As many as 3,682 government employees, teachers - members of the Joint Action Committee of Teachers Organisations and Government Employees Organisations – were arrested when they blocked roads at seven places in Coimbatore district on Thursday.
Most of the Government offices wore a deserted look as skeleton staff were present.
The two-day strike was called by the action committee with the demand that the eighth pay commission recommendations be implemented, and the old pension scheme be restored. Teachers of government-aided and corporation schools too took part in the strike.
Majority of the employees of government departments participated in the strike, said S. Kumar, district secretary of TNGEA. Over 1,500 members of the action committee were arrested when they blocked road in front of the collectorate.
District treasurer of TNGEA N. Thangaraj inaugurated the agitation in front of the collectorate. TNGEA district president V. Senthil Kumar participated.
Mr. Kumar alleged that the police refused to arrest the members of the action committee in Pollachi, Mettupalayam, Valparai, Sulur, Annur, Kinathukkadavu, and Coimbatore.
Tirupur
Nearly 3,600 government employees were arrested in Tirupur on Thursday.
They blocked roads at seven places to press demands.
Sources said 58 % of teachers and 37 % of employees of other departments abstained from work.
