Employees affiliated to the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Workers Union began an indefinite strike from the midnight of 8 January, alleging that mounting losses were causing delays in salary disbursal, reported ANI.
The union also demanded that BEST and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) budgets be merged.
According to The Times of India, the cash-starved organisation is set to lose Rs 3 crore in daily ticket earning and nearly 25 lakh commuters are likely to be affected due to the absence of red buses.
The BEST management had declared the strike illegal and issued internal circulars warning staffers of strict action if they proceeded with it. It further said provisions of Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) would be invoked against the union workers if they went ahead with the strike.
When all talks between the parties failed, the BEST management approached the Industrial Court here seeking relief against the strike.
Industrial Court Member S V Suryawanshi, after hearing brief arguments, restrained union workers from going on strike till it hears the complaint filed by BEST management.
(With inputs from The Times of India, PTI)
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