Mumbai’s public bus services continued to operate normally on Tuesday despite an indefinite hunger strike launched by the BEST Workers Union over several long-pending employee demands.
The agitation began at around 11.30 am at the union office near Kennedy Bridge in Opera House. However, the protest did not lead to any reduction in the number of buses operating across the city.
According to BEST’s turnout figures, the number of both BEST-owned and wet-lease buses on the roads on August 18 remained at levels comparable to the previous day. Officials indicated that there was no adverse change in bus availability because of the workers’ protest.
BEST Bus Services Continue Normally
The union has chosen a hunger strike rather than a complete work stoppage, allowing bus operations to continue while workers press their demands before the administration.
BEST data showed that 13 additional buses were operating on August 18 compared with August 17, indicating that the agitation had not disrupted the city’s bus network.
The decision to avoid a strike is aimed at preventing inconvenience to Mumbai’s daily commuters, who depend heavily on BEST buses for travel across the city.
BEST Workers List Several Pending Demands
The union is seeking the settlement of two pending wage agreements covering the periods 2016-21 and 2021-26. Workers have also called for the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission and salary structures comparable to those received by BMC employees.
Another major demand concerns employees working on wet-lease buses. The union wants equal pay for wet-lease workers and resolution of salary-related discrepancies affecting workers who were initially employed as casual labourers before being made permanent.
Union Seeks Financial Support For BEST
The workers have also demanded that the BEST budget be merged with the BMC budget and that financial assistance be provided to maintain BEST-owned buses.
Other demands include payment of pending gratuity and final settlements to retired employees and implementation of the June 11, 2019 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The union has indicated that its indefinite hunger strike will continue until its outstanding demands are addressed.
For now, Mumbai commuters have not faced any major disruption to BEST bus services as a result of the agitation.
