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BEST Employees Launch Indefinite Strike Over Long-Pending Demands in Mumbai
BEST employees announced an indefinite strike starting Thursday midnight to press long-pending demands including budget merger with BMC, settlement of legal dues for retirees, and rejection of privatisation models. The strike threatens to disrupt bus services for 25 lakh daily passengers and power supply to over 10 lakh consumers in south Mumbai.
Quick Facts
Who
BEST Sanyukt Kamgar Kriti Samiti
What
Announced indefinite strike
When
Thursday midnight (June 19, 2026)
Where
Mumbai
- Announced indefinite strike
- Demanded budget merger with BMC
- Demanded one-time settlement of legal dues for retired employees
- Demanded implementation of Seventh Pay Commission recommendations for 2016-2026
- Demanded abolition of contractual arrangements
A joint action committee of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) employees announced an indefinite strike beginning Thursday midnight, escalating their push for sweeping reforms at the civic undertaking. The BEST Sanyukt Kamgar Kriti Samiti, a coalition of 12 unions representing BEST workers, made the announcement at a gathering in Dadar on Thursday evening, citing unmet demands that had not been addressed within a stipulated deadline.
The strike threatens significant disruption to Mumbai's civic services. BEST operates approximately 2,700 buses and supplies electricity to more than 10 lakh consumers in the island city, while around 25 lakh passengers travel daily on BEST buses. The company is Mumbai's second-largest public transport provider after the suburban railway network. The strike could substantially impact both bus services and power supply in south Mumbai.
The employees' key demands include merging BEST's budget with that of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), providing one-time settlement of legal dues owed to retired employees, and implementing Seventh Pay Commission recommendations for the 2016-2026 period. Additional demands include abolishing contractual arrangements in transport and electricity departments, absorbing wet-lease bus workers directly into BEST, recruiting for vacant posts, and operating 6,000 buses under BEST's direct ownership rather than through private operators.
Currently, only 243 of BEST's approximately 2,700 buses are owned by the undertaking, with the remainder hired from private operators on wet-lease contracts. The employees have also demanded promotions for eligible staff and a rejection of privatisation and public-private partnership (PPP) models for the undertaking. The indefinite nature of the strike signals the unions' resolve to maintain pressure until their demands are addressed.
Why This Matters
The BEST strike represents a critical threat to Mumbai's essential services and mobility. With 25 lakh daily bus passengers and power supply to over 10 lakh consumers at stake, the indefinite action could paralyze both public transportation and electricity distribution in south Mumbai. The strike underscores deeper structural issues—budget constraints, delayed compensation for retirees, and reliance on private operators—that affect not just workers but millions of residents depending on affordable public services. Understanding these demands is essential for tracking potential service disruptions and broader governance challenges in India's financial capital.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 18, 2026
WireBEST Sanyukt Kamgar Kriti Samiti announced indefinite strike at gathering in Dadar
Jun 19, 2026
WireIndefinite strike begins at midnight