Mumbai: BEST strike continues for 3rd day

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) workers' strike has entered the third day after talks between the management and the union failed. 

Over 2000 workers went on strike earlier this week demanding higher salaries and merger of the budget of the loss-making entity with that of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). As a result over 3,200 buses at 27 depots across Mumbai have been grounded.

An industrial court has declared the strike as illegal. The management has warned the agitating workers of stringent action. It could impose the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) on 300 staffers and would issue show cause notices to 2,000 employees to vacate staff quarters, if they don't resume work. 

BEST is the second largest mode of transport in Mumbai after local trains. With BEST buses off the streets, the Central Railway and Western Railway have decided to operate additional suburban trains.

Source: Times of India