A protest by contractual housekeeping staff at Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport has revealed a deeper conflict over a newly implemented biometric attendance system. What began as a demonstration over uniform demands has escalated into a standoff concerning shift discipline and worker benefits.
The Spark: A Uniform Dispute or a System Sabotage?
The immediate trigger occurred on Tuesday morning when approximately 30 cleaning staff at the airport's departure level stopped work for 40 minutes. This was in response to a colleague being asked to leave for not wearing the proper uniform. The protest forced airport management into a meeting where staff presented a list of demands.
Their demands went beyond uniforms. The staff, represented by their union, asked for a new set of uniforms including winterwear, wage payment on holidays, and 14 days of paid leave in case of a death in the family. A union leader issued an ultimatum, stating that "till these demands are met, no contractual staff will give the biometric attendance at the end of the shift."
The Real Target: The Biometric Attendance System
Officials from the facility management firm overseeing the departure level believe the uniform issue was merely a pretext. They allege the core aim is to derail the biometric attendance system introduced on December 1 after months of negotiation.
Prior to this system, attendance was recorded only at entry. This, according to officials, led to a habitual practice where many staff would leave 25-30 minutes before their shift officially ended. The new system requires a punch-out at the end of the shift for attendance to be registered, effectively linking pay to completing the full work duration.
An official explained the impact of the old practice: "That left washrooms and floors unattended for 40 minutes or more. To stop this, we introduced a pay system based on the exit time." He directly accused the staff of placing "impossible-to-implement demands" solely to end the new attendance rule.
Management's Dilemma and Union's Rebuttal
The management faces a structural challenge. While the Airports Authority of India (AAI) appoints new facility management firms through tenders, the contractual employees often remain the same. This limits the firm's ability to dismiss underperforming workers or take punitive action.
An official highlighted a stark divide within the workforce, stating that out of the 250 contractual housekeeping staff, only about 100 take pride in their job and work honestly. He credited these conscientious workers for maintaining basic cleanliness, warning that without them, the departure areas would deteriorate rapidly.
However, Barun Natta, working president of the Trinamool-backed Airport Contractual Workmen's Union, rejected the allegations. He claimed the protest was launched against the agency's attempt to forcibly mark a staff member absent for wearing a jacket over his uniform due to the cold.
The resolution so far is partial. The agency has agreed to provide fresh uniforms, including sweaters, to all 250 staff by December 31, 2025. This will allow airport authorities to enforce a strict 'no uniform-no entry' rule from January 1, 2026. However, the other demands regarding holiday pay and bereavement leave have been rejected by the management, leaving the core dispute over the biometric system unresolved.
