Archive · 19 Aug 2026
BEST Workers’ Hunger Strike Continues Without Disrupting Mumbai Bus Services
BEST workers in Mumbai started an indefinite hunger strike.
They are protesting because several pay and employment demands remain unresolved.
The workers chose a hunger strike instead of stopping bus services.
They said this was done so passengers would not face problems.
BEST reported that bus numbers on the roads did not decrease on August 18.
In fact, 13 more BEST-owned buses were operating than on the previous day.
The union is also asking for fair pay for wet-lease workers and retired employees’ dues.
The union says its protest will continue until its demands are addressed.
The BEST Workers Union began an indefinite hunger strike over pending employee demands.
BEST reported no decline in own or wet-lease bus turnout on August 18 compared with August 17.
Union secretary Shashank Rao said the union chose a hunger strike to avoid inconveniencing commuters.
The union is seeking wage settlements, Seventh Pay Commission implementation and pay parity with BMC employees.
The agitation will continue until the union’s demands are addressed, Rao said.
- Who
- The BEST Workers Union, led in the statement by union secretary Shashank Rao.
- What
- An indefinite hunger strike over pending wage, pay-scale, employment and financial demands.
- When
- The hunger strike began Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.; BEST compared bus turnout on August 18 with August 17.
- Where
- The protest began at the union office at Kennedy Bridge, Opera House, Mumbai.
- Why
- The union wants its employee demands settled while avoiding disruption for commuters.
Workers’ Union Position
BEST Service Data
Effect on commuters
Workers’ Union Position
The union says it chose a hunger strike rather than a strike so commuters would not be inconvenienced, and instructed employees to avoid causing trouble.
BEST Service Data
BEST’s turnout data showed no decline in the number of BEST-owned or wet-lease buses operating on August 18 compared with August 17.
Reason for the agitation
Workers’ Union Position
The union says pending wage agreements, pay scales, equal pay, retirement dues and other financial and employment demands must be addressed.
BEST Service Data
The available BEST data in the article addresses bus operations and turnout but does not state a response to the union’s demands.
- Protest type
- Indefinite hunger strike
- Start time
- Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.
- Protest location
- BEST Workers Union office, Kennedy Bridge, Opera House
- Bus-service impact
- BEST reported no decline in own or wet-lease bus turnout on August 18 compared with August 17.
- Turnout change
- BEST reported 13 more buses on the road on August 18 than the previous day.
- Major demands
- Settlement of 2016–21 and 2021–26 wage agreements, Seventh Pay Commission implementation and pay parity with BMC employees.
- Additional demands
- Equal pay for wet-lease workers, correction of pay discrepancies, budget merger with BMC, financial support, retired employees’ dues and implementation of the June 11, 2019 MoU.