TRADE UNION MOVEMENT IN INDIA

All of the organized activity of wage-earners to better their own

conditions their own conditions either immediately or in the
more or less distant future.”

Labour movement implies in some degree, a community of

outlook, it is an organization, or rather many forms of
organizations based upon the sense of common status and a
common need for mutual help.

A trade union is an essential basis of a labour movement for

without cannot exist, because trade unions are the principal
schools in which the workers learn the lesson of self-reliance
and solidarity.

The trade union movement on the other hand, started after

1918, when the workers formed their associations to improve
their conditions. It is, thus, a part of the ‘labour movement’,
which is a much wide term.
 Why the Trade Union Movement?

The main elements in the development of trade unions of

workers in every country have been more or less the same.

The setting up of large-scale industrial units, created

conditions of widespread use of machinery, new lines of
production, and brought about changes in working and
living environment of workers, and concentration of
industries in large towns.

It was this labour protest on an organized scale, through

the support of some philanthropic personalities, that
organized labour unions came to be formed.
 Growth and Development of the Trade Union Movement

Social Welfare Period (1875-1918)

The development of industries led to large-scale production on the one hand and
social evils like employment and exploitation of women and child labour and the
deplorable workable conditions, the government’s attitude of complete indifference in
respect of protection of labour from such evils, on the other.

The memorial demanded: i. a complete day of rest every Saturday; ii. Half an hour’s
rest at noon; iii. Working hour no longer than 6.30 p.m., which should cease at
sunset; iv. The payment to injured worker until they recovered together with suitable
compensation, if they are permanently disabled.

According to Pandey, the important factors which have helped in the emergence and
growth of the industrial labour movement are:

While the economic hardships of workers have been present as a latent force, the
impetus for the growth of labour movement is provided by the major political
currents, particularly movement for national independence.

The failure of workers’ initial attempts to organize led them to seek the help of
philanthropists and social workers who generally came from classes higher in
economic and social status.
 Early Trade Union Period (1918-1924)

The year 1918 was an important one for the Indian trade union movement.

The industrial unrest that grew up as a result of grave economic difficulties created by war.
The rising cost of living prompted the workers to demand reasonable wages for which
purpose they united to take resort to collective action.

The swaraj movement intensified the movement, widened the gulf between the employers
and the employees and brought about a mass awakening among the workers demanding
racial equality with their British employers.

The success of the Russian Revolution of 1917 created a revolutionary wave of ideas and a
new self-respect and enlightenment, and added momentum to the feeling of class-
consciousness among laborers.

The establishment of the I.L.O., in 1919, gave dignity to the working class and also an
opportunity to send a delegation to the annual conference of this body.

Immediately after the war many Indian soldiers in the British army were demobilized and
into the labour market.

The non-co-operative movement of Gandhiji during 1920-21 and his support to the demands
of industrial labour also greatly influenced the working class movement.
 Left-Wing Unionism Period (1924-1934)

In 1924, a violent and long-drawn-out strike by unions led to the arrest, prosecution,
conviction and imprisonment of many communist leaders. The rapid growth of the
trade unionism was facilitated by several factors, such as:

The growth of anti-imperialist national movement;

The brutal violence and repressive measures let loose by the British government,
particularly the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Rowlatt Act, indiscriminate arrests and
imprisonment of national leaders and Satyagrahis,

The phenomenal profits earned by the capitalists in the face of falling real wages
during the post-war period
 Trade Union’s Unity Period (1935-1938)

In mid-thirties the state of divided labour movement was natural thought undesirable
and soon after the first split, attempts at trade union unity began to be made
through the efforts of the Roy Group on the basis of ‘a platform of unity’.

The division in the Indian labour movement was proving very costly for the Indian
working class. In 1933, more than 50,000 workers in Bombay city were thrown out
of employment.

The unity efforts were synchronized by a popular upheaval as evidenced by the 1937
general elections.

According to Punekar, “During the decade 1930-40 Indian trade unionism was a
divided house and the average industrial worker kept himself aloof from organized
action.”
 Second World War Period (1939-1945)

The Second World War, which broke out in September 1939, created new strains in the united
trade union movement.

Hence, again a rift took place in 1941 and the Radicals left the AITUC with nearly 200 unions
with a membership of 3, 00,000 and formed a new central federation known as the Indian
Federation of Labour.

During war-time certain factors helped to enhance the status of the trade unions in the
country, namely, The government as well as employers launched a number of labour welfare
measures with a view to increase production of war materials and other essential goods and
maintain high profits.

