Public undertaking will have to shell out Rs 900 crore in order to pacify striking unions
As the demands made by the BEST unions will have a bearing of Rs 900 crore on the undertaking, the strike is likely to impose a tremendous burden on Mumbaikars. Both bus ticket fares and electricity tariffs could spike if the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) administration agrees to the demands, even if it is partial. There was a bus fare hike only last April.
Each month, the BEST is already paying close to Rs 200 crore as salaries and other incentives to its employees and those retired. There are 15 departments in BEST who are given salaries and allowances. "We are taking loans to pay salaries. If we agree to what the unions are asking for then it will surely put a tremendous burden on Mumbaikars who will have to pay for it," said Dr Surendrakumar Bagde, General Manager, BEST Undertaking.
The amount of Rs 900 crore has been determined over the discussions that are happening for the past three days now. This amount namely includes three things which are a revision in wages, and salaries plus 7th pay commission, putting salaries of junior grade employees at par with other staff and bonuses, gratuity and incentives at par with BMC employees that shall happen after a merger with BMC budget.
"In order to meet the demands made by the unions, we will have to shell out additional Rs 900 crore. We will see how to tackle this situation now," said Ashish Chemburkar, chairman, BEST Committee.
There have been five discussions in last three days between the BEST Sanyukta Kamgar Kruti Samiti (BSKKS) and its administration and BMC on these demands. Prime most demand is bringing the salaries of 12,000 junior grade employees at par with those in the same rank. These employees were working as daily wage workers since 2006 and in 2011, they were inducted permanently.
However, their basic salaries were reduced to Rs 5,930 though others in the same grade were getting Rs 7,430. In April 2012, there was wage revision where those junior grade employees in the second bracket got a further hike. This will increase per month salary by an average of Rs 8000 per employee.
"We want the BEST administration to bring these employees at par. We have even given our demands three days ago but we have not received anything from the administration," said Shashank Rao, president, BSKKS.
The next is the wage revision of all 42000 employees who have not received a fare hike after April 2012. In the transport sector, usually every four years the employees get a hike in salaries. At present, the difference of salaries between employees working in BEST and BMC is Rs 5000-7000 on an average.
"Not only have the salaries not been revised since April 2016 but for the past few months, our salaries are coming lesser. This is because incentives and allowances have been curtailed," said a BEST employee on condition of anonymity.
BURDEN ON MUMBAIKARS
There have been five discussions in last three days between the BEST and Sanyukta Kamgar Kruti Samiti
Rs 900 crore Burden on BEST if demands are met
42,000 Number of employees who are paid salaries
Rs 200 crore Salaries, allowances and wages paid each month
April 2012 Last wage revision that happened
27 lakh Total number of daily passengers
3,337 Buses in fleet
27 Depots
24,000 Total drivers and conductors
Buses ran on January 9: 15
Drivers and conductors present on January 9: 0.4 per cent
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Office goers")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}