In Mumbai, BEST buses to go off road on Rakhi, after workers strike over fair pay

Mumbai: Mumbaikars will have to face problems commuting on `Raksha Bandhan` as the local public transport division Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport (BEST) Workers` Union is on a strike from today to press their wage-related demands.

The BEST Workers` Union on Sunday threatened to go on a strike starting midnight of August 6, if the Mumbai Corporation did not render a written acceptance of their demands.

"It is the responsibility of the Mahanagara Palike to give us a written acceptance of our demands. We are fighting for our rights. We work day and night; we must be entitled to our salary. We will protest if a written acceptance is not given to us," BEST Workers` Union General Secretary Shashank Rao told ANI.

\"We are a force of 36,000 workers who are backing this strike. We have been in talks for three months, but there has been no proactive solution to our problems. We will demand what is rightfully ours," he added.

All the nine unions of 36,000 employees have supported the decision.

Earlier today, the union had a meeting with the Mumbai Mayor, who assured them of accepting their key demand of salaries being paid by the 10th of every month.However, the union is adamant to get their demands accepted in writing.