SGTs to Stage Statewide Protest on Dec 26 Over 20-Year Pay Disparity

Chennai, Dec 2025 : The Secondary Grade Seniority Teachers’ Association (SSTA) has announced a statewide protest on December 26, intensifying pressure on the Stalin government over a pay disparity issue that has persisted for more than two decades.

Representing nearly 20,000 Secondary Grade Teachers (SGTs) affected by the anomaly, the SSTA has already conducted two phases of agitation this month. In the first phase, teachers across Tamil Nadu wore tags highlighting their demand for fair wages. This was followed by district-level rallies in the second phase, where members reiterated that repeated appeals to successive governments have failed to resolve the issue.

The controversy centers on the pay gap between teachers appointed before May 31, 2009, and those recruited after June 2009. SSTA members point out that post-2009 appointees continue to receive substantially lower salaries despite performing the same duties and responsibilities as their senior colleagues.

The association also contends that the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission in December 2022 further widened the gap, putting affected teachers at an additional disadvantage. “This disparity goes against the fundamental principle of ‘equal pay for equal work’ and has caused long-term financial strain on thousands of teachers who joined after the cut-off date,” the association said.

According to the SSTA, both the previous AIADMK government and the current DMK administration have acknowledged the anomaly but failed to take corrective action. Teachers’ frustration has intensified as numerous representations, protests, and memoranda over the years have not led to a policy solution.

The demand for parity had even featured in the ruling party’s 2021 election manifesto, yet no concrete steps have been initiated. In response, the government has scheduled discussions with various stakeholders, including representatives from 44 government employees’ and teachers’ organisations, as part of broader service-related negotiations.

Key ministers expected to participate in these talks on Monday include School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu, and Public Works Minister E.V. Velu.

The SSTA has emphasized that the December 26 protest is aimed at drawing attention to the unresolved issue. The association warned that they are prepared to escalate their agitation if the long-standing demand for salary parity continues to be ignored. “Our efforts over the last twenty years have not borne fruit. This protest is a reminder that we will persist until justice is served,” an SSTA spokesperson said.

As the state braces for the upcoming protest, the focus remains on whether the government will take concrete steps to bridge the pay disparity and address the long-standing grievances of the Secondary Grade Teachers.