The strike of private workers of wet lease Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses in Mumbai continues for the seventh day today, August 8.
According to an official from the BEST Public Relations Office, transport body has 1,637 wet lease buses, while it owns 1,487 buses. Out of the total, nearly 800 buses remained off the roads with 18 depots being affected. Other buses were operated by BEST workers to ensure the commuters are not largely inconvenienced, officials asserted.
The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) is also providing 150 buses to the BEST at six depots to maintain its services.
In a press conference held on Monday, August 7, contractual employees clarified that till the BEST administration does not recruit them on a permanent basis, the ongoing agitation will continue.
"We would not hold any talks with the BEST administration, but would directly hold talks with the state government," employees stated during the press conference adding that a 20-member delegation has already been formed for the purpose.
The drivers and conductors urged Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to look into the matter, saying that if it is difficult to bring them on BEST's payroll, they should be taken as contract workers. Comparing with the salaries of BEST employees, he raised the slogan 'Equal Work, Equal Price'. In addition, they demand for other benefits such as medical insurance and Diwali bonus.
Vikas Kharmale, coordinator of a newly formed group representing the agitators, said, "For the past six days, around 7,000-9,000 employees of all wet lease buses are on strike, which will continue till the demands are met."
The contract workers’ strike began on August 2.
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