Mumbai, Aug 7: The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) workers' union on Tuesday, called off its indefinite bus strike, which was supposed to start from midnight. The union has however given an ultimatum for wage agreement till August 20, failing which it has threatened to go on strike.
As reported in TOI, BEST workers union leader, Shashank Rao said, "We have asked the BEST to discuss the issue of wage agreement with us on five dates -- August 9, 13, 16, 19 and 20 and take a final call to sign it. If that does not happen in the interest of workers, the latter will go off duty voluntarily."
This year in January, Rao's union had held the longest-ever bus strike for nine days and during that period, lakhs of Mumbaikars were majorly inconvenienced, as they could not get buses round-the-clock. BEST had incurred losses to the tune of over Rs 27 crore and more than 17 buses were damaged/pelted with stones during the transport strike.
The red buses cater to more than 30 lakh commuters daily in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane and with the current strike call being withdrawn for August 7, Mumbaikars heaved a sigh of relief.