BEST Workers’ Hunger Strike Begins in Mumbai From August 18: Key Demands and Impact on Bus Services

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Workers’ Union has launched an indefinite hunger strike in mumbai on August 18, demanding action on several long-standing issues involving employees, wet-lease workers and retired staff.

The protest began at 11.30 am at the union office near Kennedy Bridge in Opera House. Union general secretary Shashank Sharad Rao said the agitation would continue until the workers’ demands are addressed.

BEST Workers’ Key Demands

The union has raised several issues concerning wages, employee benefits and the financial stability of BEST. Its major demands include:

• Finalisation of wage agreements for 2016–21 and 2021–26.
• Implementation of the 7th Pay Commission recommendations.
• Pay scales for BEST employees on par with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) employees.
• Equal pay for wet-lease workers employed by private operators for similar duties.
• Resolution of pay discrepancies involving workers who were initially appointed on a casual or contractual basis in the Electrical Supply Department and later made permanent.
• Immediate payment of gratuity and other pending settlement dues to retired BEST employees.
• Implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in June 2019.
• Immediate financial assistance from the BMC to support BEST’s operations.
• Merger of the BEST budget with the BMC budget to provide a more sustainable financial arrangement.

Why Are BEST Workers Protesting?

The latest agitation follows months of unresolved discussions over employee salaries, retirement benefits and BEST’s financial position.

The union maintains that interim financial relief offered to employees earlier this year does not substitute for a comprehensive wage settlement. Workers are also seeking a permanent solution to the financial challenges facing BEST rather than temporary assistance.

The hunger strike comes less than two months after BEST employees ended a three-day strike in June, which disrupted bus services across Mumbai. The earlier protest was called off after discussions with Maharashtra government representatives.

At the time, the government announced an interim monthly increase of ₹3,000 for permanent BEST employees and ₹2,000 for workers employed by wet-lease operators. It also assured workers that pending gratuity payments would be addressed during the financial year.

However, the union has continued to press for final wage agreements and resolution of other outstanding demands.

BEST’s Financial Crisis

BEST’s financial condition remains at the centre of the dispute between the undertaking, its employees and the civic administration.

For the 2026–27 financial year, the BMC budget provided a grant of ₹1,000 crore to BEST, while the undertaking had sought around ₹4,000 crore in financial assistance.

BEST has projected a loss of approximately ₹2,439 crore for 2026–27 and has argued that greater and more consistent financial support is required to maintain its operations and protect its own bus fleet.

The workers’ union has therefore called for a long-term financial arrangement with the BMC, arguing that stable funding is essential for the undertaking’s future as well as the interests of its employees.

BEST Bus Services May Be Affected

BEST remains a crucial part of Mumbai’s public transport network. The undertaking currently operates around 2,800 buses, although only a small portion are owned directly by BEST, with the remainder operating through wet-lease arrangements.

BEST has proposed adding thousands of electric buses to its fleet, including 5,000 electric buses for its own fleet and another 1,500 e-buses through wet-lease operations.

With the hunger strike beginning on Tuesday, commuters could face disruptions if the protest escalates or receives wider participation from BEST employees.

The union has said that the indefinite agitation will continue until concrete action is taken on its demands.