TRADE UNION

Trade Union means a combination formed for

the purpose of regulating the relations not

only between workmen and employers but
also between workmen and workmen or
between employers and employers
- Trade Union Act 1926

WHAT IS TRADE UNION

A trade union is an organised group of workers. Its

main goal is to protect and advance the interests

of its members

A union often negotiates agreements with

employers on pay and conditions. It may also

provide legal and financial advice, sickness
benefits and education facilities to its members

Trade unions aim to represent the interests of

people at work and negotiate with employers for

better terms and conditions for their members

HISTORY OF TRADE
UNION
The first trade union was started in 1877 in Nagpur

It was this labour protest on an organized scale, through the

support of some philanthropic personalities, that organized

labour unions came to be formed
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
The first Factorys Act was passed in 1881 by N.M. Lokhode
In 1919 Madras Labour Union was the first Union in India to
be formed and established by B. P. Vadia
Bombay Trade Union formed in 1975 under the leadership
of Sorabjee Shapurjee Bengatee

PROCEDURE OF REGISTRATION OF
TRADE UNION
At least 7 members should be present for an application
It should in a prescribed form ,fees and should be

registered under the Registrar of Trade Unions

Should be accompanied by a copy of the Rules of TU
Certificate of Registration is issued as soon as TU has

been duely registered under the Act

FUNCTION OF TRADE
UNION
To secure for workers better wages

To safeguard security of tenure and improve conditions of service

To increase opportunities for promotion and training
To improve working and living condition
To provide for educational cultural and recreational facilities
To promote identity of interests of the workers
To offer improved level of production and productivity discipline

and high standard of quality

To promote individual and collective welfare

WHAT IS TRADE UNION

MOVEMENT
The trade union movement 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

A trade union is an essential basis of a labour movement for without

which one cannot exist, because trade unions are the principal
schools in which the workers learn the lesson of self-reliance and
solidarity
Trade

Unionism in India
modern factory system

has been the natural out come of the

The main elements in the development of trade unions of workers in

every country have been more or less the same

The development of trade unionism in India has had a checkered

history and a stormy career

TRADE UNION
MOVEMENT GROWTH
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 governments attitude of
complete indifference in respect of protection of labour from such evils, on
the other.

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.

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

TRADE UNION
MOVEMENT GROWTH
Trade Unions 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.

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

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

Names and details of some

Unions in India

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:
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;

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:
to establish a socialist state in India;
to socialize and nationalize means of production, distribution and exchange;
to improve 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)

Origin:
Some trade union leaders of the socialist bent met together December 1948 to form a new central
organization of labour, called Hind Mazdoor Sabha
Objectives:
The objectives of the UTUC are:
to establish a socialist society in India;
to establish a workers and peasants state in India;
to nationalize and socialize the means of production, distribution and exchange;
to safeguard and promote the interests, rights, and privileges to the workers in all matters, social,

cultural, economic and political;

to secure and maintain workers freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of association,

freedom of assembly, right to strike, right to work or maintenance and the right to social security;

to bring about unity in the trade union movement.

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;
industrialize 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)

Origin
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:
Objectives:
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;

CRITICISMS
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
government.

not

entirely

hostile,

but

of

course

highly

critical

of

the

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.

CONCLUSION
Trade Union is an important factor of the

current society, as it safeguards the basic

interest and needs of both the employees as
well as employers, by giving better terms and
conditions of employment, secured jobs,
better wages, favorable working environment
which in turn leads to desired profitability.