The STPU resumes service and gives itself guarantees of viability

The 840 agents of the urban transport company of Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire decided to resume activity after more than six weeks of strike action. The strike was declared suspended in a general assembly last Thursday by the representatives of the staff union of the company, following negotiations deemed fruitful with the government represented by the Minister of State, Minister in charge of public portfolio, Gilbert Ondongo. Together the two sides discussed the main demands of the workers namely: the unconditional departure of the director general, the payment of salary arrears and the signing of employment contracts.

At the opening of negotiations last Tuesday, nobody could imagine the possible outcome, as the atmosphere was heavy because of many strong demands made by the workers. Using the participatory method punctuated with much pedagogy, Gilbert Ondongo managed to conduct these negotiations without incident, calling on his interlocutors to "to give room for dialogue and always dialogue". The presence of Congolese Trade Union Confederation President Bellot Bellard added a downside to the climate of discussions that lasted a little over two hours.

Discussions between the two delegations began with a questioning of the chairman of the meeting: “During the whole duration of the strike, what measures were taken to preserve the working tool, both in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire”? Seeking a satisfactory response from the staff representative supported by the trade unionists, Gilbert Ondongo praised the officers' sense of responsibility before resuming work with confidence. Then everything else followed: from denunciations to unanimous proposals of reviving the STPU on a happier note.

What is the reproach to the former director general?

Trade unionists and Stpu agents suspect massive embezzlement and other abuses of corporate property. Diverse figures were advanced. It was alleged the from 2015 to date, the State allocated to the Stpu subsidies to the tune of 900 million CFA francs; that the company started its activities with 120 new buses in Pointe-Noire and Brazzaville with a daily revenue of about 65 000 CFA per bus excluding advertising; that the Stpu sold advertising space for several months. Curiously, at the moment the strike is triggered on August 9, 2017, the accounts of the company were negative. Worse still, workers have more than 5 months of unpaid salaries (about 625 million CFA francs); the debt owed suppliers is estimated at more than one billion CFA francs. The worst is that while the workers barricaded the offices of the company, they suspected the existence of hard cash in a coffer in one of the offices (about 50 to 70 million CFA francs). Thus, the presence of a bailiff was deemed necessary for the reopening of said offices last Thursday.

Massive parallel recruitments operated under fishy conditions largely justify the plethoric numbers of staff that can be observed today. Complacency in assignments is also among the recriminations made against the director general who recruited bus collectors who ended up in offices doing nothing.

After a complete overview, both parties took the appropriate options to meet the main demands. The first of these is the unconditional dismissal of the Director General accused of financial malfeasance and opaque if not hazardous management. The Director General’s dismissal, particularly demanded by the workers, was not done on the spot but with agitation in the company, there is reason to believe that the days of Alphonse PEPA are numbered. It is certain that the days ahead will reveal the name of the new director general of Stpu. The board of directors of the company met last Friday and mapped the way forward for the new team.

To rectify the tense social situation, the Minister of State, Minister in charge of the public portfolio engaged the government to pay one to two months of workers’ salaries. For this purpose, and in order to set things right, contacts are made with a local bank to mobilize the necessary resources. The demand for the signing of employment contracts will undoubtedly be one of the priorities of the Directorate-General in the making.

How to ensure the durability of Stpu?

This is Gilbert Ondongo's question to the workers' delegates. A question that incorporates the commitment he made on August 30, during the signing of service with Calixte Nganongo, when he said: “the public portfolio must be cleaned up. We will ensure that it becomes dynamic and contributes to the State budget”.

Among the instructions of the Minister of State to Stpu agents, there is: the securing of revenues generated by buses so that money paid by users, as well as funds from the sale of advertising space, are fully repaid into the coffers of the company. Thus, from the turnover, the company should be able to support its expenses, in terms of wages and operations. In addition, the finances of the company should no longer be domiciled in offices, but in accounts duly opened in a local bank, in this case the Postal Bank. Finally, the Minister of State asked the relevant services to ensure that all buses reopened, are insured.

For their part, workers made the commitment to protect work tools, to put back into circulation as many buses as possible, in order to maximize revenue. The list of workers will be reviewed after a rigorous physical check to enable the company get rid of fictitious agents attributable to the former management.

A new chance has thus been given to the urban transport company, to rebound by taking charge and becoming a contributor to State budget. There is a strong call to the conscience of the workers.

Jules Débel