TRADE UNIONS

Trade Unions
Formed to protect and promote the interests of

their members Primary function is to protect the interests of workers against discrimination and unfair labor practices Objectives: Representation (Workers Interests) Negotiation (Collective Bargaining) Voice in decisions (Lay off, Retrenchment) affecting workers Member Service (Education, Training, Welfare, Discounts, Loans)

Purpose of Trade Unions

Employment Protection and Job Creation.
Economic Protection. Social Status - Identity.

Political Role - Democratic Institution

Societal Obligation - Transformation. Competitiveness / Sustainable Development.

WHY DO PEOPLE JOIN TRADE UNIONS?

Greater Bargaining Power
Minimize Discrimination Sense of Security

Sense of Participation
Sense of Belongingness Platform for self expression

Betterment of relationships

SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS OF UNIONS

Wage & salary bargaining

Fight for continuous improvement in employee

benefits Improving working conditions at work place Improving welfare, healthcare & recreation facilities, and leisure at workplace Increasing rest periods, holidays, paid leave and time-offs Decreasing working hours, work load esp. manual, and hazardous working conditions Improving career and salary rise prospects &

Major Trade Union Organizations

AITUC (All India Trade Union Congress)

Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)

Hind Mazdoor Sabha All India Council of Central Trade Unions

All India United Trade Union Centre

United Trade Union Centre All India federations of banks, insurance,

railways, defence, telecom, airline and airports. Centre of Indian Trade Unions -president M.K. Pandhe

Trade Union Movement in the early years

Bombay Mill Hands Association was followed by:

Amalgamat ed society of railway Servants in India, 1897

The Printers Union of Calcutta, 1905

The Madras and Calcutta Postal Union, 1907

The Kamgar Hitwardhak Sabha 1910

Emergence and Development of TU

First cotton mill in India was established in

1851 in Bombay and the first jute mill in 1855 in Bengal First Factory Commission was appointed in Bombay in the year 1875 First Factories Act was passed in 1881 Was dissapaointing Second Factory Commission was appointed in 1884 Mr. Lokhandey organised a conference of workers in Bombay and drew up a memorandum signed by some 5,300 to present to the Commission.

Problems for Trade Union Growth

Off-Centering Labour

Segmentation of Workforce
Core / Periphery Employment Instability

Investment Attraction
Individualisation of Labour Relations Labour Cost Cutting

Leadership Credibility/ Inside vs. Outside

leadership Failure of Institutions Emergence of Non-union firms/ E-union/