``The Federation of College and University Teachers' Associations (FEDCUTA) took the unanimous decision to go on strike at its executive meeting today in order to put pressure on the Central government to implement the UGC-pay scales,'' a release from the Democratic Teachers' Front here said.

Meanwhile, academic work in colleges and universities across the country remained affected for the second day today with over four lakh teachers staying away from work.

All India Federation of University and College Teachers' Organisation (AIFUCTO), spearheading the stir, said here that teachers boycotted classes and other academic work while certain research works, stoppage of which may cause irreparable loss, were exempted from the strike'spurview.

AIFUCTO also condemned the Haryana government's decision to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act and once again called upon the Union Human Resources Development Ministry to hold negotiation with the striking academics and reach an amicable solution for all outstanding problems.