3. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Indian trade union movement can be divided into three phases :
The first phase falls between 1850 and 1900 during
which the inception of trade unions took place. During
this period of the growth of Indian Capitalist enterprises,
the working and living conditions of the labour were
poor and their working hours were long. Capitalists were
only interested in their productivity and profitability.
In addition to long working hours, their wages were low
and general economic conditions were poor in industries. In
order to regulate the working hours and other service conditions
of the Indian textile labourers,The Indian Factories Act was enacted
in 1881.
4. As a result, employment of child labour was prohibited. Mr. N
M Lokhande organized people like Rickshawalas etc., prepared
a study report on their working conditions and submitted it to
the Factory Labour Commission. The Indian Factory Act of
1881 was amended in 1891 due to his efforts. Guided by
educated philanthropists and social workers like Mr.
Lokhande, the growth of trade union movement was slow in
this phase. Many strikes took place in the two decades
following 1880 in all industrial cities. These strikes taught
workers to understand the power of united action even though
there was no union in real terms. Small associations like
Bombay Mill-Hands Association came up.
5. The second phase of The Indian trade union movement falls
between 1900 and 1947. This phase was characterized by the
development of organized trade unions and political movements
of the working class. It also witnessed the emergence of
militant trade unionism. The First World War (1914-1918) and the
Russian revolution of 1917 gave a new turn to the Indian trade
union movement and organized efforts on part of the workers to
form trade unions. In 1918, B P Wadia organized trade union
movements with Textile mills in Madras. He served strike notice to
them and workers appealed to Madras High Court because under
„Common Law‟, strike is a breach of law. In 1919, Mahatma Gandhi
suggested to let individual struggle be a Mass movement. In 1920,
the First National Trade union organization (The All India Trade
Union Congress (AITUC)) was established. Many of the leaders of
this organization were leaders of the national Movement. In 1926,
Trade union law came up with the efforts of Mr. N N Joshi that
became operative from 1927.
6. Third phase began with the emergence of independent
India (in 1947), and the Government sought the
cooperation of the unions for planned economic
development. The working class movement was also
politicized along the lines of political parties. For
instance Indian national trade Union Congress (INTUC) is
the trade union arm of the Congress Party. The AITUC is
the trade union arm of the Communist Party of India.
Besides workers, white-collar employees, supervisors and
managers are also organized by the trade unions, as for
example in the Banking, Insurance and Petroleum
industries.
7. INTRODUCTION
Trade union as per Trade Union Act 1926 – “ Any
combination formed primarily for the purpose of
regulating the relations between workmen and employers
or workmen and workmen or employers 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.”
From the above definition it is clear that Trade union is
not just an association of the workmen of a factory or a
trade or a business but also can be formed by officers
and managers. Trade union movement in India was
started and led by philanthropists and social organizations
and not by the workers.
8. Function Of Trade Unions
Trade unions are related to protect the rights and enhance the
welfare of the members in particular and of the working class in
general. According to the national commission on labour(NCL),
the important functions of the trade unions are :-
To secure for workers fair wages.
To safeguard security of tenure and improved conditions of
service.
To improve opportunities for promotion and training.
To improve working and living conditions.
9. To provide for educational,cultural and recreational facilities.
To co-operate in and facilitate technological advance by broadening the
understanding of workers for its underlying issues.
To promote identity of interests of the workers with their industry.
To offer responsive co-operation in improving levels of production and
productivity, discipline and high standard of quality.
To promote individual and collective welfare.
10. Trade Union Movement In
India
Trade Union Movement In India had its germination in the last quarter of the
nineteenth century, it was only in the first quarter of the nineteenth century
that the trade union movement, as it is understood today, took its birth.
N.M.Lokhande, who was a factory worker in Bombay, is regarded as the
founder of the organized labour movement in India.
May day really in
Mumbai
11. In India the Trade Union movement is generally divided on political lines.
According to provisional statistics from the Ministry of Labour, trade unions
had a combined membership of 24,601,589 in 2002. As of 2008, there are 11
Central Trade Union Organisations (CTUO) recognised by the Ministry of
Labour.
AITUC rally in
Alappuzha
12. Trade Union In India
The Indian workforce consists of 430 million workers, growing 2%
annually. The Indian labour markets consist of three sectors :
The rural workers, who constitute about 60 per cent of the
workforce.
Organized sector, which employs 8 per cent of workforce, and
The urban informal sector (which includes the growing software
industry and other services, not included in the formal sector) which
constitutes the rest 32 per cent of the workforce.
