CUEPACS, the umbrella body of government unions, should show greater maturity in claiming for financial benefits. Resorting to boycotting the official function to mark May Day is certainly not the proper way to show its displeasure.
The union has been trying to get the Government to agree to a RM2,000 special payment to help ease the financial burden of its 1.2 million members. In addition, it has called for the retirement age to be extended, to have a fairer way of promoting workers, and to increase the cost of living allowance. On its own, the RM2,000 honorarium may seem reasonable, especially since civil servants had been given a year-end bonus before. However, in view of the 30% or more in wage increases recently, this new request may seem a bit too much not only for the Government but also the public. The recent pay rise had resulted in civil servants being better paid than those in the private sector. Every one is affected by the higher cost of living, not only government employees. The union seems to think that the Government has unlimited funds to pander to its every financial wish. It can calculate how much the new special payment will cost.
Perhaps it may feel that civil servants deserve the payment, but the public will definitely think otherwise. What irks people is that despite the pay increase, there has not been much improvement in the delivery of service. Why should anyone be paid more when there is little improvement in performance or productivity? And before the dust has settled, there is the demand for a special bonus. The union cannot expect to keep on asking for perks without giving back something in return. The public is getting tired of this attitude and will not want the Government to keep pampering its civil servants. In actual fact, civil servants, particularly those in local councils, could have been one of the contributing factors to the Barisan Nasional’s recent electoral setback.
Officials of city halls, municipal councils and local councils have consistently ignored the wishes and aspirations of the people. In fact, residents have been extremely unhappy at the lack of basic services. Despite a series of complaints, officials have often simply turned a deaf ear to the ratepayers and continued to do as they please in carrying out their duties. It is this attitude that has annoyed and frustrated the public to such an extent that they vented their anger at Barisan candidates in the 2008 general election. The newly formed Pakatan governments in Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor will face the same problem encountered by the Barisan in dealing with such officials. Civil servants are supposed to serve the party in power but they often only pay lip service to this undertaking. They only look after their own interests since governments come and go. They are the only ones who will remain permanent and they know it is not easy to sack them. With 1.2 million of them, how many can the ruling party get rid of without serious administrative and political repercussions?
The union has been trying to get the Government to agree to a RM2,000 special payment to help ease the financial burden of its 1.2 million members. In addition, it has called for the retirement age to be extended, to have a fairer way of promoting workers, and to increase the cost of living allowance. On its own, the RM2,000 honorarium may seem reasonable, especially since civil servants had been given a year-end bonus before. However, in view of the 30% or more in wage increases recently, this new request may seem a bit too much not only for the Government but also the public. The recent pay rise had resulted in civil servants being better paid than those in the private sector. Every one is affected by the higher cost of living, not only government employees. The union seems to think that the Government has unlimited funds to pander to its every financial wish. It can calculate how much the new special payment will cost.
Perhaps it may feel that civil servants deserve the payment, but the public will definitely think otherwise. What irks people is that despite the pay increase, there has not been much improvement in the delivery of service. Why should anyone be paid more when there is little improvement in performance or productivity? And before the dust has settled, there is the demand for a special bonus. The union cannot expect to keep on asking for perks without giving back something in return. The public is getting tired of this attitude and will not want the Government to keep pampering its civil servants. In actual fact, civil servants, particularly those in local councils, could have been one of the contributing factors to the Barisan Nasional’s recent electoral setback.
Officials of city halls, municipal councils and local councils have consistently ignored the wishes and aspirations of the people. In fact, residents have been extremely unhappy at the lack of basic services. Despite a series of complaints, officials have often simply turned a deaf ear to the ratepayers and continued to do as they please in carrying out their duties. It is this attitude that has annoyed and frustrated the public to such an extent that they vented their anger at Barisan candidates in the 2008 general election. The newly formed Pakatan governments in Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor will face the same problem encountered by the Barisan in dealing with such officials. Civil servants are supposed to serve the party in power but they often only pay lip service to this undertaking. They only look after their own interests since governments come and go. They are the only ones who will remain permanent and they know it is not easy to sack them. With 1.2 million of them, how many can the ruling party get rid of without serious administrative and political repercussions?
