Cilacap teachers go on back pay shopping spree

CILACAP, Central Java (JP): Teachers and other civil servants in Cilacap regency, Central Java, went on spending and shopping sprees on Wednesday after receiving their six-month back pay ahead of schedule.

Some of the jubilant public servants assembled dozens of local pedicab drivers and journalists to treat them to light meals, while others went out shopping in the nearest supermarkets before returning home from their schools and offices.

Cilacap Regent Herry Tabri told newsmen that the payment, originally slated for October, had to be expedited due to signs of another plan by teachers and government employees to stage street protests.

Teachers and civil servants from various regions, such as Central Java, East Java, Yogyakarta and North Sumatra, have launched protests, and even strikes, over the last few months to demand the settlement of their pay arrears.

"We have spent around Rp 35 billion on settling the January- June pay arrears for around 12,000 teachers and a smaller number of civil servants in Cilacap", said Herry.

Arif Gatot, Cilacap regency's spokesman, who was bingeing on meatballs with a large number of pedicab drivers, said "we should thank God for the success of our struggle."

"There's nothing wrong in treating our non-civil servant fellow workers to lunch," remarked Muhammad, 36, a state secondary school teacher in Cilacap.

Most female employees visited supermarkets to spend their money on, among other things, TV sets, clothes and VCD players.

Some teachers disclosed that the back pay ranged from about Rp 1.5 million for a lower-ranking employee to around Rp 3.5 million for higher civil servants.

Full or partial settlement of teachers' salary arrears has been made only in a number of areas like Cilacap, Medan and the major cities of East Java. Meanwhile, the rest will have to wait it out until the end of the year.

The back pay settlement in Cilacap, according to Herry Tabri, was made possible by the use of remaining funds from the general allocation fund (DAU) and the cancellation of several projects for 2001. (45)