Gabonese University Lecturers Firm About Strike

Panafrican News Agency, 23 April 2001

Libreville, Gabon—Lecturers at the Omar Bongo University (UOB) in Gabon, who have been on strike since 9 April, have reaffirmed their resolve not to relent until their demands were attended to.

At a press conference in Libreville over the weekend the lecturers said it was to the authorities to start negotiations.

The Gabonese News Agency quoted spokesperson Jean-Remy Yama as saying the strikers were toughening their stand because the authorities appeared to be lingering, taking their complaints for granted.

We are just demanding better working conditions. The government must comply with the agreement it signed with us, Yama said, warning he and his colleagues would not return to classes until all their claims are fully considered.

These include updating their status, payment of their arrears for March, April and May 2000.

Late last week the government intimated that there had been a breakthrough, and appealed for the strikers to end their action and save the academic year.