Sudden strike by daily wagers puts brakes on BEST services

An unannounced strike by the BEST’s drivers and conductors, working on daily wages, caused more than 400 buses to remain off the roads on Monday. This shortage of buses led to a decrease in the frequency of services and the consequent delays.

The drivers and conductors had organised the strike to press for their demand of promoting all daily wage earners to the junior grade. This has been a long-standing demand, supported by Sharad Rao-backed workers’ union as well as the BEST union, backed by the ruling Shiv Sena.

However, the administration, which has agreed to promote the daily wagers, has been unable to complete the process of promotion. In early August, a BEST conductor who worked on daily wages, allegedly committed suicide after being frustrated with the daily-wage system.

According to the BEST’s chief PRO, NA Walawalkar, at least 11 bus depots, of the total 25 across the city, were affected due to the strike.

BEST general manager OP Gupta said the strike could not be called a strike as it involved daily-wage earners. Also, the process of promoting the daily wagers to the junior grade is on. “About 10% fleet remaining off the streets did not seriously affect the every day functioning of the BEST,” he said.