BEST Strike Withdrawn Following Bombay High Court’s Order
Image for representational use only; Image Courtesy : NDTV
Mumbai: On Wednesday – 9th day of the strike – BEST Sanyukta Kamgar Kruti Samiti (BSKKS) has withdrawn the ongoing strike by the employees of the city’s public road transport.
Bombay High Court gave orders to the workers' unions to withdraw the strike within an hour, and return to work on the same day itself. Court also ordered Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) administration to give pay hike to BEST workers in 10 stages, from January 10 itself. Meanwhile, Maharashtra state government assured the court that it won't act against any worker who took part in strike.
Earlier, state government's Maharashtra Essential Service Management Act (MESMA) was evoked by BEST administration against workers.
"This is our victory. BEST workers have won the battle. Now labourers will get minimum hike of Rs 7,000. We are thankful to the High Court that they asked the BEST administration to increase the wages," said Shashank Rao, leader of BSKKS.
Almost 33,000 transport workers as well as 4,500 electricity wing workers of BEST were on strike since January 8 for various demands including hike in the wages, especially, of the junior grade workers, Diwali bonus, government quarters to workers and merger of BEST with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
In its order, Bombay High Court has given three months to both the parties, BEST administration and BSKKS, to resolve other issues. Court has also appointed F I Rebello, former chief justice of Allahabad High Court, as the mediator between BEST administration and BSKKS.
The withdrawal coincided with the anniversary of an important incident of the labour movement of Mumbai. On this day, January 16, 1997, Datta Samant, charismatic union leader of the mill workers was assassinated. Rao opened his withdrawal speech with the mention of Samant.
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