Thousands of teachers gear up for nationwide strike over pay hike
Thousands of teachers gear up for nationwide strike over pay hike
JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of teachers across the country began
the countdown for a nationwide strike starting on Monday to
demand a significant increase in their salaries.
In Makassar, South Sulawesi, thousands of teachers from eight
regencies in the South Sulawesi capital threatened on Saturday to
go strike on Monday if the government failed to give serious
attention to their demands.
Muliono, the spokesman for Forum For Teachers' Care, said that
between 2,000 and 3,000 teachers from Takalar, Jeneponto,
Bulukumba, Gowa, Wajo, Pinrang, Barru and Makassar regencies had
agreed to go strike on Monday.
"The teachers will also march to the local legislative council
building and to the Ministry of National Education office if the
government ignores teachers' demands," Muliono said.
Besides higher salaries, the teachers are also demanding more
control of educational funds, he said. "We hope the teachers'
action will run smoothly and those (decisionmakers) in Jakarta
will hear our voice here."
In West Nusa Tenggara, at least 30,000 teachers in the
province have been called on to join a three-day strike starting
on Monday.
The local chapter of the Indonesian Teachers Association
announced the planned strike through the mass media and also
placed announcements in schools, Antara news agency reported.
"We were asked to return to school on Thursday because our
teachers will go on strike," a junior high school student said in
Ampenan.
The nationwide strike planned for Monday was preceded by
action in some areas of the country. Some 7,000 teachers in
Bogor, West Java, for example, have been on strike since last
Thursday.
Teachers in Bandarlampung, Lampung, however, decided not to
join the general strike on Monday, saying they would wait for the
government to make a decision on their demands.
"We have received signals that our demands will be met by the
government. We will see in the coming days," Murni Sulaiman, the
chairman of the Teachers Dignity Forum, said on Saturday.
Sulaiman said the teachers had earlier held several rallies
demanding a 100-percent increase in their salaries. (27/sur/jun)