Recognition to trade unions was accorded by many employers. This fact gave amoral strength
to the unions.

Ban was placed on the strikes and lockouts, during war-time, under the Defence of India Rules
81-A, and all disputes had to be referred to adjudication and their awards were enforced.

A Tripartite Labour Conference was convened in 1942, for the first time, to provide a common
platform for discussions and mutual understanding between the labour and the employers.
 The Post-Independence Period (From 1947 to-date)

As pointed out earlier, when attempts to restructure the AITUC failed, those believing
in the aims and ideals other than those of the AITUC separated from the organization
and established the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) in May, 1947.

It reads: “Congressmen in general and particularly those working in the field of

labour have found it very difficult to co-operate any longer with the AITUC which has
repeatedly been adopting a course completely disregarding, or even in opposition to
the declared policy and advice of the Indian National Congress.

The HMS was launched ostensibly with a view to “keep the trade union movement
free from domination by government and political parties and the methods to be
employed were to be peaceful, legitimate and democratic.”

In 1958, the HMS and the UTUC reached an agreement to create a joint front against
the AITUC which was working inroads in their membership.
The post-war period has been made by the trade union movement in India. The most
important factors being:

The constant inflow of outside and international influences;

The pressure of trade union rivalries, often based on political or ideological

differences;

Government’s Industrial Relations Policy with its provision for compulsory

adjudication machinery;

The enactment of labour laws conferring special privileges on registered trade

unions;

Desire of workers to unite for safeguarding their interest especially to face harder
conditions for labour such as retrenchment, lay-off, etc.;

Attempts made by some employers to set up unions under their influence.

 Present Scenario of the Trade Union Movement

The Indian trade unions have come to stay now not as ad

hoc bodies or strike committees but as permanent features
of the industrial society.

The unions succeeded in organizing Central Union

Federations which help in the determination of principles,
philosophy, ideology and purposes of the unions and give
some sense of direction to the otherwise scattered and
isolated large number of unions.

The unions have achieved a remarkable status where their

voices are heard by the government and the employers;
they are consulted on matters pertaining to improvement in
conditions of work health and safety, job security, wages,
productivity, all matters concerning the interests of labour.

The trade union rivalries have become sharper in free India.

The splitting up of unions and formation of new unions
having sympathies with political parties have permitted
unions operating at different levels.
 The Indian National Trade Union Congress

Origin:

The INTUC came into existence on 4th May, 1948, as a result of the resolution
passed on 17th November 1947, by the Central Board of the Hindustan Mazdoor
Sevak Sangh, which was a labour leader on the Gandhian Philosophy of Sarvodaya.

Objectives: The aims of the INTUC are:

to establish an order of society which is free from hindrances to an all-round

development of its individual members, which fosters the growth of human
personality in all its aspects, and which goes to the utmost limit in progressively
eliminating social, political or economic exploitation and inequality, the profit
motive in the economic activity and organization of society and the anti-social
concentration of power in any form;

to place industry under national ownership and control in a suitable form;

to secure increasing association of workers in the administration of industry and

their full participation in that control;
to organize society in such a manner as to ensure full employment and the best
utilization of its manpower and other resources;

to promote social, civic and political interest of the working class;

to establish just industrial relations;

to secure redressal of grievances, without stoppage of work, by means of

negotiation, conciliation, and failing these, arbitration and adjudication;

to take other legislative methods, including strikes or any suitable form of

satyagraha, where adjudication is not applied and settlement of disputes within
reasonable time by arbitration is not available for the redress of grievances;

to make necessary arrangement for the efficient conduct and satisfactory and
speedy conclusion of authorized strikes or satyagraha;

to foster the spirit of solidarity, service, brotherhood, co-operation and mutual

help among the workers;

to develop in the workers a sense of responsibility towards industry and the

community;

to raise the worker’s standard of efficiency and discipline.

 All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC)
Origin:
It was established in 1920 as result of a resolution passed by the organized workers of Bombay
and the delegates which met I a conference on 31st October, 1920.

Objectives:
Objectives: The basic objectives of the AITUC are:

to establish a socialist state in India;

to socialize and nationalize means of production, distribution and exchange;

to ameliorate the economic and social conditions of the working class;

to watch, promote, and further the interests, rights, and privileges of the workers in all matters
relating to their employment;

to secure and maintain for the workers the freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of
association freedom of assembly, the right to strike, and the right to work and maintenance;

to co-ordinate the activities of the labour unions affiliated to the AITUC;

to abolish political or economic advantage based on caste, creed, community, race or religion;

to secure and maintain for the workers the right to strike.

