Govt teachers, employees hold massive protest

Government teachers and employees today staged a massive protest demonstration here,pressing for several of their demands, including implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations.
Heeding to the 'March to the Secretariat' call of the Joint Action Committee of Tamil Nadu Teachers Organisations and Government Employees Organisations (JACTTO-GEO), thousands of employees turned up here at Chepauk.
Vehicular movement was affected in arterial Anna Salai and the spillover effect was felt in several other areas in the periphery of the protest venue.
The demands of JACTTO-GEO include implementation of the old pension scheme junking the Contributory Pension Scheme for employees who joined service effective April 1, 2003.

In a statement here, the employees body also demanded implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations on par with Central government employees and setting right pay anamolies.
It demanded 20 per cent immediate interim relief before the implementation of Pay Commission recommendations.

Since the government "did not take steps over these representations," the protest was held today, it said.
Hundreds of employees who tried to take part in today's demonstration here were prevented at several towns by police, it alleged.
If the government does not call JACTTO-GEO for talks and come forward to implement the demands, an indefinite strike would be launched from September seven and a one-day token strike will be held on August 22, the employees body said.