TRADE UNIONS MOVEMENT IN INDIA

Dr. Niharika Gaan

Trade Unions
Formed to protect and promote the interests of their members Primary function is to protect the interests of workers against

discrimination and unfair labor practices Objectives: Representation (Workers Interests) Negotiation (Collective Bargaining) Voice in decisions (Lay off, Retrenchment) affecting workers Member Service (Education, Training, Welfare, Discounts, Loans) Functions: i) Militant functions, (ii) Fraternal functions

Importance of Trade Unions

For industrial peace Decisions taken through the process of collective bargaining and negotiations between employer and unions are more influential Effective communication between the workers and the management Economic development Recruitment & selection Discipline among workforce Settlement of ID in rational manner

Purpose of Trade Unions

Employment Protection and Job Creation.

Economic Protection.
Social Status - Identity. Political Role - Democratic Institution Societal Obligation - Transformation. Competitiveness / Sustainable Development.

Why do people join Union?

Greater Bargaining Power

Minimize Discrimination
Sense of Security Sense of Participation Sense of Belongingness Platform for self expression Betterment of relationships

Multiple Unions: Causes

Membership related Issues Discontent Leadership Related Issues Avenues, intra union fights, leadership issues Political Issues Regional, Organizational Limitations Legal

Multiple Union: Solution

Suggested: One Industry - One Union

You may have any number of registered unions

Recognition is the key

SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS OF UNIONS

Wage & salary bargaining

Fight for continuous improvement in employee

benefits Improving working conditions at work place Improving welfare, healthcare & recreation facilities, and leisure at workplace Increasing rest periods, holidays, paid leave and time-offs

SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS OF UNIONS

Decreasing working hours, work load esp. manual,

and hazardous working conditions Improving career and salary rise prospects & job security Protecting employees against arbitrary / unjust actions of Management

Major Trade Union Organizations

AITUC (All India Trade Union Congress)

Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)

Hind Mazdoor Sabha All India Council of Central Trade Unions

All India United Trade Union Centre

United Trade Union Centre All India federations of banks, insurance, railways, defence,

telecom, airline and airports. Centre of Indian Trade Unions -president M.K. Pandhe

Trade Union Movement in the early years

Bombay Mill Hands Association was followed by:

Amalgamat ed society of railway Servants in India, 1897

The Printers Union of Calcutta, 1905

The Madras and Calcutta Postal Union, 1907

The Kamgar Hitwardhak Sabha 1910

Eight Core Rights (ILO)

29- Forced on Compulsory Labour.

87 Freedom of Association.
98 Right for Collective Bargaining. 100 Equal Remuneration. 105 Abolition of Forced Labour. 111 Discrimination in Employment. 138 Minimum Age for Employment. 182 Worst forms of Child Labour Convention.

Emergence and Development of TU

First cotton mill in India was established in 1851 in Bombay

and the first jute mill in 1855 in Bengal First Factory Commission was appointed in Bombay in the year 1875 First Factories Act was passed in 1881

Was dissapaointing Second Factory Commission was appointed in 1884 Mr. Lokhandey organised a conference of workers in Bombay and drew up a memorandum signed by some 5,300 to present to the Commission This was the first organized effort by workers in India However, no roll or membership, no funds and no rules.

Emergence and Development of TU Contd. Early trade union period)

Printers Union, Calcutta - 1905

Kamgar Hitwardhak Sabha - 1910

Social Service League 1910 The amalgamated societyof railway servants of India

and Burma

Were essentially labour welfare organisations and may hardly be regarded as modern trade unions Marjory called as Social welfare period

1918-1924
Industrial unrest created by war and precarious

economic conditions. Swaraj movement intensification Success of Russian Revolution 1917 Establishment of ILO, 1919 Formation of Madras Textile Union in 1918 by B.P.Wadia with obj. of avoiding short interval mid day mill, frequent assault by European assistant, inadequate wage.

 Textile labour association formed in 1920

64 trade unions established AITUC under the

guidance of Lala Lajpat Rai TU s stemmed in the cotton and textile milss, jute mills, telegraph and railways Movement picked up momentum in railways, posts and telegraphs, shipping, engineering and communication.

Left wing unionism period

During 1924-27 many union and communist leaders

were prosecuted AITUC membership of unions decreased from 6457. By 1926-27 workers and peasant unions sprang up at local levels Two major unions stemmed up Girni Kamgar union (Bombay cotton mills) and G.I.P Railwaymens Union (Railways) Two distinct parties grew : Leftist, and Rightist

 Rightists affiliated with Geneva-Amsterdam group

(opposed militant actions) Leftist affiliated to Muscovites (aimed at overthrowing capitalist and build socialist society). Rightist seceded from AITUC and formed separate federation called AITUF. AITUC led by communist party and leader being B. T. Ranadive and N.M Joshi , RTUC led by congress and leader being S.V. Deshpande.

1935-1938
Trade union unity committee was constituted whose

aim was to organize the workers to advance the and defend their rights and interests. Negotiation and collective bargaining are integral part of TU activities. Wings of labour: AITUF and INTUC NFL was formed to facilitate unity Amalgamation of AITUF and Railway unions federation with NFL under the umbrella called NTUF. RTUC merged with AITUC

 delegates chosen from AITUC for Indian labour

conference. General elections in 1937 were supported by workers as requested by Indian National congress. Workers got rights to form association in new provincial assemblies Congress assumed charge in 7 states. Strikes went up to 379 Hostility between employers and employees reduced Merger of AITUC with NTUF after 9 years under the guidance of V.V. Giri.

1939-45
Radicals left the AITUC and formed central

federation known as the Indian Federation of Labour (of opinion of supporting anti fascist war). IFL was formed with dual objective: mobilization for the needs of the war, securing workers bare minimum wage and amenities. Radicals were led by M.N.Roy, and Miss Maniben Kara, V.B.Karnik). German invasions of Russia in 1941

 Intensification for Indian Independence.

Communist leaders were released from jail as soon

as their support towards invasion of Hitler on Russia. Congressites and socialists were arrested with the result that the non-communists strength got weaken and fell into the hand of communists.

 Enhancement of the status of TUs with the

objectives of launching labour welfare measures, recognition of TUs accorded, ban placed on strikes and lockouts, and tripartite labour conference was convened in 1942

Present Central Trade Union Organizations

All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) Hind Mazdoor Kisan Panchayat (HMKP) Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) Indian Federation of Free Trade Unions (IFFTU) Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) National Front of Indian Trade Unions (NFITU) National Labor Organization (NLO) Trade Unions Co-ordination Centre (TUCC) United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) United Trade Union Congress - Lenin Sarani (UTUC - LS)

Some Figures of Trade Unions

Problems for Trade Union Growth

Off-Centering Labour Segmentation of Workforce Core / Periphery Employment Instability Investment Attraction Individualisation of Labour Relations Labour Cost Cutting Leadership Credibility/ Inside vs. Outside leadership Failure of Institutions Emergence of Non-union firms/ E-union/ Cyber-union