Ordeal continues for Mumbai commuters as BEST strike enters second day

It is the second-biggest mode of transport in Mumbai after local trains, which ferry over 80 lakh passengers every day.

BEST Strike : Lakhs of commuters in Mumbai continued to face hardships on Wednesday as an indefinite strike called by the BEST, the city's civic transport undertaking, entered its second day.

Despite the Shiv Sena-affiliated union withdrawing from the protest, only five buses of the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST), were plying on roads this morning, a BEST official said.

Over 32,000 BEST employees went on an indefinite strike on Tuesday over various demands, including higher salaries.

The state government quickly moved to invoke the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) against the striking BEST employees, while its management asked them to end the stir and come to the negotiating table.

BEST's Kamgar Sena had late Tuesday evening said that 11,000 of its members would go back to work on Wednesday to mitigate woes of Mumbaikars.

It had also said that nearly 500 buses were expected to run on Wednesday.

The Sena union's announcement to withdraw from the protest invited sharp criticism from BEST Workers' Union chief Shashank Rao who said the former had shown its "true character".

ALSO READ: Bharat bandh: Banking ops hit; buses remain off road in Goa, WB; 10 updates

The BEST has a fleet of over 3,200 buses, which criss-cross the metropolis and also operate services in the neighbouring Thane district and Navi Mumbai.

It is the second-biggest mode of transport in Mumbai after local trains, which ferry over 80 lakh passengers every day.

"However, only five buses were plying on the city roads on Wednesday morning," a senior BEST official said.

The employees are demanding higher pay, merging budget of the loss-making transport undertaking with that of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), deliberations on new wage agreement, resuming appointments on compassionate grounds and a bonus equivalent to that of the civic body's employees.

The protest by BEST employees coincided with the two-day nationwide bank strike called by trade unions to protest the government's "anti-worker" policies and labour reforms.

The strike, declared illegal by the industrial court, on Tuesday affected nearly 25 lakh daily commuters, who rely on BEST buses to reach their destinations.

Business Standard

Bharat Bandh today: Millions of workers, farmers on nationwide strike: 10 updates

The all-India strike is against the Modi government's failure to address rural distress issues, to save rural farmers' lands from the corporates, says protesters.

Bharat Bandh : Millions of workers are on a two-day, nationwide strike today to protest Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's labour policies. Meanwhile, farmers and students from across the country will join the general strike. According to AITUC general secretary Amarjeet Kaur, sectors like banking, education, coal, steel, telecom, health, electricity, insurance and transport, inter alia, are likely to extend support to the strike.

"AIKS and Bhumi Adhikar Andolan will observe 'gramin hartal', rail roko and road roko on January 8 and 9, the day trade unions are observing nationwide general strike. This move is against the Modi government's failure to address rural distress issues, to save rural farmers' lands from the corporates," said Hannan Mollah, general secretary of the CPI(M)-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS).

Top 10 developments on 2-day strike by trade union:

1. Who is supporting?

Farmers, 10 central trade unions, student and teacher organisations are supporting the strike. The 10 central trade unions going on strike include Indian the National Trade Union Congress, All India Trade Union Congress, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, Trade Union Coordination Centre, Self Employed Women's Association, All India United Trade Union Centre, All India Central Council of Trade Unions, Labour Progressive Federation, and United Trade Union Congress

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2. Police in Kolkata detains CPM workers protesting in support of a 48-hour nationwide strike called by central trade unions. Their demands include minimum wages and social security schemes among others.

3. In Odisha, members of central trade unions are holding protests and have blocked commuters in Bhubaneswar demanding minimum wages and social security schemes among others.

4. 25 lakh passengers who travel by BEST buses to be affected: Around 29,000 employees of the transport service BEST are also going on an indefinite strike Due to the strike, around 25 lakh passengers, who travel by 3000 BEST buses that ply on streets of Mumbai city and the metropolitan region every day, will be inconvenienced.

Their demands: Renewal of salary agreements that expired in 2016, a hike in gratuity and bonus, merger of BEST and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) budgets.

5. Coal India workers' strike may cost Rs 500 cr: Coal India is expected to lose at least 3.6 million tonnes (mt) of production after four central trade unions (CTUs) decided to join the nationwide strike. This comes in the wake of at least 10 power plants in the country facing severe coal shortages at the very beginning of the new calendar year and Coal India boosting its production to meet the demand from power companies.

Business Standard