United Trade Union Congress (UTUC)
 Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS)
Origin:
This union has been the outcome of decision taken by the Jana Sangh in its Convention at
Bhopal on 23rd July, 1954.

Objectives:
to establish the Bhartiya order of classless society in which there shall be secured full
employment;

to assist workers in organizing themselves in trade unions as medium of service to the

motherland irrespective of faiths and political affinities;

the right to strike;

to inculcate in the minds of the workers the spirit of service, co-operation and dutifulness and
develop in them a sense of responsibility towards the nation in general and the industry in
particular.

The BMS is a productivity-oriented non-political trade union. Its ideological basis is the triple
formula:

nationalize the labour;

labourise the industry;

industrialise the nation;

 National Front of Indian Trade Unions (NFITU)

Origin

This union was founded in 1967, with the claim that “this trade union of India is not controlled by
any of the political party, employers or government.”

Objectives:

to organize and unite trade unions with the object of building up a National Central Organisation
of trade unions, independent of political parties, employers and the government, to further the
cause of labour and that of national solidarity security and defence of India, and to make the
working people conscious of their right as well as of obligations in all spheres of life;

to secure to members of trade unions full facilities of recognition and effective representation of
interests of workers and to ensure for the working people fair conditions of life and service and
progressively to raise their social, economic and cultural state and conditions;

to help in every possible way member trade unions in their fight to raise real wages of the
workers;

to endeavour to secure for members of affiliated trade unions adoption of progressive legislation
for their welfare and to ensure the effective environment of the rights and interests of members
of affiliated trade unions and for the working people in general.
 Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU)

This union was formed in 1970 when as a result of the rift in the AITUC, some members
of the Communist party seceded. About the objectives of the CITU, its constitution says:

The CITU believes that the exploitation of the working class can be ended only by
socializing all means of production, distribution and exchange and establishing a socialist
state, that is, it stands for the complete emancipation of the society from all exploitation.

The CITU fights against all encroachments on the economic and social rights of the
workers and the enlargement of their rights and liberties including the right to strike, for
winning, defending and extending the freedom of the democratic trade union movement.

In the fight for the immediate interest of the working class the CITU demands: (a)
nationalization of all foreign monopoly concerns who barbarously exploit the working
class; (b) nationalization of all concerns owned by Indian monopolists and big industry
who garner huge profits at the expenses of the workers, who exploit the people by
pegging prices at a high level and who dictate the anti-labour and anti-people policies of
the government.

The CITU fights against the repressive policy of the government towards the democratic
and trade union movement;
 Comparative Study of Four Original Central Organizations

Although there are as many as nine central labour organizations in the

country, only four are of great importance: the INTUC, the AITUC, the BMS
and the UTUC.

Objectives:

The INTUC aims at the Sarvodaya ideal and stands for gradual
transformation of the existing social order.

The AITUC aims at socializing and nationalizing all means of production,

distribution and exchange as far as possible.

The INTUC, too, aims at placing industry under national ownership and
control in a suitable form in order to reaslise the desired order of society.

The securing and maintenance or workers’ freedom of speech, freedom of

association, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press etc., has been
mentioned in the constitutions of all organizations except the INTUC.
Organizational Machinery

The machinery for organization of labour is practically the same under all the four organizations.

The Central Organisation itself is generally composed of a Delegates’ Assembly, a General Council, and a
Working Committee, with a division of responsibilities among them which is more or less the same in the
case of all four organizations.

Methods Used

As regards the methods of attaining the desired objectives there are some valid differences.

To achieve the objectives, the INTUC urges the placing of industry under national ownership and control
in suitable form and the full participation in its control.

On the other hand, the AITUC also strives for socialization and nationalization of the means of
production, distribution and exchange, but by more radical and violent means.

The UTUC, which was created with the avowed purpose of liberating the labour movement of its political
affiliations, is radical in nature, non-communist and anti-INTUC.
 Political Affiliations

As regards leadership, all the four organizations have their political

affiliations, and the leadership, therefore, lies in the hands of the politicians,
and not in those of the working class, which is yet illiterate and backward to
wield any influence.

The AITUC is pro-communist. It is led by the Right CPI. Its attitude towards
the government is not entirely hostile, but of course highly critical of the
government.

The UTUC is radical, non-communist and anti-INTUC. It is led by some

independent trade union leaders, the Forward Block and the Revolutionary
Socialist Party.

On the international level, the INTUC is affiliated to the International

Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) – an organization mainly
supported by the Anglo American block; while the AITUC is affiliated to the
World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), supported by the Communist
block.