13. Central Trade Union
Organisation
At present there are twelve Central Trade Union Organizations in India:
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 Labour Organization (NLO)
Trade Unions Co-ordination Centre (TUCC)
United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) and
United Trade Union Congress - Lenin Sarani (UTUC - LS)
14. Factors which contributed to
growth
World War 1st
Influence of Political Leaders
The International Labour Organisation
The Russian Revolution
The Trade Union Act
15. SOME IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS
In 1920 the ALL INDIA TRADE UNION CONGRESS (AITUC)
was established to coordinate and guide the activities of the
individual unions.
According to GIRI, the foundation of AITUC marked the first
recognition of common interest of labour throughout the
country.
The registration of rights enhanced the status of unions in the
eyes of the public as well as the employers.
In this process, even unregistered unions benefited and the
movement as a whole gained greater confidence of workers.
16. The conflicts between moderates and leftists within the AITUC
resulted in a split in the organisation in 1929 with the leftists
capturing the congress.
The break away group formed the ALL INDIA TRADE UNION
FEDERATION “with a realistic policy,programme and
objectives”.
The second split in the AITUC occurred in 1931 resulting in
the formation of a new organisation called the RED TRADE
UNION CONGRESS which in the next year united with the
parent organisation.
A section of labour leaders who supported the war effort of
the British Government led by the radical democratic
leader, M.N. ROY, seceded from the AITUC and formed a
seperate central organisation called the Indian Federation of
Labour.
17. The Federation which had the support of a large number of
trade unions.
The Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) was
started in 1947 under the patronage of the Indian National
Congress.
In the next year the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) was formed
by the Praja Socialist Party and the United Trade Union
Congress(UTUC) was formed in the following year by some
radicals.
18. Limitations and problems of
trade union
Limited Representation
Small – Size And Increasing Number
Multiplicity Of Unions
Inter-union And Intra-union Rivalries
Political Infiltration
19. Outside Leadership
Meagre Funds
Low Income
Illiteracy
Lack Of Integrity
Unhealthy Attitude Of Employers
20. Registration of Trade Union
Trade union in India are regulated by the Indian Trade Unions
Act, 1926 amended from time to time.
The trade union act lays down the procedure for the
registration of trade unions and their rights and liabilities.
Any 7 or more members of a trade union may, by subscribing
their names to the rules of the trade un ion and otherwise
complying with the provisions of this act with respect to
registration, apply for the registration of the trade union
under this act.
Every application for the registration of a trade union shall be
made to the registrar, and shall be accompanied by a copy of
the rules of the trade union, and provide all other particulars
required by the act.
21. RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES OF
REGISTERED UNIONS
The act lays down the rights and liabilities of registered trade
unions. Some of the important rights and liabilities of
registered unions are:
The general funds and political funds of a registered union
shall not be spent on any other objects than those specified in
the act.
No office-bearer or member of a registered trade union shall be
liable to punishment under sub-section (2) of section 120-B.
No suit or other legal proceeding shall be liable maintainable in
any civil court against any registered trade union or any office-
bearer or member thereof in respect of any act done in
contemplation.
22. The accounts books of a registered trade union and the list of
members thereof shall open to any inspection by an office
bearer.
A person shall be disqualified for being chosen as, and for
being a member of, the executive or any other office-bearer of a
registered trade union if:
1. He has not attained the age of 18 years
2. He has been convicted by a court in India of any offence
involving moral turpitude and sentenced to
imprisonment, unless a period of 5 yrs has elapsed since
his release.
Any registered trade union may,with the consent of not less
than two-thirds of the total number of its members and
subject to the provision of sec-25,change its name.
23. Any two or more registered union may become
amalgamated together as one trade union with or without
the dissolution or division of the funds of such trade
unions or either or any of them, provided that the votes of
at least one-half of the numbers of each or every such trade
union entitled to vote are recorded, and that at least 60% of
the votes recorded are in favour of the proposal.
A registered trade union shall send to the Registrar a
properly audited annual statement of all receipts and
expenditure in the prescribed form within the prescribed
time.
A copy of every alteration made in rules of a registered
trade union shall be sent to the Registrar within 15 days of
making of the alteration.
24. AMENDMENTS
A bill to amend the trade union act – the trade union amendment
bill,2000 – was passed by the rajya sabha and was sent for the
consideration of the lok sabha.
No trade union of workmen shall be registered unless at least
10% or 100%.
Registered trade unions shall at all times continue less than 10%
or 100 members.
All office bearers of a registered trade union except not more
than 1/3 of the total number.
25. SUMMARY
Generates in 1st quarter of 19th century
Trade Union Act 1926
Political and social impact
Limitations and problems
