More than 40,000 employees of BEST, the second lifeline of Mumbai, have gone on a three days full-time strike from 11 PM on Wednesday night. The employees have demanded to revoke the suspension of the Dearness Allowance.

According to them, the DA suspension would cost them up to Rs 2,000 a month. They decided to go on strike because the GM tried to cut money and to close some accounts.

Later, on Thursday, the BEST management, cited a court order, sacked thousands of employees on strike and who did not turn up for work today. The Mumbai high court had stated in the 2006 judgment that the employees who work for essential services cannot hold the public to ransom.

Uttam Khobragade, BEST General Manager said that the High Court has put a stay on such strike. The employees on strike have gone against the court ruling. We will fire them if they would go ahead with this illegal strike. According to the report, the employees have given the 4-hr time to return on work.

Now, the employees’ protest against BEST management has taken a political color as Shiv Sena has supported the BEST employees and their demands.

Read