Nearly 30,000 employees of Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) are on an indefinite strike since 8 January seeking better pay and deliberations on new wage agreement among other demands. Job security is their biggest concern now as BEST employees fear that the civic transport undertaking could be privatised in the near future.
“What they want to do is stop running BEST buses, they want to privatise everything, and they want to just sell or redevelop BEST properties. As a result, even Mumbaikars will be affected because they won’t get services. Today they are not filling vacant posts, tomorrow they will start retrenching people and they want to abolish the posts.”Shashank Rao, President, BEST Workers Union
Their fear is not unfounded. In the last 5 years, nearly 900 BEST buses have been scrapped, with only around 3,600 now operational. BEST has been reeling under debts. It has incurred losses worth whopping Rs 1,000 crores. As of 1 January 2019, 38,263 people have been employed by the transport undertaking. Union leaders say, the number of employees has been steadily reducing over the last few years.
In January 2017, for instance, over 40,700 workers were employed by BEST transport undertaking. At least 2,505 people retired or opted for Voluntary Retirement Scheme from BEST in 2017.
“Once they retire, no new recruitment are taking place. The numbers are going down. If there were 7 people working on a bus previously, like drivers, conductors, mechanics, cleaners, etc, the ratio is being brought down every year. So, the total strength of people working is coming down year by year.”Kedar Hombalkar, former BEST committee member
How Could Privatisation Impact BEST Employees?
In a bid to cut down losses, the BMC is aiming to look at a ‘hire purchase’ solution with a private agency. An idea that has not gone down well with the employees’ union.
“The municipal commissioner has suggested a formula which says that in the coming year, 1250 buses will be hire purchased. It will be partly privatised. But, recently about 450 buses were ordered but the union went to court and got a stay. But, throughout the year 2019-20, 1250 buses are being expected for hire purchase that will be wet lease.”Ravi Raja, Leader of Opposition, BMC
As part of this contract, the maintenance of all the buses will be taken care of by the private organisation. The driver too will be provided by the private entity. BEST will only appoint the conductor for each of the buses. This reduces the requirement for BEST employees per bus drastically.
Experts and union leaders believe that what makes BEST a lucrative option for private firms is the prime property its depots are built on.
“You may ask, why will anyone take a company which is in loss. They have 26-27 depots which are at prime location. These lands have huge potential. Basically, the main interest of a new comer or buyer is this particular land. Once this land is developed and money is made out of it, rest is pretty simple.”Kedar Hombalkar, former BEST committee member
BMC standing committee members, however, say that BEST employees would not end up losing their jobs even if the transport undertaking goes private. When buses from particular routes are scrapped, the employees are transferred to a different department.
Senior Advocates, too, clarify that the government is obliged to find an alternative job for the employees.
“If privatisation does happen, it is the obligation of the government to ensure that these employees are absorbed by the new entity and thereafter, they will be governed by the rules applicable to the private employer. The govt also has an option to float a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS), in this case, the employee can choose between the two.”Senior Advocate GS Hegde
Court: There Should Be a Better Response To BEST Workers
While hearing a plea against the ongoing strike, the Bombay High Court observed that BMC has the money and BEST has capability and both the bodies should work together to find a solution. The court also said that there should be a better response to the demands of the BEST workers.
The high court has also directed the union to speak to their members about calling off the strike.
Some of the main demands put forward by the workers are: higher salaries, deliberations on new wage agreement, merging the budget of BEST with that of BMC and resuming appointments on compassionate grounds.
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