Mon Jan 05 00:00:00 UTC 2026: Okay, here’s a summary of the article and a rewritten version as a news article:
Summary:
Secondary grade teachers in Chennai continued their protest for the 10th consecutive day, demanding equal pay for equal work. The teachers, organized by the Secondary Grade Seniority Teachers’ Association (SSTA), are protesting a pay disparity based on their date of appointment, where teachers hired before June 1, 2009, receive significantly higher pay than those hired after. Over 1,000 teachers were arrested, and despite schools reopening, they vow to continue their protest until the government addresses their demands. The teachers cite a promise made by the current Chief Minister when he was in opposition.
News Article:
Chennai Teachers’ Pay Protest Enters 10th Day, Hundreds Arrested
Chennai, India – January 5, 2026 – Over a thousand secondary grade teachers were arrested in Chennai on Sunday as they continued their demonstration for equal pay for equal work, marking the 10th consecutive day of protests. The demonstration, organized by the Secondary Grade Seniority Teachers’ Association (SSTA), took place near the Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital on Anna Salai, disrupting traffic and drawing a heavy police presence.
The core of the protest lies in a significant pay disparity between teachers hired before and after June 1, 2009. Teachers employed prior to this date earn a basic salary of ₹8,370, while those hired afterward receive only ₹5,200. The SSTA argues this “anomaly” is unfair and unsustainable, leaving newer teachers with significantly lower monthly earnings, around ₹20,600.
Despite the arrests and the reopening of schools on Monday, the teachers remain resolute. “We have been pushed to the last stage,” said a teacher from Pudukkottai, expressing frustration over the government’s lack of action despite repeated appeals over the past 16 years. The teachers emphasized that the DMK party, now in power, had included their demand for equal pay in their election manifesto and received support from M.K. Stalin, now Chief Minister, when he was Leader of the Opposition.
School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi stated on Saturday that discussions were ongoing with the Finance Department to find a resolution. However, the SSTA remains skeptical.
“The protests will continue until our demands are met,” stated Velmurugan, SSTA vice-president, indicating a prolonged standoff unless the government offers a concrete solution. The situation is likely to escalate as schools resume, potentially impacting the education of students across the city.
First Piper 