Who will follow the teachers?
Who will follow the teachers?
From Suara Karya
About 2,000 teachers under the Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Teachers Union (PGRI) last week staged a rally in front of the State Palace in Jakarta and then did the same at the House of Representatives. Their demonstrations were just like those staged by students or factory workers. They shouted, carried banners and streamers and also rode on motorbikes while carrying placards.
These teachers had one single goal in mind for their demonstration: to press for their demands with an implied message that if they are not met they will take stronger action, such as resorting to a strike. Anyone can easily understand the impact of a strike. (It should be borne in mind that similar actions with the same goal have also been taken by teachers in a number of regions.)
It seems that the demonstration staged by Jakarta's teachers was prompted by the government's policy to considerably raise the allowances of government officials, a decision that will only lead to a wider gap between superiors and subordinates and foster social envy on the part of the latter toward the former. In this respect, teachers are well aware of the effectiveness of a demonstration. Even former president Soeharto had to step down because of a mass demonstration.
The teachers are right. Their rally has made the National Unity Cabinet propose that teachers' salaries be raised by 100 percent. Of course, in this case, the government will first have to gain the approval of the House of Representatives.
However, one thing worries me. If one day the teachers do enjoy a 100 percent salary increase, civil servants from other sectors may also stage their own rallies to demand a raise in their salary. Don't they, just like the teachers, have their own jobs and responsibilities?
Therefore, I would like to propose to the government that the salary of all civil servants be raised simultaneously, say by 50 percent, 75 percent or, perhaps, 100 percent. This way, social envy among civil servants can be avoided. As it is clear that the government will not have enough money for this simultaneous increase, may I also suggest that the increase be put into effect over a certain period of time. I believe that a civil servant will not object to the increase being implemented over a cumulative period of, say, five years. This may be a kind of saving grace for them. When they receive the money, they can purchase a plot of land or pay for a house by installments.
SIMSON MG
Jakarta