SME Times News Bureau | 22 Feb, 2019
Thousands of fixed-pay teachers and employees of the Gujarat State
Transport Corporation (GSTC) laid siege to the Gujarat Assembly here on
Friday raising their oft-repeated demand of same-work-same-pay even as
the police lathicharged them at several places.
The show of
strength by contractual teachers and the GSTC staff found backing from
the opposition Congress, forcing the state's ruling BJP government to
constitute a committee of three Cabinet-rank ministers to look into the
demands.
The teachers' agitation started on Thursday with a call to gherao the Assembly on Friday.
Hundreds
of teachers have since been protesting at their respective district
headquarters while at many places, contingents getting ready to proceed
to the state capital were prevented by huge police deployment.
The
agitating teachers have been engaged in government schools and colleges
on a contractual fixed-pay arrangements for at least two decades. While
they have not been absorbed in government jobs, their salaries are much
less than the full-time teachers.
On the other hand, the
agitation by GSTC employees has disrupted bus services in almost all
districts. Stranded passengers had no other option but to take private
vehicles at exorbitant rates.
The employees are demanding
salaries according to the Seventh Pay Commission like all other
government employees. Their salaries were not revised because the State
Transport Corporation is running huge losses.
