TRADE UNION

What is trade union?

 Objectives of trade union :

Ensure security of workers:

• This involves continued employment of workers, prevent retrenchment, lay
off or lock-outs. Restrict application of “fire” or dismissal or discharge and
VRS.

Obtain better economic returns:

• This involves wages hike at periodic intervals, bonus at higher rate, other
admissible allowances, subsidized canteen and transport facilities.
Secure power to influence management:

• This involves workers’ participation in management, decision making, role

of union in policy decisions affecting workers, and staff members.

Secure power to influence government:

• This involves influence on government to pass labour legislation which

improves working conditions, safety, welfare, security and retirement
benefits of workers and their dependents, seek redressal of grievances as
and when needed.
Functions of a Trade Union:
(i) To secure fair wages to workers.
(ii) To safeguard security of tenure and improve conditions of
service.
(iii) To improve working and living conditions

(iv) To enlarge opportunities for promotion and training.

(v) To improve working and living conditions.
(vi) To provide for educational, cultural and recreational facilities.

(vii) To promote identity of interests of workers with their industry.

(viii) To co-operate in and facilitate technological advance by
broadening the understanding of workers on its underlying
issues.
(ix) To promote individual and collective welfare.
Formation of Trade Union
 CRAFT UNIONS:
In this organisation the labour class is grouped
based on particular trade or occupation. This
category is mainly amongst the white collared
employees. The measures are mostly in
horizontal system and craft conscious rather
than class conscious.
GENERAL UNIONS:
This is a conglomerate group of different
industry employees forming a union. This
happens normally in industrial towns, ancillary
units, and SSI units in a city or suburb. Examples
are Peenya industrial workers’ union, Thane
industry employees’ unions and Jamshedpur
labour union.
INDUSTRIAL UNIONS:
A particular category of industry will have their
own unions. All crafts and trades coming under
that industry are part of the union. Textile mill
unions, steel industry unions, mill mazdoor
sangh, grini kamgar unions are some of the
examples of industrial unions in India.
FEDERATIONS:
These are apex bodies at national level. All
trade unions like craft union, industrial unions
and general union become members of
federations to have bigger identity. Central
trade unions as federations help smaller unions
and support at national level to address their
cause.
Trade Union as an Organisation:
Most of the workers are members of any one of the trade unions.

THERE ARE MANY REASONS OF MEMBERSHIP AND SOME OF WHICH ARE GIVEN BELOW:
Important Central Trade Unions of India:
SI. No. Name Year Approx. members
(lakhs)

1. AITUC-A11 India Trade Union Congress 1920 30

2. INTUC-Indian National Trade Union congress 1947 55

3. HMS-Hind Mazdur Sabha 1948 45

4. BMS-Bharathiya Mazdur Sabha 1955 41

5. HMKP-Hind Muzdur Kisan Parishat 1962 16

6. CITU-Center oflndian Trade Union 1970 24

7. UTUC-United Trade Union Congress 1971 8

CHARACTERISTICS OF TRADE UNION :
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WEAKNESSES OF TRADE UNIONS IN INDIA
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