Salaries pending, BEST fears long march of employees

The BEST Committee on Tuesday came down heavily on the administration as its workers have not got their salaries yet. The BEST is now fearing an uprising of BEST employees, similar to that of the long march of the farmers from Nashik, to oppose the administration.

"The administration has once again not given salaries to the employees. It shouldn't happen that they too like farmers go on a march," said Ravi Raja, member, BEST Committee.

Ideally the administration has to pay its 44,000 employees by the 10th of every month. However, for the past several months, the BEST Undertaking has been faltering on their promise. Pending salaries are to the tune of Rs 180 crore.

"We will pay salaries by March 15. The situation is not as bad as it is being portrayed," said Surendra Bagde, General Manager, BEST.

Earlier last month, the BEST administration promised to pay salaries only if the committee agreed to pass a proposal of getting 450 buses on wet lease. They had also threatened to deduct Rs 500 from salaries against Diwali Bonus paid to BEST employees as part of the total bonus of Rs 5,500.

BEST employees had gone on a protest last year against the administration as they hadn't been paid the Diwali bonus. The administration claimed that they had suffered a Rs 880 crore loss and as such could not pay.

SUFFERING AGAIN

• Ideally the administration has to pay its 44,000 employees by the 10th of every month
   
• However, for the past several months, the BEST Undertaking has been faltering on their promise
   
• Pending salaries are to the tune of Rs 180 crore