IANS
with exclusive pics from Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai (MB)
Mumbai, Apr 21: Hundreds of thousands of commuters in India's financial capital Mumbai heaved a sigh of relief Friday evening as the employees of the public transport service called off their strike unconditionally.
The employees of the state-run Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Friday evening withdrew their 72-hour strike, launched at midnight on Wednesday, demanding better salaries.
Union leader Sharad Rao confirmed the move, saying the employees did not wish to put the public to further inconvenience.
BEST is the city's only public transport network besides the trains.
BEST trade unions had accused the management of not increasing employees' salaries despite promising to do so.
Taking a no-nonsense stance, BEST authorities announced that the striking employees will be given the sack through notices and job seekers enrolled with the transport department would be simultaneously appointed to replace the sacked employees.
Every day, hundreds of thousands people travel by the 3,500-strong fleet of BEST buses. Over 42,000 BEST employees are participating in the strike, BEST sources said.