The Joint Action Committee of teaching and non-teaching staff of Annamalai University observed a day-long hunger strike on the campus on Thursday (January 22, 2026), demanding the immediate release of the Seventh Pay Commission arrears to the employees.
The employees have been forced to strike as their demands have not been fulfilled despite promises by the State government, a spokesperson of the JAC said.
The protesters demanded that the State government immediately release the arrears to the employees. The government has put on hold promotions for the employees, while pensioners have been left in the lurch due to a delay in providing pension benefits for the last 14 months, they said.
The employees also demanded the full settlement of retirement benefits like commutation, earned leave surrender, and gratuity, pending for the past several years. Additionally, employees who had put in more than 15 years of service were yet to be regularised, a faculty member said.
Published – January 22, 2026 02:11 pm IST
