IA 2 ASSIGNMENT

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

TOPIC: Write about any one Trade Union in detail

M.Com
A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply called
a union, is an organization of workers who have come together to
achieve many common goals, such as protecting the integrity of their
trade, improving safety standards, and attaining better wages, benefits
(such as vacation, health care, and retirement), and working conditions
through the increased bargaining power wielded by the creation of a
monopoly of the workers. Trade unions typically fund the formal
organization, head office, and legal team functions of the trade union
through regular fees or union dues. This delegate staff of the trade union
representation in the workforce is made up of workplace volunteers who
are appointed by members in democratic elections.

The trade union, through an elected leadership and bargaining

committee, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and
negotiates labour contracts (collective bargaining) with employers. The
most common purpose of these associations or unions is "maintaining or
improving the conditions of their employment. This may include the
negotiation of wages, work rules, occupational health and safety
standards, complaint procedures, rules governing status of employees
including promotions, just cause conditions for termination, and
employment benefits.

Trade unions are voluntary organizations of workers formed to promote

and protect their interests through collective action. “A trade union is a
combination of persons. Whether temporary or permanent, primarily for
the purpose of regulating the relations between workers and employers or
between workers for imposing restrictive conditions on the conduct of
any trade or business and includes the federations of two or more trade
unions as per the Sec. 2 (6) Trade Unions Act, 1926. “A Trade Union is
an organization of workers, acting collectively, who seek to protect and
promote their mutual interests through collective bargaining”.

Unions may organize a particular section of skilled workers, a cross-

section of workers from various trades, or attempt to organize all workers
within a particular industry. The agreements negotiated by a union are
binding on the rank-and-file members and the employer and in some
cases on other non-member workers. Trade unions traditionally have a
constitution which details the governance of their bargaining unit and
also have governance at various levels of government depending on the
industry that binds them legally to their negotiations and functioning.

Originating in Great Britain, trade unions became popular in many

countries during the Industrial Revolution. Trade unions may be
composed of individual workers, professionals, past workers,
students, apprentices or the unemployed. Trade union density, or the
percentage of workers belonging to a trade union, is highest in the
Nordic countries.

Functions of a Trade Union

The important basic functions of unions listed by National Commission

on labour are as follows:

1.To secure fair wages to workers.

2.To safeguard security of tenure and improve conditions of service.

3.To enlarge opportunities for promotion and training.

4.To improve working and living conditions.

5.To provide for educational, cultural and recreational facilities.

6.To co-operate in and facilitate technological advance by broadening the
understanding of workers on its underlying issues.

7.To promote identity of interests of workers with their industry.

8.To offer responsive co-operation in improving levels of production and

productivity, discipline and high standards of quality.

9.To promote individual and collective welfare.

All India Central Council of Trade Unions

All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) is a central trade

union federation in India. It is politically attached to Communist Party of
India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation. According to provisional statistics
from the Ministry of Labour, AICCTU had a membership of 639,962 in
2002.AICCTU is affiliated to the World Federation of Trade Unions.

Aims and Objectives are as follows:

1.To fight for the rights & dignity of all workers.

2.To strive for the establishment of a socialist order through

democratization.

3.To fight for the over through of the domination by the MNC’s.

4.To develop a scientific & modern cultural values among the working
class.
5.To develop solidarity with working class movements in other
countries.

Fragmentation of the trade unions movement struggle

Trade union movement in India is getting weak day by day.

Reasons
1.Monopoly v/s collective voice differences.

2.Inter regional variations.

3.Variations across caste, linguistic & communal lines.

4.Industry level.

Trade union rights in India

1.Right to ensure strong protection of workers.

2.Right to have political connections & affiliations.

3.Right to organize collective bargaining.

4.Right to protest against injustice done to workers.

Impact of Globalization on Trade Union

1.Pressure on working class.

2.Rationalization of labour loss.

3.Undermining trade union rights.

4.Growth of MNC’s which discourage formation of trade unions.