An adventure in applied science - IRRI books - International Rice ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

100 History of the International Rice Research Institutegovernmental and private organizations where they have attained higherlevels of rank and salary than would have been possible had they remained atIRRI. Today, I feel that in general, the research assistants at the Institute arehappy in their work and are gratified to be a key part of an international centerthat has developed a worldwide reputation for its achievements.Although IRRI’s senior staff had generally high morale and were enthusiasticabout their work, there naturally were certain dissatisfactions. A coterieof senior scientists usually met for a midmorning coffee break, which gavethem a chance to air their views (some of which no doubt would have tippedaskew any halos the administrators might have been foolish enough to fashionfor themselves on the basis of fair judgment and sound policies!). I stayed awayfrom these gatherings, partly because I wasn’t much of a coffee drinker andalso because I felt the discussions should not be inhibited by the presence of thedirector.While on the subject of complaints, one incident is amusing enough to berecalled. On an evening in 1966, Jennings, Tanaka, and Jackson (all fortified bya few drinks) had a talk session at Tanaka’s house that went on until midnight.Jennings, one of IRRI’s finest scientists, and Tanaka, who was doing anexceptional job as plant physiologist, mutually admired each other’s abilityand philosophy. Jackson, an excellent editor and science writer, was not reallycontent at IRRI and tended to side with those who were feeling somewhatnegative at the time. As the three men became more worked up in theirdiscussions, they decided, shortly after midnight, to awaken the director, lethim know what was bothering them, and see what could be done about it.At their far-from-silent approach, I got out of bed and climbed into mytrousers to go down to see what was the matter. Before I could finish dressing,however, Mrs. Tanaka arrived on the scene and marched her husband home— his two confederates trailing behind. Somewhat later, at a cocktail receptionat the director’s house, I learned from Tanaka the principal cause for theaborted visit. It seemed that Tanaka felt discriminated against because theAmericans were hired by the Rockefeller Foundation with different perquisitesfrom those of IRRI-hired non-Americans. I explained that it wasRockefeller Foundation policy not to hire non-Americans on a permanentbasis and nothing could be done about that, but that IRRI gradually wouldmove to a policy of direct hire for its entire staff, Americans as well as non-Americans, with the same benefits for all. Tanaka seemed satisfied with thestatement and did not bring up the subject with me again — except when hehad a martini or two under his belt. Jennings, Tanaka, and Jackson, it must beadded, were by no means habitual or heavy drinkers. Like most of the rest ofus, they simply tended to be less inhibited after they had had a couple of drinks.In fact, I rather welcomed such spontaneous revelations from the staff as ameans of discovering what was bothering them, so that if possible, thesituation could be improved.The event that marked the only real trouble that IRRI had with its employeesduring the tenure of its first director was a one-day strike that occurred on 5March 1970. It involved the Filipino employees, from research assistant level
Establishing administrative policies 101on down to the laborers. The strike was brought on by the devaluation of thePhilippine peso from its previous exchange rate of 3.9 pesos/U.S. dollar to anew rate of 5.65 pesos/U.S. dollar. The employees realized that IRRI receivedmost of its funds in dollars and therefore would have considerably more pesosto spend when converting its funds from U.S. to Philippine currency. As aresult, the junior researchers asked that they be paid directly in dollars, at theold rate of P3.9/U.S. dollar. The other employees asked to be given raises inproportion to the gain IRRI would make in converting dollars at the new rate.On the evening of 4 March, Drilon, Pizarro, and Ramos (executive officer,associate executive officer, and associate agronomist-farm superintendent)met with the leaders of the IRRI employees to try to avert the strike, but theywere unsuccessful. I was alerted early on 5 March and arrangements weremade for Drilon and me to address all employees in the auditorium later thatmorning. Opportunity was provided for free discussion. I pointed out that theemployees were asking for a change in policy that could not be made withoutapproval of the Board of Trustees. I stated further that IRRI spent a considerableamount of its funds directly in dollars, which remained unaffected by thechanged value of the peso. However, I told the employees, I