ICEM’s Ivory Coast Affiliate, SYNASEG, Announces Merger with Water Workers’ Union

At a merger Congress in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, last week, ICEM affiliate National Union of Workers in Electricity and Gas (SYNASEG), and the National Union of Workers in the Water Sector (SYNATRASE) formally came together to form FESENE, the Trade Union Federation of Energy and Water Workers.

SYNASEG Gen. Sec. François Yao will hold the same position inside FESENE. He said the birth of the union is based on two principles, the right to association and the common fact that there is strength in unity. “Wherever there is an economic power, there needs to be a trade union counterpart,” said Yao at a press conference introducing the new union.

The merger of the two unions occurs at a time when SYNASEG remains in dispute with CIE, the country’s electricity operator and a subsidiary of the Bouygues Group. The ICEM affiliate suspended a strike, scheduled to start last week, after national ministers for Public Works and Energy and Mines agreed to mediate social dialogue.

General Secretary François Yao

CIE has engaged in systematic attacks on SYNASEG since 2005. Then, the union backed the government’s reform of the national electric sector, which called for re-nationalising and not renewing Bouygues’ 15-year contract. But the government changed its policy and did award another 15-year contract to the French company. CIE retaliated over the following year by refusing to engage in social dialogue, and obstructing basic trade union rights.

The current dispute centers on salary increases and the company’s handling of a Mutual Investment Fund, established for training, placement, and other worker needs. SYNASEG members contribute to the fund, but CIE uses the money for purposes other than what it is intended for.

Yao said the union will assess this week’s mediation efforts by the two national ministers on 15 March, and take whatever action is necessary following that date.