BEST strike enters 7th day; Sena mulls union’s demands

MUMBAI: Brace for traffic snarls, crowded trains, high-charging autorickshaws and taxis, and no Bestbusesonmondaymorning, as the strike by Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) workers enters its seventh day.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said the civic body was willing to consider revising wages and merging the budget of BEST with that of the civic body — two main demands of the protesting workers. However, until Sunday evening, there were no talks between the BEST Sayukt Kamgar Kruti Samiti (BSKKS) union, representing the employees, and the BEST administration. Thackeray also assured

there would be no job cuts, but any unreasonable demands would not be accepted.

The union said it would decide whether to continue the strike after the three-member committee headed by chief secretary DK Jain submits its findings to the Bombay high court on Monday. The panel held meetings with the union, BEST and BMC administration on Saturday.