Thousands of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) employees and wet lease bus workers have warned that they will begin an indefinite strike if the Maharashtra government does not respond to their pending demands by August 15. The two groups had separately written to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on June 21.
As per a report by FPJ, the workers claimed the agreement was approved without consulting employees and ignored several long-pending demands. The BEST Workers' Union leader Shashank Rao also warned that workers would have no option but to go on strike if their concerns are not addressed.
The employees have described the earlier wage settlement as a "betrayal of workers' trust". They have asked the state government to hold fresh discussions with the BEST Workers' Union before taking a final decision. According to the workers, around 65% of the BEST workforce supports the demand to reconsider the settlement.
The employees have listed several demands in their representation. They have sought the implementation of the 2016-2021 wage settlement along with the benefits of the Seventh Pay Commission. They have also demanded the merger of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) "C" budget with its "A" budget. They want salaries and service conditions similar to those of BMC employees.
The workers have also demanded that the Sixth Pay Commission-based wage revision from 2016 be implemented with retrospective effect. They want a fresh wage settlement for the period from 2021 to 2026. They have asked the BMC to provide financial support for the operation of BEST's fleet of 3,337 owned buses. They have also demanded the immediate payment of retirement dues and gratuity to retired employees.
Wet lease bus workers have raised similar concerns in a separate representation. These workers are employed by private contractors operating buses under BEST. They said they do the same work as BEST employees but get lower wages and benefits. Their main demand is equal pay for equal work.
The wet lease workers said one discussion has already taken place between the BEST administration, private contractors and the BEST Workers' Union. Workers have asked the Maharashtra government to complete the discussions with a decision before August 15.