Tamil Nadu government employees and teachers to go on strike from January 6

The Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Organisations and Government Employees’ Organisations (JACTTO-GEO) on Monday (December 22, 2025) announced an indefinite strike from January 6. 

The office-bearers of the organisation held talks with Public Works Minister E.V. Velu, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu, and School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi. “However, the talks were disappointing,” the organisation said in a release.

Following the talks, the coordinators of the organisation met and decided to wear black badges on December 27 to record their protest. “We will go ahead with our plan for an indefinite strike from January 6, 2026,” the release said.

The demands of the JACTTO-GEO include the revival of the old pension scheme and the scrapping of the new pension scheme, a fair pay scale, timely promotions and clearance of pending increments, regularisation of the services of part-time and temporary employees, and the restoration of special pay provisions.

The organisation also condemned the government for not inviting unions affiliated to the JACTTO-GEO for the talks even while inviting pro-government organisations.

Speaking to reporters later, the office-bearers said they would approach the court and continue their protests until their demands were fulfilled. “We have not placed any new demand. We only reiterated our existing demands and asked the government to explain its stand. However, we are disappointed with the talks,” they said.

They alleged that the government was under the control of IAS officials and it was unable to take action even if it wished to do a good turn to government employees and teachers.

Asked whether their demands would have an impact on the coming Assembly election, the office-bearers said they were not prepared to discuss electoral politics.

“We do not want to take advantage of the election period. The government gave us a lot of hope. As its tenure is coming to an end, we urge the government to fulfil our demands,” an office-bearer said.