Talks between government, employee associations fail to make headway

Ministers N. Kayalvizhi Selvaraj, Thangam Thennarasu, E.V. Velu, and Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi holding talks with JACTTO-GEO representatives in Chennai on February 24, 2025. Photo: DIPR

The talks between the Tamil Nadu government and the representatives of various associations of teachers and the State government employees over the latter’s various demands held on Monday (February 24, 2025), failed to make any headway. The associations declined to accept the government’s request seeking four months’ time.

However, the Madras High Court Madurai Bench earlier in the day directed them not to go ahead with their protests as the government was holding talks with them..

After two rounds of talks with the Ministers, Srinivasan, State coordinator, the Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Organisation—Government Employees Organisation (JACTTO-GEO) said they were not inclined to accept to government’s request of time for four months. The associations have been forced to go for the agitation, he maintained.

“We could organise agitations by availing Casual Leave. The agitation would be held in all district headquarters,” Mr. Srinivasan. Originally, the associations had planned for road block but have decided to organise agitations. “The government has not reject our demands. They have sought four months’ time,” he reiterated.

After the agitations on Tuesday (February 25, 2025), a meeting of the State coordinators of JACTTO-GEO would decide on the further course of action. Though talks were held last year too, over the same demands and since they have not been resolved so far, they were forced to go for agitations, he said. The State coordinators of JACTTO-GEO were always open for talks with the government, he said.

Earlier in the day, Ministers E.V. Velu, Thangam Thennarasu, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and N. Kayalvizhi Selvaraj held a meeting with representatives of various associations of teachers and State government employees in the Secretariat.

After the meeting, the representatives said that they had underlined their demands with the Ministers and that the latter said they would inform the Chief Minister about their demands.

Depending on the decision from the government expected on Monday (February 24, 2025) evening, they would decide on the future course of action, they said. Later in the day, after they met with the CM, the Ministers had a meeting with the representatives of associations.