Security Workers Look to Strong Unions to Escape Exploitation in West Bengal

Kolkata: “Where there is a workers’ movement, it is easier to ensure the minimum wage and we have seen this in the banking sector as well,” says Biswajit Ghosh, general secretary of the Bank Contractual and Contract Workmen Union.

Ghosh feels that after 2014 – when the Narendra Modi-led BJP came to power – the banking sector started witnessing job losses. However, the security and allied workers in the sector have been fighting a battle with managements to stop the arbitrary retrenchment of contract workers.

“Many of us have worked for 10 to 20 years only to end up getting a pink slip from the bank management. Even the PF and gratuity, which are supposed to be paid, are not paid in most of these cases. Against this, our union is taking many steps – ranging from screening a documentary made by Tarun Majumdar to create awareness to taking legal steps to thwart any unfair action,” said Ghosh, while talking to NewsClick.

Ghosh said that he has been sacked time and again by the bank authorities for leading a pro-worker movement.

“Those of us who work in the bank ATMs do not get even drinking water or toilet facilities and we are not allowed to pull down the shutter of the ATMs when we are out following nature's call,” he added.

Debanjan Chakraborty, joint convenor of Private Security Guards and Allied Workers’ Union of India, said that ensuring minimum wages for security workers is a major challenge in the country.

“But when there is a union, in many cases, PF, gratuity, bonus, and ESI facilities are extended. However, in many districts of the country, the unions do not have representation and workers are subjected to rampant exploitation,” he said.

Chakraborty points to the need to implement the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act properly. “This is our main demand. In most states, the eight-hour timeframe of work is not adhered to. Another demand of the security workers is that all of them should have appointment letters with photo identity cards and a minimum wage of Rs 26,000 per month. All of them should have PF, ESI, gratuity, bonus, and workmen’s compensation as has been stipulated in the Act,” he said, while also highlighting the demand for a national-level security and housekeeping board. The union has also asked that basic amenities like water, restrooms, uniforms, torchlights, and safety equipment be provided.

Talking to NewsClick, Sanjoy Talapatra of Kolkata Corporation Security and Allied Workers’ Union said that even their right to unionise has been under the constant attack of the ruling party. “There is the threat of transfer whenever we try to raise the demands of the security workers. There should also be a pay structure for the security workers’ salaries. Even after 20 years of work, the workers are paid the same salary as new joiners. There are currently about 6,600 security workers with the Kolkata Corporation and about 670 sweepers who get the basic minimum wages, year after year with no change,” said Talapatra.