Mumbai: BEST contract workers go on flash strike

BEST officials said that the strike did not affect many operations

BEST bus services in the city and suburbs were affected during the Diwali weekend after contract workers with the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST)-appointed contractor went on a flash strike on Saturday and Sunday morning over non-payment of Diwali bonuses among other issues.

BEST officials said that the strike did not affect many operations and that services had been normalised soon after as the undertaking put their staff to take over the buses.

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Three companies have been running operations of wet-leased buses in Mumbai on behalf of the BEST Undertaking. BEST workers' union leader Shashank Sharad Rao said that until a proper solution was devised to the long-pending issues of the contractual workers, such instances can happen again anytime. In May 2022, the BEST Workers Joint Action Committee had charted a seven-point agenda for the contract bus drivers and workers.

"They should be absorbed in regular service and till that is done they should be given similar wages for work as per permanent employees. They should be given timely wages and they should stop penalising workers for the smallest of errors," he said.