Teachers observe cease-work, studies hit in varsities

Kolkata: Classes in a number of colleges and at least six universities in the state were affected on Tuesday with teachers observing cease-work to protest the government's decision to hike salaries from January 2020 instead of January 2016.

West Bengal College and University Teachers' Association (WBCUTA) and Calcutta University Teachers' Association (CUTA) took part in the agitation on Tuesday while Jadavpur University Teachers' Association (JUTA) and All Bengal University Teachers' Association (ABUTA) in Jadavpur University observed cease-work on Tuesday and will do so on Wednesday too.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on November 5 had announced that revised UGC pay scale recommended by Seventh Central Pay Commission will be implemented in government and state-aided colleges and universities from January 1, 2020.

Banerjee had also announced that teachers (assistant professor, associate professor and professor) will also get a three percent increment on their respective salaries for four years – from 2016 to 2019.

"Our appeal to the state government to implement the revised pay scale from January 2016 had fallen on deaf ears. An assistant professor (at the starting level) would miss out on Rs 6.4 lakh for four years," a member of JUTA pointed out.

A member of CUTA said that an assistant professor would miss out on nearly Rs 8 lakh, an associate professor on around Rs 23 lakh while a professor will get Rs 26 lakh less.

"We will again agitate in front of Aurobindo Bhavan, the administrative building of our university from 1pm on Wednesday to press for our demands," said Goutam Maity, general secretary of ABUTA.