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BEST Strike: Won't back out, ready to go to jail, say protesters

At 11 am, the employees took to the streets and gathered outside Wadala depot.

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On the third day of the strike, female BEST employees came down on the road to protest against the administration. The move of the BEST Undertaking to issue notices to 2,000 employees, evicting them from staff quarters and enforcement of Maharashtra Essential Services and Maintenance Act (MESMA) has backfired on the administration.

At 11 am, the employees took to the streets and gathered outside Wadala depot. The women raised a voice against the stern action taken by the administration rather than addressing the issues. "We have been struggling to survive with meagre salaries. Instead of resolving our problems, the BEST is removing us from our own homes," said V Jagtap, a resident of Vikhroli, who had come to Wadala.

The BEST has issued notices to the BEST employees staying in Bhoiwada, Parel, Colaba and Wadala staff quarters. "We dare the administration to evict the families from their quarters. Let people know that the BEST administration is more interested in troubling their own employees than resolving the issues," said Shashank Rao, president, BEST Sanyukta Kamgar Kruti Samiti (BSKKS).

The protesting staff recounted how over 30,000 families working in BEST are suffering due to arbitrary decisions are taken by the administration. Armed with slogans, the employees said that they were ready to face the flak and go to jail than backing out.

A group of BEST employees met MNS chief Raj Thackeray in the morning keeping forward their demands, who extended his support to the protesters. The Best staff on condition of anonymity said that they had meetings at the gate of depots; while only those from the administration attended the office.

On Thursday, BEST general manager Dr Surendrakumar Bagde met the unions and Chief Secretary DK Jain on the same. He also held a meeting between the unions, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, BMC and BEST administration which failed.

"BMC Commissioner has refused to merge both the budgets. Moreover they didn't give any written assurances on other demands. So the strike will continue," said Shashank Rao.

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