PERANAN CUEPACS TERHADAP TUNTUTAN KENAIKAN GAJI ANGGOTA PERKHIDMATAN AWAM DI PERSEKUTUAN TANAH MELAYU, 1957–1970

The role of CUEPACS against Claims for Wages Increase in Civil Servant of the Federation of Malaya, 1957–1970

Abstract

ABSTRAK Artikel ini membincangkan peranan Kongres Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja dalam Perkhidmatan Awam (Congress of Union of Employees in the Public Services - CUEPACS) dalam usahanya menuntut kenaikan gaji bagi anggota perkhidmatan awam di Persekutuan Tanah Melayu (PTM) dalam tempoh antara tahun 1957 hingga 1970. Pada tahun 1957, PTM mencapai kemerdekaan dan serentak dengan itu pentadbiran PTM beralih daripada kerajaan kolonial British kepada kerajaan PTM sendiri. Perkhidmatan awam turut mengalami pelbagai perubahan. Namun, gaji yang diterima oleh anggota perkhidmatan awam didapati tiada perubahan. Anggota perkhidmatan awam yang berkhidmat selepas merdeka masih menerima gaji yang sama ketika mereka berada di bawah pentadbiran kerajaan kolonial British. Walau bagaimanapun, peningkatan taraf hidup penduduk selepas merdeka telah memberi kesan terhadap anggota perkhidmatan awam kerana peningkatan tersebut tidak selaras dengan jumlah gaji mereka. Pada masa yang sama, kajian ini turut menyentuh peranan CUEPACS mewujudkan persamaan gaji antara anggota wanita dan lelaki dalam perkhidmatan awam. Oleh itu, fokus utama dalam perbincangan ini adalah untuk mengenal pasti tindakan CUEPACS menuntut kenaikan gaji bagi anggota perkhidmatan awam dan persamaan gaji anggota wanita dan lelaki. Kajian ini juga menilai sejauh mana kerjasama antara CUEPACS dan kerajaan PTM dalam usaha meningkatkan kadar gaji anggota perkhidmatan awam di PTM. Maklumat tentang peranan CUEPACS dalam usaha meningkatkan kenaikan dan persamaan gaji anggota perkhidmatan awam di PTM diperoleh daripada Laporan Tahunan CUEPACS, Parliamentary Debate, Pekeliling Perkhidmatan, laporan surat khabar dan penulisan buku. Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa peranan CUEPACS dalam tuntutan kenaikan gaji bukan sahaja telah membolehkan anggota perkhidmatan awam di PTM menikmati kenaikan gaji tetapi juga membolehkan anggota perkhidmatan awam wanita dan lelaki mendapat persamaan gaji.

Abstract This article discusses the role of the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public Services (CUEPACS) in an effort to raise wages for a civil servant in the Federation of Malaya (FM) between 1957 until 1970. In 1957, FM achieved independence and simultaneously, the FM administration shifted from the British colonial government to the FM government. In line with that, the public service has undergone various changes. However, in terms of wages received by a civil servant, no changes were made. This is because a civil servant who has served after independence still receive the same wages when they are under the administration of the British colonial government. However, the increase in the standard of living after independence has affected the civil servant as the increase is not in line with their wages. At the same time, the study also touches on the role of CUEPACS to create wage equality between women and men in the civil service. Hence, the main focus of the discussion is to identify what CUEPACS's action is to demand wages increase for civil servants and wages equality between women and men. In addition, this study also assesses the extent of the collaboration between CUEPACS and the FM government in the effort to increase the wages of a civil servant in FM. Information on the role of CUEPACS in the effort to improve the wages increase and wages equality of civil servant in FM is derived from CUEPACS Annual Report, Parliamentary Debate, Service Circulars, newspaper report and book writing. The findings show that the role of CUEPACS in wages raising claims has not only allowed civil servant at FM to enjoy wage increases but also allow civil servant among women and men to get payroll similarities.