Punjab Teachers Union (PTU) has threatened to observe strike on May 4 and holding long march towards Parliament on May 20, if government did not fulfil their demands before deadline ends. PTU leaders including its President Sagheer Alam and Zafeer Satti here disclosed this on Thursday while talking to reporters. They said they have handed over the charter of demand to the government and asked government to make sure increase in the salaries and allowances of the teachers keeping in view the price hike in the country.
They said on May 4 teachers would protest at all district headquarters in favour of their demands while on May 10 and 11, protest camps would be organised all over the province to press the government to fulfil demands of the teachers.
"We will shake the conscience of the representatives of the people to press government to save people from starvation".
They expressed grave concern over the pathetic attitude of the government towards the problems of teacher community saying that they have brought the problems in to the notice of government "But no heed was being paid from the rulers and they are showing complete cold shoulder", they added.
"We are nation's builders, we are serving nation with depth of our soul. If our own children face starvation how can we discharge our duties", they said and added that government should take stock of the situation and save teachers from frustration.
"More than 350,000 teachers are serving people in Punjab and if they come in streets with complete unity, it would cause problems for the government", they added.
They demanded 100 per cent raise in salaries and house rent equal to 60 per cent salaries. "Prices of essential commodities have seen about 200 per cent increase during past 4 years, but salaries are same. We have no other option to protest", he added.