State invokes ‘no work,no pay’ policy,to withhold salaries of teachers on strike

“Teachers from aided colleges will not get salaries for March. They will also lose their salaries for coming months if they continue with the strike. The government has agreed to release arrears and teachers should now call off their agitation,” said Sunil Shete,Joint Director of Education (Pune division).

The Directorate of Higher Education has been compiling data of teachers’ attendance in colleges since March 15 in view of the examination boycott call given by MFUCTO from February 4.

The government-aided colleges in Maharashtra,through a letter dated March 12,were asked by the educational authorities to compile teachers’ data under six different heads like names and number of teachers taking part in agitation and number of NET/SET qualified teachers actively participating in the agitation. Besides the joint director level authorities,the Department of Higher Education had also asked concerned state universities to compile teachers’ attendance data.

The release of the Sixth Pay Commission arrears for the period between January 1,2006 and January 1,2010,and regularisation of the non-NET/SET teachers appointed between September 19,1991 and April 3,2000 are some of the major demands that have been raised by teachers.

Speaking to Newsline,MFUCTO president Shivaji Patil said the government decision to withhold salaries of agitating teachers has no legal stand. “It is unfair on the part of government to think of such unmindful measure that has no locus standi,” he said,anticipating conclusive talks with the government during this week.