7th pay commission latest news today: Pay demand sparks protest; employees go on hunger strike

7th pay commission latest news today: Even though huge swathes of government employees have got hiked salaries as per 7th CPC, there are a number of others who are demanding the same to be applicable to them too. Failing this, they have taken extreme positions on the salary issue. Civic transport provider, Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) based in Mumbai operates one of India's largest fleets of buses in the country.

On Wednesday, BEST employees went on an indefinite hunger strike.  As per ANI report, this happened just after talks with the administration failed to come to settlement on pay issue.

Shashank Rao, president of the BEST Sanyukt Kamgar Kruti Samiti (BSKKS), an umbrella body of BEST unions, was quoted as saying that the employees have decided to continue the hunger strike for the next few days. The main reason to protest is the demand to merger BEST budget with BMC. The protesters are also demanding to have a hike in pay as per 7th Pauy Commission plus a Diwali bonus. 

According to reports implementing 7th pay commission recommendations will require Rs 2,750 crore or more as outgo on salaries of these employees. 

Rao said that BEST General Manager has indicated the transporter can provide at the maximum Rs 789 crore.