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Presentation by: Aman Arora Student (PhD - HRM) University Business School aman22jan@rediffmail.com
Eight major trade unions, including All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and Centre for Industrial Trade Union (CITU) is observing the strike across the country to protest against the government's "anti-labour" policies.
According to sources several employees from bank federations, insurance, State and Central government employees' unions, railways, defence, telecom, airlines and airports unions are participating in the agitation. Four private airlines cancelled their flights from Chennai to Kolkata
Issues
Raise allotted to them in the 6th pay commission report Curbing inflation Provide social security to unorganised sector workers Proper implementation of labour laws.
The Economic Times, 27 Aug 08 Trade unions to march to Parliament over labour issues
To protest against price rise, speculative trading, FDI in retail sector, non implementation of social security laws and other labour laws effectively and globalisation in several sectors, the Trade Union Centre of India (TUCI) will organise a march to Parliament on August 29. Workers from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa, Mahrashtra, Gujarat, Bengal and other states will participate in the march, which will start from 10 am on August 29 after the they assemble at Jantar Mantar before heading for Parliament. The march will culminate into a public meeting at Parliament gates. Memorandum of their demands will be submitted to the President, the Prime Minister and the Labour Minister by a delegation.
A communique from the trade union informed that it will also organise a seminar at the hall of the Gandhi Peace Foundation on August 28 where CPI(ML), TUCI, Mill Mazdoor Union, New Socialist Movement, Gujarat Trade Union Federation and other trade union leaders will hold a discourse on the issues.
Bodies of 4 victims were recovered in completely charred condition from the accident site, other 6 died of suffocation who rushed inside a bathroom to avoid the blaze.
Kolkata, May 7, 2008: Activists from All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) burn effigy of U.S. President George W. Bush during protest against remarks where Bush cited growing prosperity in India as a cause for rising global food prices
Politicians need the support of the masses. Working people being strong vote banks, political parties depend on trade unions.
Trade Union
Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) Congress All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS)
Problem: Trade unions become fragmented whenever there is fragmentation in political parties
Trade unions suffer from poor public image. Positive contributions of trade unions go unnoticed and unrecognized.
Q) Can we associate trade unions with more efficient production?
Wages
Payment for labor or services to workers, especially remuneration on an hourly, daily, or weekly basis. Salary is a fixed periodical payment paid to a person for regular work or services. Wage is usually paid by the day or week for work or services which are of a more irregular nature.
Wage Policy
Wage policy refers to systematic efforts of the government in relation to national wage and salary system. Purpose: To regulate the structure of wages and salaries with view to achieve economic and social objectives of the government.
To bring about more efficient allocation and utilization of human resources through wage and salary differential.
To abolish malpractices and abuses in wage and salary payments.
Prohibits discrimination in matters Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 relating to remuneration on the basis of religion, sex etc. With all these Acts in place, are there no disparities in wages?
Wages Differential
Wage differential refers to differences in wage rates due to the location of company, hours of work, working conditions, type of product manufactured, or other factors. It may be the difference in wages between workers with different skills working in the same industry or workers with similar skills working in different industries or regions.
Employees in MNCs are paid higher. Different industries have different wage structures resulting in disparities in remuneration for identical works. Wide gaps exist between wages of employees of organised sector vs. unorganised sector.
Occupational Differentials
Different occupations require different qualifications, skills and different degree of responsibility 1. To induce workers to undertake more demanding, more risky jobs.
Inter-Industry Differentials
Arise when the workers in the same occupation and in the same area but in different industries are paid different wages.
1. Extent of unionization 2. Employers ability to pay/ product demand in market 3. Provides opportunity for workers to switch to higher wage industries. , November 26, 2007 Story about a foundry Shakti Industries in Haora, West Bengal that makes New York Citys manhole covers.
In occupations which involve muscular work, women workers are employed but paid less than men workers I.L.O. convention (No. 100) Industrial courts Labour Tribunals Minimum Wages Committee Fare Wage Committee
Sector Differentials
Depends upon nature of workers group (organized/ unorganized) and level of economic development of the sector. Agricultural workers are not able to better their living conditions, whereas workers in industrial sectors have their own unions to fight for them.
Summary
The concepts of trade unions, wages and wage differentials are over a century old in India. Indias economic development still needs a big push and the factors unions, wages and wage differentials can play a vital role. Lets try to see the issues from labours viewpoint