Tamil Nadu witnessed a large-scale protest by government employees and teachers on 25 February 2025, as members of the Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers Organisation and Government Employees Organisation (JACTO-GEO) staged demonstrations across all district headquarters. Participants took casual leave en masse to condemn the state government’s failure to address their long-pending demands.
M. Srinivasan, state coordinator of JACTO-GEO, stated in Chennai that reports from 37 districts indicated that 4.22 lakh employees and teachers took part in the demonstrations. The absence of staff disrupted work in several government offices and schools across the state, though operations at the secretariat in Chennai remained unaffected.
Sources from the elementary education department confirmed that out of 1,21,239 teachers, 53,166 availed of casual leave. Teachers’ associations estimated that 40% to 50% of postgraduate teachers and headmasters of high and higher secondary schools joined the protests. However, the state government did not release any official data on the number of employees who participated or the extent of the impact on work.
JACTTO-GEO coordinator Mayavan warned of an escalation, stating that their next phase of agitation would be a total strike of work, with a final decision to be taken soon. The protest followed failed discussions on 24 February 2025 between JACTO-GEO leaders and a four-member group of ministers.
A key demand of the protesters is the restoration of the old pension scheme, a promise made by the ruling DMK during its election campaign. Mayavan stated that even after four years in office, the government had not fulfilled its commitment, and warned that if the employees were deceived, the DMK government would face repercussions in the 2026 Assembly elections.
He further criticized the government’s handling of the negotiations, stating that ministers engaged in discussions for over two-and-a-half hours on 24 February 2025 and assured union leaders they would consult the Chief Minister. However, despite the Chief Minister’s presence at the secretariat, the ministers left without meeting the waiting union representatives. Mayavan described this move as “backstabbing” the employees.
He also dismissed the government’s request for four weeks to address their concerns, calling it an attempt to weaken employee unity and delay action on their demands.
In Krishnagiri, the JACTO-GEO staged a large protest near the new bus stand on 25 February 2025 following failed talks with the State government the previous day. A key demand in their 10-point charter was the repeal of the New Pension Scheme and the reinstatement of the Old Pension Scheme.
Despite a directive from the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court against the protest, hundreds of members gathered in the open arena near the bus stand.
In Dharmapuri, JACTO-GEO protests were also held, with the Tamil Nadu Teachers Organisation and the Government Employees Organisation leading demonstrations to reiterate their demands.
(With inputs from The New Indian Express)
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