According to sources after eight days of protests, the Joint Action Council of Tamilnadu Teachers' Organization and Government Employees’ Organizations (Jactto-Geo), an umbrella association of government staff and teachers temporarily called off its strike on Wednesday, as most employees returned to work over the last few days. Reportedly Jactto-Geo members leading the strike, however, maintained that they were relenting due to the fast approaching practical exams for students who are set to appear for their public examinations this year.
Meanwhile members of the organization have been striking work since January 22 with demands like reverting to the old pension scheme and a hike in pay for secondary grade teachers among others. Furthermore the government, however, refused to entertain any dialogue with them and went on the offensive by hiring temporary teachers and warning protesters of suspension and treating their posts as vacant.
Moreover PK Ilamaran, state president of the Tamilnadu Teachers' Association said "When we hold such protests, stop buses and create chaos, what example are we setting for our students? If they want to register protest, they should have taken classes and not signed the attendance register. Most people leading the protest are retired government staff. Further the protests took a very political color with DMK and CPI-M associated members having too much of a say."
