Mumbai’s BEST transport and electricity supply services face uncertainty as unions representing employees issue a strike threat starting midnight on June 19 (or from the strike window discussed from June 18 midnight). The BEST Joint Workers’ Action Committee says it will continue indefinite agitation unless long-pending demands are addressed by midnight June 18. The committee includes recognised unions and cites demands such as merging BEST’s budget with the BMC budget, settling statutory dues for retired employees, implementing wage settlements aligned with the Seventh Pay Commission, recruiting staff and granting promotions, and ending the wet-lease bus system. It also calls for the procurement of about 5,000 BEST-owned buses and safeguards against the sale or long-term leasing of BEST assets.
BEST administration and authorities move to prevent disruption. The administration invokes the Maharashtra Essential Services Preservation Act, 2023, and instructs departments not to sanction leave (and to closely verify changes in weekly offs or duty timings) during the agitation period. Separately, an Industrial Court issues an ad-interim order restraining the unions and wet-lease operators represented by them from proceeding with the strike from midnight, creating a standoff between the court order and the unions’ stated intent to participate, including workers engaged via wet-lease operators. Officials say they try to minimise impact but acknowledge participation could affect bus operations and delay restoration work if power supply problems arise.
