Cablegate: Pa Work Stoppages Continue

VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHJMA #0890 1351349
ZNR UUUUU ZZH ZUI RUEWMCE8910 1351345
O 151349Z MAY 07
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0000
INFO ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 000890

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
WILLIAMS/GREENE/WATERS/BELGRADE; PRM FOR PDAS GREENE AND
PRM/ANE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/LOGERFO; TREASURY FOR
NUGENT/ADKINS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PHUM EFIN PGOV KWBG
SUBJECT: PA WORK STOPPAGES CONTINUE

REF: JERUSALEM 0076

1. (SBU) THE UNION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES (UPE) HAS CALLED FOR
A WORK STOPPAGE TO TAKE PLACE MAY 16 AND 18, IN PROTEST OF
THE LACK OF FULL SALARY PAYMENTS, ACCORDING TO LOCAL PRESS
REPORTS. THE MA'AN NEWS AGENCY REPORTED MAY 11 THAT THE
PALESTINIAN TEACHERS' UNION HAD CALLED FOR PA TEACHERS TO
STRIKE MAY 14-17, DEMANDING FULL SALARY AND ARREARS
PAYMENTS. SINCE EARLY APRIL, THE UPE HAS CALLED FOR NUMEROUS
WORK STOPPAGES, IN PROTEST OF THE PAS NON-PAYMENT OF SALARY
ARREARS AND FULL SALARY PAYMENTS. THE REGIONAL FIELD
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SOLIDARITY CENTER ADVISED ECONOFF THAT
PA EMPLOYEES HAVE PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS WORK STOPPAGES
CALLED BY THE UPE SINCE EARLY APRIL. THE WORK STOPPAGES HAVE
BEEN HELD FOR ONE OR TWO DAYS, VARYING FROM CITY TO CITY, AND
ARE OCCURRING MORE IN BETHLEHEM, TULKARAM, NABLUS AND HEBRON.

WEST BANK PA CLINICS AND HOSPITALS
OFFERING EMERGENCY SERVICES ONLY
--------------------------------

2. (SBU) THE WB/G HEALTH CARE WORKERS' PARTIAL STRIKE, WHICH
BEGAN FEBRUARY 16, CONTINUES WITH PA HOSPITALS AND CLINICS IN
THE WEST BANK PROVIDING EMERGENCY SERVICES ONLY. (NOTE: MOST
PUBLIC HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN GAZA ARE PROVIDING GENERAL
CARE, IN ADDITION TO EMERGENCY SERVICES. END NOTE.)
RELATIVES OF PA EMPLOYEES TOLD ECON SPECIALIST MAY 10 THAT
MOH EMPLOYEES IN THE WEST BANK ARE ONLY WORKING AN ESTIMATED
TWO OR THREE DAYS EACH WEEK.
WALLES

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