Mumbai: The polling conducted by Sangharsh Kamgar Karmachari Union for BEST staffers at 16 bus depots recently showed that 99% gave their consent for a strike to raise pending demands, including equal rights for drivers and conductors working in wet lease (contractual) buses. As many as 4,986 staffers out of a total of 5,051 who participated in the polling process voted for a strike, said union leader Shashank Rao. He added that a final decision on the strike will be taken on August 7, on BEST Divas.Jagnarayan Kahar from Aamchi Mumbai Aamchi BEST said that the citizens’ group will organise a protest at all 27 bus depots on Aug 7. “We are demanding that public transport should be reliable—buses should arrive on time and should be safe and affordable with fares being reduced,” he said. He added that the group will also oppose the privatisation of bus depots. A memorandum will be handed over to depot managers on that day.
