Mumbai: Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking ke workers ne Tuesday, 18 August 2026 se apni long-pending demands ko lekar indefinite hunger strike shuru kar di hai. BEST Workers’ Union ka kehna hai ki employees, wet-lease workers aur retired staff se jude kai important issues abhi tak resolve nahi hue hain.
Union ke mutabik, protest 11:30 AM se Opera House mein Kennedy Bridge ke paas union office par shuru hua. Union General Secretary Shashank Rao ne kaha hai ki workers ka agitation tab tak jaari rahega jab tak unki demands par concrete action nahi liya jata.
Wage Settlement Ko Lekar Badi Demand
BEST workers ki sabse badi demands mein pending wage settlements ko implement karna shamil hai. Reports ke mutabik union 2016-2021 aur 2021-2026 ke wage settlements ko lagu karne ki demand kar rahi hai. Workers ka kehna hai ki salary aur pay-related issues kaafi samay se pending hain.
Union ne 7th Pay Commission benefits ko lekar bhi demand uthayi hai. Iske alawa BMC employees ke saath pay parity aur salary discrepancies jaise issues ko bhi resolve karne ki maang ki gayi hai.
Wet-Lease Workers Ke Liye Equal Pay Ki Demand
BEST Workers’ Union ne wet-lease workers ke issue ko bhi protest ka major point banaya hai. Union ki demand hai ki wet-lease employees ko equal wages aur appropriate service-related benefits diye jaayen.
Union ka maanna hai ki BEST ke workforce se jude salary aur employment conditions ke issues ko comprehensive tareeke se address karna zaroori hai.
Retired Employees Ke Dues Ka Bhi Mudda
Is agitation mein retired BEST employees ke pending dues bhi ek important issue hain. Union ne gratuity aur final settlement dues ko clear karne ki demand ki hai. Retired employees se jude financial settlements ko lekar bhi union authorities se immediate action ki maang kar rahi hai.
BMC Se Financial Support Ki Demand
Workers ne BEST ki financial condition ko lekar bhi concern raise kiya hai. Union ki major demands mein BMC budget mein BEST ke liye immediate financial allocation aur BEST ke financial structure ko strengthen karna shamil hai. Reports ke mutabik union BEST ke budget ko BMC ke overall financial framework ke saath merge karne ki bhi demand kar rahi hai.
Bus Services Par Pad Sakta Hai Asar
Indefinite hunger strike ke beech Mumbai ki BEST bus services ko lekar bhi concerns saamne aaye hain. Protest ka direct impact kitna hoga, ye workers’ agitation aur authorities ke response par depend karega. Reports ne possibility jatai hai ki ongoing agitation se BEST bus operations par pressure pad sakta hai.
BEST Mumbai ke public transport system ka ek important hissa hai, isliye workers ke demands aur management/authorities ke response par commuters ki bhi nazar bani hui hai.
Aage Kya?
Filhaal BEST Workers’ Union ne clear kiya hai ki agitation demands ke resolution tak continue karne ka plan hai. Ab sabse bada sawaal ye hai ki authorities workers ke wage settlements, 7th Pay Commission benefits, wet-lease workers ke pay issues, retired employees ke dues aur BEST ki financial support se judi demands par kya decision leti hain.
Agar negotiations ke through solution nahi nikalta, toh ye protest Mumbai ke public transport system ke liye ek important development ban sakta hai