Mumbai BEST and wet lease bus workers threaten indefinite strike from August 15
Thousands of Mumbai's BEST employees and wet lease bus workers have warned of an indefinite strike starting August 15 if the Maharashtra government fails to address their pending wage and service demands. The workers have sent separate letters to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde seeking a review of a disputed June 21 wage settlement, which they claim was accepted without consulting employees.
Union leader Shashank Rao warned that employees will be left with no option but to launch the strike if the issues remain unresolved. The workers have described the June 21 settlement as a "betrayal of workers' trust" and are demanding fresh discussions with the BEST Workers' Union. Nearly 65 per cent of the BEST workforce has reportedly backed the demand for reconsideration.
Among the key demands is the merger of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) 'C' Budget with the 'A' Budget. The workers are also demanding the implementation of the pending 2016-2021 wage settlement along with Seventh Pay Commission benefits, and salary and service conditions at par with BMC employees.
Additionally, the employees are seeking retrospective implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission-based wage revision from 2016, a fresh wage settlement for the 2021-2026 period, financial support from the BMC to operate BEST's fleet of 3,337 owned buses, and the timely payment of gratuity and retirement benefits to retired staff.
Wet lease employees, who work on buses operated by private contractors under BEST, have raised similar concerns over the June 21 settlement. Their primary demand is the implementation of the principle of "equal pay for equal work." They argue that they perform the same duties as permanent BEST employees but receive lower wages and fewer benefits.
One round of discussions involving the BEST administration, private operators, and the BEST Workers' Union has already taken place, and another meeting has been assured. Both groups of workers have urged the state government to complete negotiations and take an employee-friendly decision before the August 15 deadline.
If the strike goes ahead, it could cause major disruptions to Mumbai's public transport system, affecting lakhs of daily commuters who rely on the city's bus network.
