US embassy cable - 05MAPUTO860

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000860 
 
SIPDIS 
STATE FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/IP/FPO, AF/EX, AF/S 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC, MZ 
SUBJECT: STRIKING GUARDS AGREE TO RETURN TO WORK 
 
REF: A. A. MAPUTO 00834 
B. B. MAPUTO 00846 
C. C. MAPUTO 00849 
D. D. MAPUTO 00858 
 
1. SUMMARY. As reported in Refs A through C, individual 
employees of the local guard force contracted through 
Wackenhut have been striking since July 5. As stated in Ref 
D, the EAC met again on July 8 both to discuss the latest 
guard strike situation and to discuss the London bombings and 
the Embassy's current security posture. Wackenhut officials 
met with the guard union on July 8 and reached an agreement 
for the guards to return to work and arbitration to begin 
immediately. An All Call will be conducted at 1000, July 9, 
to update all direct hire Americans of the guard strike 
situation. 
 
2. All residences had coverage last night, partly due to the 
21 subcontracted guards Wackenhut hired. However, some 
guards continue to work consecutive 12 hour shifts. This 
situation should be resolved by the next shift change. The 
U.S. Embassy and U.S.AID had 5 guards each causing the 
Embassy to be at approximately 40% and U.S.AID to be at 50% 
of their normal guard staffing. Peace Corps, Public Affairs 
and the GSO Warehouse each had 2 guards causing each entity 
to be at 66% of their normal guard staffing. All U.S. 
agencies again were fully operational but were closed to 
visitors. CDC's one guard left the morning of July 7 and 
never returned. Wackenhut sent a guard replacement at 
approximately 1300 July 8, but CDC had closed for the weekend 
and secured its office. 
 
3. Wackenhut requested and received police support to remove 
strikers from Wackenhut headquarters prior to the scheduled 
1000 meeting between Wackenhut officials and the guard union. 
Most of the strikers departed the area without incident. 
Approximately 50 strikers remain as of 1500, July 8. 
 
4. Wackenhut's Regional President for Southern Africa and 
Human Resources Director met 6 guard union representatives in 
the presence of officials from the Ministries of Labor and 
Interior. Wackenhut and the guard union signed an agreement 
that the guards would return to work, the strikers would not 
block access to the Wackenhut headquarters, and arbitration 
would begin immediately. RSO and Wackenhut Program Manager 
agreed that guards will begin wearing their Wackenhut 
uniforms at the next shift change. If the next 24 hours 
remain calm, Wackenhut will turn the radio network on and the 
house alarms will then be connected to the regular Wackenhut 
command center thus providing instant response by Mobile 
Patrols. RSO and Wackenhut Program Manager will continue to 
conduct random checks on all guard posts. 
 
5. Information from this cable will be shared at Post's EAC 
meeting scheduled for 0800, Monday, July 11. 
Dudley