TRADE UNIONS AND
TU MOVEMENT IN
INDIA
KAZIRANGA UNIVERSITY
ANURAG SARMA
6th semester IE Mechanical Engineering
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
(i) Militant functions
(a) To achieve higher wages and better working
conditions
(b) To raise the status of workers as a part of
industry
(c) To protect labors against victimization and
injustice
(ii) Fraternal functions
a) To take up welfare measures for improving the
morale of workers
b) To generate self confidence among workers
c) To encourage sincerity and discipline among
workers
d) To provide opportunities for promotion and
growth
e) To protect women workers against discrimination
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
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.
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
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
THANK YOU
