The Maharashtra Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisation (MFUCTO) has decided to intensify its strike from August 4. Madhu Paranjape of MFUCTO said teachers were awaiting written assurances from the higher and technical education department regarding the composite scheme of revision of pay as announced by the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD). “The state government is going to introduce the composite scheme with some modifications. It is not willing to put those modifications on paper,” she said.

“It will be risky to withdraw the strike at this stage. Teachers will not participate in any meetings or activities of the university,” Paranjape said. On Saturday, MFUCTO staged a demonstration at Kalina campus of the university.

According to MFUCTO, ministry officials are persisting on their path of denying the Sixth Pay Commission package finalised by the HRD ministry and the University Grants Commission (UGC) and reneging on the assurances given during the first round of talks regarding non-applicability of NET/SET clauses to teachers appointed prior to November 1999.

“On August 4, teachers across the state will go to universities and present a memorandum of demands to the vice-chancellors. We will also stage a demonstration at the Fort campus,” Paranjape said.

Meanwhile, non-teaching staff also decided to join the strike on August 4 to demand the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations. “From August 1 to 3, we will only sign the attendance muster but will not work. On August 4, we will not report to work,” said Kishore Sonwalkar, president, Mumbai University Employees’ Association.

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