BEST Union moves Mumbai HC over staff dismissal

Mumbai, Apr 23: All four unions of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking today moved the Mumbai High Court for reinstatement of 3,500 BEST employees, who were dismissed by the management over the recent strike.

Addressing the media, BEST Workers' Union General Secretary Sharad Rao today said the management's decision to sack 3,500 employees was not only deplorable but also violates the principal of natural justice.

''As per existing labour laws and Standing Orders, all the actions of the General Manager are absolutely illegal and unfair.

We are confident that justice will be given to us by the High Court,'' Rao said.

Following the strike called by the four unions, the BEST management had announced the dismissal of the 3,500 union representatives/office bearers of the BEST Wokers' Union, Best Kamgar Sena, BEST Kamgar Sangathana, and BEST Kamgar Rashtravadi Sangathana.

Negating the notion that BEST employees had gone on strike, Mr Rao sought to make it clear that the move was just a non-cooperation on part of the four unions, and that it was not a strike call at all.

''We have not breached any High Court order. Ours was simply non-cooperation with the BEST management. And there are no orders against non-cooperation,'' Rao said while referring to Mumbai High Court Order, which had put a ban on strike.

On a question as to what made him retract unconditionally from the strike, Mr Rao clarified that after the four unions had reached an agreement with the BEST management, which had assured them of considering their long-pending demands of pay revision etc, there was no logic in continuing with the non-cooperation.

''The agitation was withdrawn after marathon discussions with the chairman and members of the BEST committee and after reaching the understanding with them. Therefore, the withdrawal of the agitation was never unconditional or a surrender in any manner,'' he added.

UNI