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Trade Union Movement

The document discusses trade unions, their history and development in India. It defines a trade union, their purpose and need. It outlines the key events in the history of trade unions in India since the 19th century. It also discusses some challenges faced by trade unions like financial issues, limited bargaining power and lack of unity.

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Kanishka
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17 views

Trade Union Movement

The document discusses trade unions, their history and development in India. It defines a trade union, their purpose and need. It outlines the key events in the history of trade unions in India since the 19th century. It also discusses some challenges faced by trade unions like financial issues, limited bargaining power and lack of unity.

Uploaded by

Kanishka
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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TRADE UNION MOVEMENT

INTRODUCTION
Trade union is a membership-based organisation, which means that its
members must primarily be workers.
The Trade Unions Act of 1926 (Formerly the Indian Trade Unions Act). One of
the primary aims of a trade union is to defend and advance the interests of its
members at work.
Trade unions are an important component of a country's contemporary industrial
system, functioning within respective constitutional frameworks and according
to universally accepted norms given down by organisations such as the ILO.
In traditional sense trade unions are continuous association of wage-earners for
the purpose of maintaining of improving the conditions of their working lives

TRADE UNION
 The Trade Unions Act of 1926 (Formerly the Indian Trade Unions Act)
defines a "Trade Union" as "any combination, whether temporary or
permanent.
 Trade unions are formed primarily for the purpose of regulating the
relations between workmen and employers, or between workmen and
employers, or for imposing restrictive conditions on the conduct of any
trade or business," and includes any federation of two or more trade
unions.
 A trade union is a membership-based organisation, which means that its
members must primarily be workers.
 One of the main goals of a trade union is to protect and advance the
interests of its members at work.

WHAT IS THE NEED FOR TRADE UNIONS?


 Across numerous economies, collective bargaining representation and
power have been critical for the creation of a steady working population.
 Workers have also benefited from increased earnings, job security,
improved working conditions, and more equitable distribution of the
wealth created by them as a result of this.
 Continuity and support for stated policies have brought stability to
industrial output, as well as the protection of employees' and investors' or
industrialists' interests.
 Article 19 (1) (c) of the Indian Constitution guarantees the ability to form
a trade union as a fundamental right.

HISTORY OF LABOUR UNIONS IN INDIA


 From the second part of the nineteenth century, with the establishment of
industries, the trade unions arose out of the necessity of the moment,
safeguarding and securing the interests, presenting collective demands,
and grievances of the industrial worker.
 The workers' main issues were poor working conditions and excessively
lengthy working hours.
 Although the Unions founded in the second part of the nineteenth century
had limits in terms of efficiently functioning as trade unions, they were
nonetheless effective social unions, making collective requests with a
goal of reforming the evils.
 The growth of such trade unions in India was strongly linked to the
growth of the industry.
 After the construction of textile mills in India in the 1850s, the first trade
union was formed in Bombay.
 With the founding of Jute Mills in Calcutta in 1854, trade unions arose.
 The leaders and early pioneers of the labour union rebellion were
Sohrabji Shapuri Bengali and C.P. Mazumdar.
 The first factory Commission, established in 1879, looked into the issues
that faced factory workers.
 The first trade union, the 'Bombay Millhands Association,' was created in
1884 under the leadership of Narayan Meghji Lokhande, with no funding
and no office bearers.
 The Indian Factory Act was passed in 1891.

CHALLENGES FACED BY THE TRADE UNIONS


 Financial issues: Due to the low membership cost, financial resources
are limited. It restricts their capacity to raise financial resources.
 Due to the concentration in major cities, which is controlled by organised
sectors, rural agricultural labour is left out and not provided appropriate
space.
 Issues on bargaining power: Although union membership has increased,
many workers are not members of the organisations, limiting their
collective bargaining power.
 Weakening of negotiating strength as a result of comparable fractions and
easy influence by groups with opposing narratives, causing a schism in
labour union unity.
 Lack of unity among labour unions, resulting in rivalry for a larger share,
further disadvantages them in putting out their demands.
 Weak organisational structure and a lack of clarity in dealing with various
labour groupings.
 Political goals and agendas of the leadership have overridden labour
concerns and interests, thus eroding negotiating leverage.

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