Mumbai braves a horrible BEST Bus and Western Railway strike

Mumbai braves a horrible BEST Western strike

Thousands of people had a harrowing time on Thursday travelling to and from homes and offices in Mumbai because of a day-long strike by BEST employees and a flash strike by Western Railway motormen while it kept raining across the city. The protest campaign by Anna Hazare's supporters only added to the confusion as regular commuters assumed that the BEST and the WR had organised simultaneous protests to express solidarity with the anti-corruption movement. Sharad Rao-led BEST union left the bus service crippled with just 922 buses from the fleet of 4,699 buses plying on the roads. Rao's followers took casual leaves, demanding the abolition of junior grades and regularisation of present junior grade workers. According to the union, nearly 20,000 BEST employees, including drivers and conductors, went on a strike from Wednesday midnight. The strike turned violent when striking employees allegedly attacked 170 of the buses that were out on the roads. A BEST spokesperson said seven drivers, three conductors and eight passengers were injured when the employees pelted buses with stones. The undertaking is expected to suffer a financial loss of more than Rs2 crore and another Rs1.50 lakh for damages to buses. Cases have been registered against 13 employees across the city and they are most likely to be suspended. The strike was called off after a meeting with Ajit Pawar, deputy chief minister, at the Mantralaya. The BEST management has assured to look into the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations, a source said. Around 4.30pm, WR motormen went on a flash strike to protest the "unjustified removal" of their colleague Malkit Singh. At least 80 motormen went on sick leave resulting in chaos at Churchgate, Dadar, Andheri, Borivli and Virar stations. Stranded commuters started losing their cool when there were no trains to take them back home. A huge uproar at Churchgate forced the motormen to resume duty just before 6pm. C David, PRO (WR) said the matter had been resolved. At least 25 trains were cancelled and some ran late by 30 minutes, David said.