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then public dispute with unknown end between both ladies take place.
Teachers unionists, in former times even compared with parasites (HJ),
are ready to start attacks in case of Mrs. vice chancellor’s
success. Their position is close to the government party.
Mrs.
vice chancellor’s concept has a focus of about four Billion
of savings until 2003. As first step the calculation of over hours
in future shall have as base the gross salary without bonus. Furthermore
the value of one over hour of today 7,5% shall be reduced to 6,34%
of gross income. The introduction of one additional weekly working
hour and the termination of all educational municipal departments
without compensation are also part of the plan.
This
attitude is that radical, that Mrs. Minister feels at a loss. After
a first verbal exchange Mrs. Minister started with total confrontation.
If Mrs. vice chancellor don’t have knowledge about that stuff,
it’s her problem, Mrs. Minister blamed her angry. Mrs. Minister
as first step thinks about structural adaptations like cancellation
of the rule, every not hold lesson has to be repeated later. And
that’s it. Other opportunities Mrs. Minister can not imagine.
The
escalating confrontation between the two “iron ladies”
makes visible a lot about the actual climate within the coalition.
Mrs. vice chancellor proceeded in clarifying with the contra, that
she is responsible for civil servants, and nobody else. Independently
of an agreement, that the ministry is responsible for saving proposals.
Meanwhile
the head of the unionists already thinks to know the winner of the
game. Though otherwise often in troubles with his Mrs. Minister,
in this case they demonstrate a common understanding. The chancellor
will support his Mrs. Minister, otherwise the coalition would crash,
he mentioned. Ideas of four Billion savings are pipe dreams, nothing
else!
Unionists
plan to execute a poster action with the title: “Head of Figure”.
Posters addressed to teachers and pupils with the statement - education
must not be a game of chance - shall be displayed.
And
finally they didn’t forget to say, that supported by 2.1 million
parents, even coming out on strike is thinkable. Holidays may last
longer this year…
This
was the reproduction of an article published in the magazine Nyus
26/2000, page 24 and 25. The reproduction is a bit streamlined but
not meaning manipulating. It shall mainly show, that journalists
have a lot of fun to escalate rather not dramatic situations (for
circulation) and by doing so to really manipulate people. The article
in the other columne
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for
civil servants in a higher context, she also tried to think about
possible models for savings (unclear competence models are part of
the actual system).
Her
proposed model would contribute savings of four Billions of Shillings.
The model in detail:
Today
the calculation base for over hours is the basic salary plus bonus.
In future the basic salary without bonus should be taken.
Today
one over hour has a value of 7,5% of the monthly income, in future
it should be reduced to the former value of 6,34%
One
weekly hour, which teachers today use for preparation and other
supplement works should be used for active teaching without salary
upgrade.
Additionally,
the status of the educational municipal departments should be analyzed
with the goal to shift responsibilities from these departments to
the schools, following the direct autonomy model.
Why
no internal coordination between Mrs. vice chancellor and Mrs. Minister
happened nobody knows today. Also it seem that this is a first case,
that partners did not agree before. In any way Mrs. Minister and
all unionists were totally speechless about such ideas. In some
magazines already open war and dispute was proclaimed…
Meanwhile
Mrs. Minister’s reaction did not make visible any real will
for creativity. Her reaction with no additional comment: savings
above one Billion are not thinkable. And that’s it. The Billion
should be reached, by finishing the total replacement of cancelled
lessons. It’s of interest, that Mrs. Minister treated that
as a structural step. In an interview, Mrs. Minister blamed Mrs.
vice chancellor that she has not enough background knowledge. And
because matters are very complicated there is need for long lasting
familiarizing…
On
the other hand Mrs. vice chancellor was surprised that proposals
focussing on facts to bring movement to the situation seemed to
be understood as reproach. The later emotional chain reaction proved
that.
In
reality the absolute value of the educational budget would be of
interest. In companies, restructuring programs may bring savings
of 5 20% or more but concurrently improvement of quality and productivity!
For sure that’s only possible if one wants to do it. By chance
new models will not arise.
The
unionists close to the ÖVP party tend to start a poster activity
emphasizing the motto: “Head or Number education must not be
a game of chance” and they obviously demonstrate against quality
loss. Surprisingly it is the proposal of the also ÖVP Mrs.
Minister, which foresees shortenings of performance when finishing
the total replacement of cancelled lessons…
The
model of Mrs. vice chancellor contains no performance reduction
towards the pupils but only a small impact to the working hours.
The salary only would be slightly reduced only if over hours exist.
The
Mrs. Minister’s image didn’t look really good, considering
all these facts. Also of interest, what the chancellor now will
do. Unionists think, that he always will be on the side of his Mrs.
Minister, otherwise the coalition would crash…
In
total, the discussion once more shows, that there are neither comprehensive
solution concepts nor the will to work out some. A dominating fact
is the strong competence of civil servants organizations not to
move only one millimeter, independently of changed conditions. Unionists
already speak about coming out on striking…
Poor
tax paying Austrians…
See
also Satyre “Lazy Teachers”
Story 2 on another page. There the background will be a bit brightened.
Lazy
Teachers 1R1-20000708
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