BEST staff refuse to toe Shiv Sena line on strike

MUMBAI: The inability of the Shiv Sena-backed union to partially restore BEST services despite its claims of having the support of 11,000 of the 40,000 workers has raised questions about its waning clout.




The BEST Kamgar Sena had promised to bring at least 500 of the BEST’s 3,000-odd fleet back on the roads after it withdrew support to the strike. However, merely 11 buses operated on Wednesday and not a single one hit the roads on Thursday.

Several BEST workers told TOI the Sena union seemed to have “lost its sheen”. “It has been evident during this strike the Sena union leaders did not get the support of most workers, especially from their own union. There is a lot of discontent as workers are on the streets to fight peacefully for their rights and many don’t want to give up so easily,” said Santosh Kute who was part of the protest outside Mulund bus depot.

Another BEST employee said there were reports of some Sena members wanting to switch to other unions. A senior Sena functionary denied this. “These rumours are being spread by our rivals,” he said.

Suhas Samant of the BEST Kamgar Sena said he was the first one to be called for talks by general manager Surendrakumar Bagde. “We have taken the right course of action. The management wasn’t calling union leaders for talks as there was an industrial court order restraining workers from going on strike. After we withdrew our support, we were called legally for negotiations,” he said, adding he tried his best to restore services. Sources said some workers feared attacks and therefore stayed away.

Shashank Rao of BEST Workers’ Union said, “Why did Sena leaders leave the agitation and join hands with the management? They did not even get a written assurance from BEST administration on any demands. It was not a good decision to back out early. This will result in large-scale migration to our union,” he said.