The Undertaking, employee unions and the BMC failed to reach a consensus despite several meetings
Authorities failed to come to a common ground despite several meetings between the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST), the unions and the BMC administration on Tuesday thereby elongating the BEST bus strike. Attendance of bus drivers and conductors was marked at less than one per cent. Those who were present remained inside official premises.
Inside close doors
Over a century old Electric House, which is the BEST's headquarter, was a barren sight with empty corridors and offices. The office was one of the locations where meetings between the administration and the unions were held on Tuesday.
At least four meetings took place between the BEST, Sanyukta Kamgar Kruti Samiti (BSKKS) headed by transport union leader Shashank Rao, Shiv Sena-led BEST Kamgar Sena, BEST administration and the BMC. The issue remains unresolved since December 20, 2018 when the unions first gave intimation about the January 8 bus strike.
"We have been holding discussions with the unions ever since they gave us the notice about the strike. We are preparing a comprehensive plan for the employees and we want to discuss the same with the unions. But we cannot do anything until they withdraw the strike. After all, even they should understand the financial condition of the Undertaking. Strike will not make anything better. Their demands cannot be resolved in a day," said Surendrakumar Bagde, General Manager, BEST Undertaking.
By 6 pm on Tuesday, Bagde had already held two to three meetings with the union, which yielded no solution.
A meeting took place within the Shiv Sena too. The Sena union later withdrew from the strike and agreed to ply the buses. "Our strike shall continue. Nothing was resolved in the meetings. Shiv Sena has backstabbed the employees. If they resort to bullying, we will give them a taste of their own medicine," said Shashank Rao, president, BSKKS.
OFFICIALS SAY CAN TAKE ACTION AGAINST STRIKE
- BMC commissioner Ajoy Mehta requested the unions to withdraw strike
- BEST officials said that demands of both, the unions and the administration should be agreed upon mutually
- They said the Industrial Court has already termed BEST buses as essential and the strike as illegal
){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}
 "BEST Buses")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}