BEST workers union to hold secret ballot to decide on strike

Mumbai, Feb 14 (UNI) The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Workers Union has threatened to launch an indefinite strike from the midnight of March 14 to protest the management's ''delaying tactics in implementing interim dearness allowance''.

However, the final decision to launch the strike will be taken only after holding a secret ballot among the employees on February 22. The secret ballot will be held to decide whether the strike should be launched or not, BEST Workers Union general secretary Sharad Rao told reporters here today.

He alleged that the BEST management was trying to delay negotiations with the union for a new five-year agreement so as to stop payment of the interim dearness allowance.

Mr Rao said after taking over as general manager of BEST, Mr Uttam Khobragade had held only one meeting with the workers' union but nothing could be settled during that meeting.

UNI