BEST workers call off strike

Mumbai, Apr 20 (UNI) Ending the ordeal of 40 lakh commuters, the BEST Wokers Union finally called off its earlier announced 72-hours strike from this midnight.

The strike has been called off after receiving a written assurance from BEST Committee chairman Sanjay Potnis that the management was ready to settle the demands of employees, the Union has claimed.

Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking Workers Union general secretary Sharad Rao, while announcing that BEST buses will be back on the roads from the midnight of April 20, said the BEST chairman has expressed readiness to settle the demands of the workers. The chairman has given an assurance to this effect in writing to the Union, Mr Rao claimed.

The BEST employees had launched a 72-hour strike since the midnight of April 18, causing immense hardship to around 40-lakh commuters over the past two days. The employees had launched the strike over their demands of a wage revision, interim dearness allowance, and bonus among other things.

Just few hours before the Union announced its decision to call off the strike, BEST General Manager Uttam Khobragade, while addressing a press conference, had said the management was not willing to hold talks with Union as the strike was illegal, and the Union was holding Mumbaikars to ransom.

He had also informed that termination orders had been despatched to around 5000 of the striking employees, while the rest would also be sent the termination orders shortly.

UNI