CHENNAI: The Secondary Grade Teachers (SGTs) protest entered the 31st day on Sunday, over their demand 'equal pay for equal work'. The protest will continue as the concern remains unmet, say members of the Secondary Grade Seniority Teachers' Association (SSTA) during their agitation at the DPI campus on Sunday.
The protest by SGTs began in late December. On every single day of protest held in Chennai and across Tamil Nadu, thousands of SGTs, including women teachers, were arrested.
Not budging to the crackdown using the police force, and the School Education Department officials and the minister not giving in to their demands, the protests are on.
Additionally, the Directorate of Elementary Education (DEE) in early January warned of 'loss of pay' for teachers missing classes due to taking part in protests. However, despite the warning and multiple meetings with officials from the School Education Department, the secretary, and the minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, the protest had not been withdrawn.
The demand for 'equal pay for equal work' arose after the pay disparity faced by teachers appointed after June 2009, who received Rs 3,170 for the same amount of work as those appointed on or before May 31, 2009, was brought to light.
The teachers also claim that in December 2022, they were severely affected by the seventh pay commission, as the pay gap widened further.
"We will continue the protest. Though we were called for a discussion with higher officials, we want the TN government to fulfil the promise it made during the 2021 election campaign.
We will not settle for less than that. Give 20,000 SGTs their rightful salaries," said a teacher protesting at the DPI campus.