 
their gates briefly this morning while the roving bands of 
strikers roamed the streets in search of guards whom they 
could coerce to join their cause. 
 
4. The senior management of the guard company was contacted 
by the Ministry of Labor with a request to meet the guard 
union representatives in front of an official arbitrator. 
The guard company executives have agreed if all the guards 
return to their posts and resume work. The guard union's 
response as of the afternoon of July 6 was negative. The 
guards will continue to strike. The guard company 
subcontracted approximately 30 guards who have been receiving 
training and will start to relieve regular guards on July 7. 
The guard company expects to subcontract and train more 
guards by Friday, July 8. Additional executive officers of 
the guard company are expected to fly into Maputo on July 7 
and meet with the Minister of Labor in order to resolve this 
situation. 
 
5. The RSO will send another message to all direct hire 
Americans today prior to COB explaining the current situation 
and offering security advice. If the U.S.Embassy is severly 
understaffed tomorrow, July 7, the EAC will consider closing 
the Embassy for regular business. The guards on duty are 
extremely tired from working numerous shifts, extremely 
overtaxed by attempting to man numerous posts. This 
increases the risk to the Embassy and the mission personnel's 
safety. 
Dudley