Tamil Nadu government staff to launch stir against delay in pay hike

Chennai: State government employees, particularly bus drivers, school teachers and members of the police fraternity feel let down by the State during the recent Assembly session where no major schemes or grants to revise the salaries of government employees were moved by the state.

Irked over the inordinate delay by the state to address the government staff welfare issues, JACTO-GEO (Joint Action Council of Teachers Organisations-Government Employees Organisations and Confederation of Teachers Associations-Government Employees Organisations) are also set to hold a high level meeting in city on Tuesday.

“We are likely to launch protests and strikes by next week seeking implementation of seventh pay commission recommendations and as a prelude, representatives of various government associations have been invited to Chennai,” said a state government official of rural development department.
“Representatives of more than 70 government associations have agreed to participate in the discussions to be held on Tuesday. Issues like implementation of seventh pay commission, scrapping of new pension scheme, early implementation of pay commission and employee welfare initiatives will be discussed,” said Ganesan of Jacto-GEO.

“Any government organisation that feels being neglected by the state can join us in the discussion. Even police personnel are welcome to join us,” he added.

“The state continues to ignore the plea of about ten lakh government employees and our next course of action will be decided tomorrow and if required we are ready to jump in to an indefinite strike as still date there is no confirmation about salary increments. We want to be treated on par with central government staff,” said K.Uma, a government school teacher.