AIFETO’s National Secretary and Senior Leader of the Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Association, V. Annamalai, in a statement said: “State government employees should not go on strike. The Tamil Nadu government has amended the conduct rules framed in 1973 and issued new rules. Processions or gatherings should not be held within or near government office premises without permission. Speaking should also not be done in such gatherings, ” according to a news report in the Dinamalar newspaper on March 6.
If this news is not correct, the government would have denied it. Since the government has not denied it, this news is correct. What is the need of bringing such a regulatory amendment now? During the election to the state assembly, the Tamil Nadu government and the so-called Dravidian Model government made many promises. Why did they not fulfil them? We have asked nicely. We have argued. We have fought. We have protested and then met officials. We have organised conferences and invited the Chief Minister for discussions. But none of the promises were fulfilled.
But in the name of ideology, JACTTO-GEO and other unions are fighting to regain rights and ensure the promises are implemented. So the protest has been put off for the time being considering the students’ exams. This is the reality. If this government, which amended the 1973 rules, was bold enough, it could have re-enacted the ESMA (Essential Services Maintenance Act) and TESMA (Tamil Nadu Essential Services Maintenance Act) laws brought in by former chief minister Jayalalithaa in 2003. If they wanted, they could have called it by a different name.
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We want to place this point very clearly and firmly in the Chief Minister’s heart. Politicians are fond of mentioning the MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act), POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) and language rights sacrifices as part of their history. We too have a list. Teachers, government employees and association members went on hunger strike for 40 days in 1985 during the JACTTO strike. In 1988, during the JACTTO-GEO protest, we had laid siege to Mount Road and gone to jail.
In 2003, during the JACTTO-GEO strike against the New Pension Scheme and the withdrawal of several benefits, we organised a massive strike. On that day, 1. 75 lakh employees were dismissed. We were there when 999 employees were permanently terminated for eight months. Former Chief Minister Karunanidhi, Leftist party leaders and other political leaders stood with us. We fought all the way to the Supreme Court and ensured that everyone was reinstated without any consequences. We are standing firm today too.
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The people who enumerated ideological struggles are no longer in power. But the son of late Chief Minister Karunanidhi is now on the throne. History has proved that no ruler stays in power forever (except a few). But unions have always been there and continue to function. That is an undeniable historical fact.
Restrictions for those who speak out for rights, but no restrictions for those who indulge in corruption? Instead of threatening teachers and government employees, keep your promises. We also make this demand of the ruling alliance parties. Understand that we too decide electoral victories. Let us hope that the budget report to be released soon brings a new day for us! ” He said in his statement.
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