Public services are at a minimum throughout following national strike

Basic public services are at a minimum throughout Guinea Bissau on 9 October 2008 after government employees in various sectors, including health care workers, followed through on their previous threats to hold a national strike over a salary dispute. Union representatives stated that 95 percent of civil servants have joined the three-day strike that began on 7 October to demand the payment of three months back salaries. Workers are also demanding transportation stipends, and medical employees have called for the payment of a previously-promised bonus for their efforts against the recent cholera epidemic in the country. Government officials stated that minimum services must be maintained according to legal requirements and that all workers will be docked their pay during the strike period.