The ‘indefinite’ agitation launched by the Tamil Nadu Government employees and teachers associations, demanding restoration of the old pension system, was suspended temporarily late on Wednesday much to the relief of school students and their parents in the State.
Leaders of the Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Organisations and Government Employees Organisations (JACTO-GEO), the controlling body of all the Government employees and teachers held a meeting late Wednesday and announced their decision to ‘suspend for the time being’ their agitation which has been on since January 22.
The decision to suspend the agitation temporarily was made taking into account the upcoming examinations of students belonging to the 10, 11 and 12th classes. We also took into account the sentiments of the parents as well as the call made by the Madras High Court , the chief minister and other political leaders,” said Vincent Paulraj, leader of the JACTO-GEO. But he made it clear that the decision is to suspend the agitation only for the time being.
There were reports that the State administration was planning to take strong measures against nearly 5,000 employees who were reportedly preventing the employees and teachers from attending offices and schools. The nine day strike had brought to a standstill all Government offices and schools in the State. The general public too had expressed their anger over the indifference shown by the striking employees towards the plight of school students who were getting ready to face the annual examination.
Justice N Kirubakaran of the Madras High Court who was hearing a public interest litigation challenging the legality of the agitation had asked the striking union leaders and employees would they accept if the teachers of their children in private schools go on strike. It is an open secret that children of most of the government employees and trade union leaders study in private schools.
The striking employees are demanding arrears of the revised pay scales as per the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission and regularization of some of the temporary staff members.