DUTA Press Note: 1 October 2020

DUTA to hold mass Hunger Strike on 2 October to protest issues of stoppage of salaries

The 'Rolling Cluster-wise Strike' organised by DUTA ended today after 4 days of successful action programme across the University. On the fourth day of the programme, teachers of BRAC, MAC, IGIPESS, IP, LBC, Rajdhani, SRCAS, Shyamlal College (M & E), Satyawati (M& E), SGTB Khalsa, Shivaji College, SRCCC, SSC and VMC remained on strike and participated in online protest. Hundreds of teachers across colleges shared their protest photos on social media in solidarity with the 12 DU Colleges. During the 4-day protest, which started on 28 September 2020, Staff Associations of many of the 12 DU Colleges held physical protests in their Colleges. On the other hand many Staff Associations including JMC, IHE, LIC, SRCC and JDM held Zoom meetings to pass resolutions against the anti-employee action of the Delhi Government.

While the grant released recently (22 September, 2020) to the six colleges was not adequate to cover salaries of all the employees and their dues, teachers and the non-teaching employees of the other six colleges still await salaries and pension. Employees are in extremely difficult situation as salaries/ pensions have not been paid for over 5 months now. Payment of other dues of employees including medical bills, arrears of the 7th Pay Commission and vacation salary of ad-hoc teachers for last year 2019 have not been done due to inadequacy of grants.

DUTA has repeatedly pointed out that inordinate and unexplained delays in release of grant have had a crippling effect on these institutions, which are amongst the best colleges of the country. Many of these colleges do not have fund to pay electricity bills! DUTA demands immediate release of salaries to the remaining six colleges and release of adequate grants to al the 12 Colleges to cover long pending dues.

This is the first time in the history of DU that salaries of employees have been stopped owing to a tussle between the Delhi Government and the University of Delhi. This is an assault on the right and dignity of employees. In a similar tussle between the Chairperson, Dyal Singh College (E) and the Principal, Pawan Sharma, salaries of adhoc teachers have not been released since June 2020. To withhold salaries as a way to settle scores between authorities who are at loggerheads, is an attack on the basic rights of employees. If not checked, this new vindictive form of governance will destroy colleges of this premier institution.

Through the Satyagraha, DUTA will also demand justice for Dr Ritu Singh, who has been refused joining at Daulat Ram College. DUTA has been protesting against this vindictive action of the Principal of the college since the beginning of the current academic session.

To highlight the issues related to salaries of teachers, DUTA has given a call of mass hunger strike tomorrow on 2 October 2020.