CHENNAI: Minister for School Education Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi has assured that he will advocate with the State Finance department to fulfil the demands of Secondary Grade Teachers (SGTs) demanding 'equal pay for equal work'.
More than 20,000 SGTs have been protesting for equal pay in comparison with their counterparts appointed before 2009 across the State, especially in Chennai. The protest is entering its tenth day, and SGTs and members of the Secondary Grade Seniority Teachers' Association (SSTA) told DT Next that the protest will continue till the demand is met.
Meanwhile, the minister speaking to media persons in the city on Saturday said, "The SGTs are asking for the poll promise made during the election campaign, and the demand is not new. Taking it into account, we have already held talks with the Finance Minister and the principal secretary."
During the discussion, the minister added that the Finance department had sought a few clarifications, and the education department will continue to hold further talks to resolve the SGTs' concerns at the earliest.
"As the teachers have been asking for a long-pending demand, the education department and I will advocate on the teachers' behalf. We will put efforts to address the concern at the earliest," the minister said.
Meanwhile, SSTA members have called for official confirmation that their demands will be fulfilled and that their salaries will be equalised.
The demand for 'equal pay for equal work' rose after the pay disparity faced by teachers appointed after June 2009, of Rs 3,170 for the same amount of work as those appointed on or before May 31, 2009, was brought up. The teachers also claim that in December 2022, these teachers were severely affected by the seventh pay commission, as the pay gap further widened.