Padang universities protest new raises

Padang universities protest new raises

PADANG, West Sumatra (JP): Administrators of state Andalas
University and Padang Negri University were joined by thousands
of their students on Wednesday to protest changes in the
government's pay policy for civil servants.

They objected to plans to award up to 900 percent hikes in
structural allowances for top civil servants, a move which they
said would cause jealousy.

The protests were on the respective campuses.

The chairman of the local branch of the Indonesian Teachers
Union (PGRI), Mizwar, separately expressed concern that a call
for similar action now being issued to school teachers would
disrupt classes.

"Can anyone come up with a solution?" he asked.

Mizwar said the branch had not decided whether to honor a call
from PGRI's head office to boycott the national school
examinations in May to press their case.

"The students will be the victims if we take up the proposal,"
he added.(28/dja)