would be in NewYork later in the month, would discuss the problem with Hill, then Chairmanof the Board, and would recommend an across-the-board increase in pay forall employees, retroactive to 1 March of the current year. At the same meeting,Drilon and I patiently emphasized the advantages of working for IRRI. I toldthe gathering that never before joining IRRI had I been part of an organizationin which essentially all employees automatically received annual increases inpay. I stressed the achievements of the Institute and the personal pride theyall had a right to feel as participants at every level in those advances.The employees did not work that day but were back on the job the nextmorning, and IRRI resumed normal operations.The outcome, after my visit to New York, was that modest increases insalaries and wages were made (effective 1 March). However, the policy of theInstitute to pay only its senior scientists in dollars and local employees atprevailing local wage scales, with something extra for quality, remained ineffect.I was disheartened by this concerted move on the part of IRRI personnel,which at the time seemed to me almost a breach of faith. I felt I had worked hardand conscientiously to provide not only good salaries and wages for thePhilippine employees but the best of working conditions as well.It was only later that I realized that one factor (although not the major one,undoubtedly) contributing to the decision to hold a strike at IRRI may wellhave been a carryover of the “rebellious 1960s” impulse in young adults (suchas the junior researchers) to react against authority and to seek self-expressionby voicing their grievances and trying to force their settlement. Earlier, theCollege had experienced — although in minor form compared to that byinstitutions abroad — a period of student confrontations and clamorousuprisings. At one point, groups of malcontents tried with some success to sealoff the campus and generally disrupt college operations. When such actions
Page 2 and 3:
An Adventurein Applied Science:A HI
Page 4:
ContentsDedication viiAbout this pu
Page 10 and 11:
About this publication . . .In 20 y
Page 12 and 13:
xiname, and release varieties. Thus
Page 14 and 15:
PrefaceThe International Rice Resea
Page 16 and 17:
CHAPTER 1An international institute
Page 18 and 19:
An international institute for rice
Page 20 and 21:
Page 22 and 23:
Page 24 and 25:
Page 26 and 27:
Page 28 and 29:
Page 30 and 31:
Page 32 and 33:
Page 34 and 35:
Page 36 and 37:
Page 38 and 39:
Page 40 and 41:
Page 42 and 43:
Page 44 and 45:
Page 46 and 47:
Page 48 and 49:
Page 50 and 51:
Page 52 and 53:
Page 54 and 55:
Page 56 and 57:
Page 58 and 59:
Page 60 and 61:
Page 62 and 63:
Page 64 and 65: CHAPTER 2Developing and staffingthe
Page 66 and 67: Developing and staffing the program
Page 100 and 101: 86 History of the International Ric
Page 107 and 108: Princess (now Queen)Beatrix of theN
Page 109 and 110: Establishing administrative policie
Page 111 and 112: In the early years, IRRIused its ow
Page 113: Establishing administrative policie
Page 117 and 118: Chapter 4Early Researchand training
Page 119 and 120: Early research and training results
Page 161 and 162: CHAPTER 5Financing of IRRIThe purpo
Page 163 and 164: Financing of IRRI 149foreign assist
Page 165 and 166:
Early research and training results
Page 167 and 168:
Early research and training results
Page 169 and 170:
156 History of the International Ri
Page 171 and 172:
Page 173 and 174:
Page 175 and 176:
Creation of other international cen
Page 177 and 178:
Creation of other international cen
Page 179 and 180:
Page 181 and 182:
Aerial view of IRRI in1981.However,
Page 183 and 184:
Page 185 and 186:
Page 187 and 188:
Page 189:
Page 192 and 193:
IRRI today 181neering Department: K
Page 194 and 195:
IRRI today 183In spite of this high
Page 196 and 197:
IRRI today 185turn, received geneti
Page 198 and 199:
IRRI today 1871. Research to assist
Page 200 and 201:
Appendices 189materials could readi
Page 202 and 203:
Appendix 2OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENTINTER
Page 204 and 205:
Appendices 193ate to concentrate on
Page 206 and 207:
Appendices 195estimates for buildin
Page 208 and 209:
Appendices 197(4) Development of pr
Page 210 and 211:
Appendices 199was approved for the
Page 212 and 213:
Appendices 201association, or perso
Page 214 and 215:
Appendices 203b. To pass upon the b
Page 216 and 217:
Appendices 205Article VIIMISCELLANE
Page 218 and 219:
Page 220 and 221:
Page 222 and 223:
Page 224 and 225:
Page 226 and 227:
Page 228 and 229:
Page 230 and 231:
Page 232 and 233:
Page 234 and 235:
Page 236 and 237:
Page 238 and 239:
Page 240 and 241:
Page 242 and 243:
Page 244 and 245:
Page 246 and 247:
Page 248 and 249:
Page 250:
show all

An adventure in applied science - IRRI books - International Rice ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?