Mumbai, August 29: Several employees of Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) continued their indefinite hunger strike in Mumbai on Thursday. According to an update by ANI, the BEST workers were seen protesting for their demands outside Wadala Bus Depo. The workers have given a call for the strike over their long-pending demands of fresh wage agreement among others. The  workers  are demanding the merger of BEST budget with that of BMC, hike in salaries and Diwali bonus. BMC Warns Mumbai Private Bus Owners: 'Use BEST Parking Depots or Pay Rs 10,000 Fine From September 1'.

The call for the strike was given after no breakthrough emerged in talks with the administration for a new wage settlement. Shashank Rao, President of the BEST Sanyukt Kamgar Kruti Samiti (BSKKS), an umbrella body of major BEST unions said that the employees will continue their hunger strike for the next few days, following which after which they will decide the future course of action of the protest.  BMC Claims to Have Filled 84% Potholes in Mumbai, Says 'Only 414 Potholes Left in Megacity'

According to reports, the BEST employees had raised slogans against Shiv Sena, which is in power in the BMC and accused the party of misleading the BEST employees on pay hike. Reports inform that the BEST has received Rs 916 crore of Rs 1600 crore provided by BMC to address various other issues raised by the union.

"Shiv Sena says that it would implement 7th pay commission recommendations which will need Rs. 2750 crore more. We have spoken to BEST General Manager who said the transporter can give maximum Rs. 789 crore. Shiv Sena is lying to us," Rao was quoted by ANI.

The BEST is the second-biggest mode of transport in Mumbai after local trains, which ferry over 80-lakh passengers every day. The bus service has a fleet of over 3,200-red-colour buses plying in the city which criss-cross the metropolis. The BEST also operate services in the neighbouring Thane district and Navi Mumbai.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 29, 2019 08:35 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).