Indefinite BEST strike starts: No buses have left depot in Mumbai

The indefinite agitation started by workers of Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport bus services has badly affected Mumbaikars on a busy Tuesday morning. According to reports, no buses have left depot so far. Almost 40,000 workers have gone for the strike. 

Nearly 27 lakh users of BEST buses are scampering for alternative option as workers have gone for an indefinite strike from today.  The strike was announced after talks between BEST Sanyukta Kamgar Kruti Samiti (BSKKS) and the administration over a host of demands remained inconclusive on Monday. 

The unions are demanding that the BEST budget should be merged with the BMC so that the undertaking’s finances are taken care of. Also, Diwali bonus should be given to all 44,000 employees. They are also demanding higher grade pay for employees recruited from 2007 onwards, resumption of compassionate appointments, and discussions on new wage agreement which was promised from 2016. Besides this, they employees are also demanding a bonus equivalent to BMC staffers.

#Mumbai: BEST (Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport) have begun an indefinite strike from Monday midnight, over the demands of implementation of the merger of the BEST budget with principal budget of the BMC, employee service residences and recruitment among others.. pic.twitter.com/DgPprAHGkM

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2019

The BEST panel, the policy-making body of the undertaking, has already approved the merger proposal, which is pending with the state government for it’s final decision.

Of its fleet of 3337 buses, BEST runs nearly 3,000 buses daily. BEST administration fears more than 95 percent of them would off road on Tuesday. The strike will also put additional load on other modes of transport.
“During such strikes what we have seen is that there is about a 15 per cent increase in total passengers carried on that day. We will have to ensure that trains are punctual,” said a Western Railway official.