Mumbai’s BEST Workers Begin Indefinite Hunger Strike Over Long-Pending Wage and Benefit Demands
Mumbai: Workers of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking launched an indefinite hunger strike on Tuesday, pressing long-pending demands relating to BEST employees, wet-lease workers and retired staff.
Strike to Continue Until Demands Are Met
Union leader Shashank Rao made clear that the indefinite strike would go on until the demands are addressed. The call to strike was taken at a union meeting held at Shirodkar Hall in Parel on August 17.
According to initial reports, the union said wage agreements covering the 2016–21 and 2021–26 periods are still pending finalisation, and it has demanded implementation of the 7th Pay Commission recommendations along with pay scales on par with those of BMC employees.
Workers Raise Pay-Related Demands
The demands also include equal pay for wet-lease workers employed through private companies, as well as correction of pay discrepancies affecting workers who were initially appointed as casual labourers in the Electrical Supply Department and later made permanent.
Workers are additionally seeking a merger of BEST’s budget with that of the BMC, along with financial support to help BEST retain its own bus fleet and cover its daily operational losses.
Further details are awaited as the strike gets underway. BEST remains a lifeline for Mumbai’s surface transport within city limits, while its electrical arm also supplies power to large parts of the city a responsibility it shares with other private players.