Following months of representations and agitations over the non-payment of long-pending dues as well as a call to repeal the new pension scheme, the Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Organisations and Government Employees Organisations (JACTTO-GEO) has threatened to go on an indefinite strike, beginning December 4. According to a report in The Hindu, Minister for Fisheries and Personnel and Administrative Reforms and Finance Secretary K Shanmugam held talks with representatives of JACTO GEO on Saturday.
However, the talks were inconclusive, prompting the union to declare an indefinite protest beginning December 4. According to the newspaper, the Chief Minister assured the union that while all their demands would be reviewed, feasible ones would be implemented. CM Palaniswami also cited the financial duress the state was under, despite which, it had reportedly hiked pay for government employees.
The union’s seven-point charter of demands includes the restoration of the old pension scheme, the pay for secondary grade teachers should be on par with central government staff, payment of 21-month arrears of pay commission recommendations and regularisation of services of those under special consolidated pay, the Times of India reports.
In a statement to the press, the Chief Minister reportedly said, “At this juncture, I request the government staff to extend full cooperation to implement speedily the relief work for the affected poor, farmers, fishermen and public without any setback.”
The Chief Minister also said that the government had received the TS Sridhar Committee report on the matter and that a decision would be taken on its recommendations.
According to The New Indian Express, JACTO GEO planned to stage a demonstration at all taluk headquarters on December 5 while a road roko had been planned at various district headquarters on December 7. The newspaper also reports that the union has set aside 10 teachers and government employees from each body of the union for Cyclone Gaja relief work.