tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132273.post6891559259293774971..comments2023-05-01T11:44:04.490-03:00Comments on D for Disorientation: Neuquén and the country, for Carlos FuentealbaPablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08296074005654785159noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132273.post-8720931152382495342007-04-17T19:54:00.000-03:002007-04-17T19:54:00.000-03:00Fernando, that's all completely true, but it's ver...Fernando, that's all completely true, but it's very difficult to believe that the raise dictated by law from the national level was <I>not</I> a crude attempt to boost the campaign of Minister Filmus for the governorship of Buenos Aires and, at the same time, buy the support of CTERA (the teachers' union). Unlike so many other government measures, which are publicized months in advance, I didn't hear about the raise until it was formally announced, and I suspect the opinion of the non-K governors didn't even count in the negotiations.<BR/><BR/>If the government wants federal control of teachers' salaries, maybe it should also retake federal control of education as a whole. This situation combines the worst of unitarism and federalism.Pablohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08296074005654785159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132273.post-17988260048256955312007-04-17T15:35:00.000-03:002007-04-17T15:35:00.000-03:00To SFO:Argentina is a "Federal Republic".There's s...To SFO:<BR/><BR/>Argentina is a "Federal Republic".<BR/><BR/>There's some (few) remaining educational institutions that operate at the Federal level, but the vast majority of elementary schools depend on the provincial and/or municipal level. That was a result of the "transfer" of education to the provincial level in the '90s -without adequate funding-.<BR/><BR/>Some facts:<BR/><BR/>1. The province where the teacher was killed is ruled by a right wing governor. The kind which thinks that a "balance budget" is more important that teachers' ability to afford a decent life with their wages.<BR/><BR/>2. The national government actually signed a new educational law which gives public education a GUARANTEED budgedt dependent on a given pecentage of the country's GDP.<BR/><BR/>The federal government also gave a RAISE to teachers on the federal level.<BR/><BR/>3. Again, since it's a Federal republic, it' s up to each PROVINCE to match up the funds if they want.<BR/><BR/>4. The NATIONAL GOVERNMENT offered funds to the provinces that couldn't match the pay rises recently offered at the national level. But NEUQUEN, -the province where the killing happened- DIDN' T REQUEST SUCH FEDERAL HELP. In fact, the province doesn't even need it, it' s got a fiscal surplus.<BR/><BR/>5. In short: The president gave pay RISES to the teachers. The provincial government of Neuquen didn' t, and a strike by the local teachers union in Neuquen was called. They took it to the streets. The right-wing governor decided that the right to roam the streets by car traffic was more important than teachers' wages, and called for the police to "remove the teachers from the provincial route". The provincial police acted brutally as they often do, and one teacher was killed. End of story.<BR/><BR/>6. It was a provincial matter, mishandled by a right wing provincial governor which is a declared public enemy of the current left-leaning president.Nerd Progrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16328258490086439970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132273.post-56585337102941059202007-04-13T00:15:00.000-03:002007-04-13T00:15:00.000-03:00Pablo – can you please keep us updated as to the o...Pablo – can you please keep us updated as to the outcome regarding the police brutality in Neuquén?<BR/><BR/>You mentioned that Neuquén is often a common stage for social protests and violent repression. Do you know why they are so prevalent there?<BR/><BR/>How much do teachers in Argentina make in salary? And how does that compare to other similarly-qualified professionals?<BR/><BR/>I remember a couple of years ago when protesting Aerolineas Argentinas employees blocked the highway to Ezeiza, and passengers had to haul their luggage from makeshift drop-off points.<BR/><BR/>I was amazed that the government didn’t immediately resolve the situation (by arresting those involved). It’s one thing to picket and disrupt your (ex)employer, but it’s quite another thing to disrupt travel at Argentina’s only international airport. That’s not the way to get support for one’s cause.<BR/><BR/>JohnSFOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04846379168854781828noreply@blogger.com