CHENNAI: Demanding the DMK government fulfil the long-pending demands of more than two decades, the Secondary Grade Seniority Teachers' Association (SSTA) has announced a state-wide protest on December 26.

Meanwhile, SSTA demanding 'equal pay for equal work' had already staged two phases of protests in the first and second weeks of December.

In the first phase, the 20,000 affected teachers highlighted their demands by carrying a tag with their demand. In the second phase, a rally was held at the respective district headquarters. Additionally, a statewide protest is planned for December 26 in the third phase.

The association members say that the DMK party during the election campaign in 2021 promised to fulfil the demand and mentioned the same in its election manifesto number 311. However, despite frequent protests and requests, SGTs claim the government had ignored them.

Nearly 20,000 SGTs have been requesting that both the AIADMK and DMK governments address the pay disparity faced by teachers appointed after June 2009, who receive Rs 3,170 for the same amount of work as those appointed on or before May 31, 2009.

The teachers also claim that in December 2022, these teachers were severely affected by the seventh pay commission, as the pay gap further widened.

Speaking to DT Next, a SSTA member said, "We had been placing our demand of 'equal pay for equal work' during both the AIADMK and DMK parties in government. However, we haven't received any resolution so far. Politicians and government officials should comprehend the plight of teachers who have been neglected so far."

Meanwhile, the Minister of School Education, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, Minister of Finance, Thangam Thennarasu, and Minister of Public Works, EV Velu, are set to hold a meeting with 44 different government employees and teachers, including representatives from the Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers' Organisations and Government Employees' Organisations (JACTTO GEO), on December 22.