Mumbai: BEST contract staff protest low pay, poor work condition

Midi buses parked at Colaba bus depot

Conductors and drivers working for BEST arrived at their respective depots at Wadala, Bandra and Colaba on Friday morning, but instead of going about their daily duty, they staged a flash strike demanding better working conditions and regularisation of salary.

"We were promised a salary of Rs 20,000 but are getting only Rs 16,000. Besides, there are many other issues that need to be addressed," said one of the protesting drivers. Police were called as a precautionary measure.

Services disrupted

The flash strike affected services in the city, as queues and crowds were seen at bus stops along the stretch in Wadala, Dadar and the central parts of Mumbai.

A conductor stands inside a BEST bus parked at the Wadala depot on Thursday Pic/Suresh Karkera

Officials said no midi buses could leave the depot this morning. Trade union activists confirmed the development and extended their support to the cause, saying that injustice was being meted out to the contract employees. "Bus drivers and conductors of a particular company of wet leased buses went on a flash strike at Wadala, Bandra and Colaba. Negotiations were on, but bus services were affected," BEST Kamgar Sanghatana's general secretary Jagnarayan Kahar said.

BEST officials did not comment on the development.

Not first flash strike

BEST has been hit by several flash strikes this year. In April, contractual drivers and conductors protested twice. On April 4, employees at Mumbai Central bus depot protested against alleged exploitation by the contractor. Another flash strike was organised at Magathane bus depot in the western suburbs on April 27.