Mumbai BEST strike: Panel opposes salary cut

MUMBAI: BEST committee members have unanimously opposed the nine-day salary cut imposed on 32,000 workers who had participated in the record-long bus strike last month.
The panel has asked the BEST administration to recall its decision as this has caused "unrest" among workers and this, according to them, is against the directives issued by the Bombay high court.
"The high court had mentioned in its final order that all parties, including BEST, should create a congenial atmosphere and issues should be resolved amicably. However, the pay cuts are shocking and adding fuel to the fire," said BJP member Sunil Ganacharya, while demanding that the administration should allow workers to adjust their pending leaves (privilege/sick leave) with the days they were on strike.
He further said that the court had appointed a mediator, retired chief justice of Allahabad high court Ferdino Rebello, to look into the demands and resolve all issues within three months.
"The BEST should have waited for three months before taking such drastic decisions such as pay cuts," Ganacharya pointed out.
Deputy general manager RJ Singh said that the pay cuts were justified as the strike was illegal.
"We had imposed MESMA (Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act) and there was also an order from the industrial court restraining workers and unions from going on strike," he said.
"Even in other government organisations and public transport undertakings, there is a policy to deduct staff salaries if workers participate in a strike. We have just deducted salaries for the days the workers were off duties and were protesting," he informed the panel.
Singh also said that as per the agreement arrived at in court, the BEST has disbursed salary hikes to junior grade staffers -- which have got hikes upto Rs 3,500 (a ten-step increment in salary).
BMC opposition leader and BEST member Ravi Raja threatened to move a no-confidence motion against the administration.
"When there is a provision to adjust leaves, why weren't workers allowed to exercise this right?" he asked, adding that the management should have waited for the mediator to come up with some decision.