BEST Unions Threaten Strike From June 19 Demanding Budget Merger And 5000 Buses

The BEST Sanyukt Kamgar Kruti Samiti has issued an ultimatum to management, threatening a strike of Mumbai bus operators and other utility staffers starting June 19. The union is demanding a comprehensive settlement of long-pending administrative and financial issues, including the merger of the BEST budget with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) budget.

During a media conference held on Tuesday, union leaders stated that the civic administration must address unresolved grievances across both the transport and electricity divisions. Among the primary demands is a push to expand the public transit fleet by purchasing 5,000 BEST-owned buses. Additionally, the union is calling for contractual drivers to be absorbed as full-time staffers with higher pay and improved facilities.

The union is also demanding the immediate payment of pending dues to retired staffers. Representatives highlighted that permanent, contractual, and casual workers have all been affected by ongoing issues, such as delayed salaries, unpaid arrears, poor service conditions, and a lack of adequate employee welfare measures.

Uday Ambonkar, the general secretary of the BEST Karmachari Sena, addressed the BMC’s recent allocation of Rs 500 crore to the transport undertaking. While Ambonkar described the financial support as welcome, he stated that the amount is inadequate to cover the full backlog of outstanding dues. He warned that this partial funding will only defer the crisis, and he urged the corporation to commit to a complete, time-bound clearance of all outstanding payments to prevent future delays.

In an effort to resolve these issues, union representatives recently met with BEST committee chairperson Trushna Vishwasrao. During the meeting, they pressed for the implementation of court-mandated arrears for junior employees, stronger welfare provisions, and the regularisation of casual workers. Union leaders emphasized that junior staff awaiting arrears and workers on non-permanent arrangements have borne the brunt of the uncertainty.