Mumbai, June 21 (). Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced the end of the strike of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) employees. He said that an agreement has been reached on the demands of BEST employees and the union. This matter has also been discussed with the CM.
Addressing the press conference, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that the BEST strike is over. His demand was that the pending gratuity should be given, it has been agreed upon. With this, many of their demands have been agreed to. There were many demands for the convenience of drivers and conductors working in BEST, which have been agreed upon.
Along with this, a decision has also been taken to provide interim relief to the permanent employees and other employees of BEST. My discussion was going on since yesterday, I have also talked to the Chief Minister. Our government is positive for the best and will do whatever possible to enable it.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC and Best Kamgar Sena president Sachin Ahir said, “The people of Mumbai should not have to suffer. Keeping this in mind, for the last two days we have been making efforts to ensure that the strike ends as soon as possible. We wanted the government to intervene in the matter. Today the Deputy Chief Minister and the Chief Minister discussed on behalf of the government and resolved the related issues. It is a positive development that a solution has been reached.”
CM Eknath Shinde wrote on social media platform X that a special meeting was organized at Sahyadri Guest House today to find a solution to the BEST employees’ strike. Many important decisions were taken in this meeting regarding strengthening the BEST enterprise and the demands of the employees.
Mainly, it was agreed to pay the pending gratuity amount of the employees in this financial year and to give a monthly temporary salary increase of Rs 3,000 to BEST employees and Rs 2,000 to the employees working on the waitlist as interim relief till the new salary agreement is reached. It was also clarified that the pending gratuity amount of the employees will be paid in this financial year.
He further informed that to further strengthen the public transport system, 5,000 new buses will be purchased under BEST’s own ownership arrangement in the next three years. The ‘overhaul’ proposal prepared by the BEST administration will be immediately presented to the government and will be approved by the Cabinet. After the meeting, the Employees’ Action Committee announced the withdrawal of their strike.
On this occasion, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, MLA Sachin Ahir, MLA Murji Patel, Additional Chief Secretary of Deputy Chief Minister’s Office Aseem Gupta, Principal Secretary Naveen Sona, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, BEST General Manager Sonia Sethi and officials of BEST Employees Action Committee were present.
The employees, officers and workers of BEST undertaking had started the agitation. The Joint Workers’ Action Committee had claimed that all the unions showed unity and the employees took 100 percent participation in the movement that started from the midnight of June 18. The committee said that this movement is being done for the survival of BEST undertaking and resolution of the pending demands of the employees.
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