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ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF LABOUR MOVEMENT IN INDIA

1. It started with evolution of modern factory production initially there were

mining and plantation that is extractive industries. It was difficult to organize

workers.

2. Initially Indias industrial growth was controlled by the britishers. The first

cotton mill was establishment in Bombay in 1853.

3. In the next 50 years cotton textiles as a major industry alongwith railways

and jute industry.

4. These were the first industries to be unionized and still count as major pillar

of trade union movement.

5. The origin of trade union can be seen in labour unrest way back in 1899,

when workers of express mill at Nagpur struck work for a wage amount. In

1884, 5000 workers struck the work for a wage industries are submittedpetition demanding:-

a. Regular payment of wages

b. Mid-day recess of 30 minutes.

6. There were 25 strikes between 1802-1890. But they were:-

a. Poorly organized

b. Short lived

c. Resulted in failure.

7. The expression of the employers was so severe that workers preferred to quit

their job rather than go for strike.

8. Since, low cost of labour was suitable to the merchants of Lancashire and

Manchester, an inquiry into the conditions of Indian workers was setup. In

1905, the Bombay mills were forced to reduce the working his to 13 hours.

9. Before that in

a. 1875, first committee was appointed to inquire into the conditions offactory work was appointed, to favor legal restriction.

b. 1881, first factories act was adopted.

c. 1882, seconds factories act.

d. 1892,

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10.In 1890, first organization of workers was formed by lokhande along with SS

Bangalore and Bombay mill hands association. It was, essentially a welfare

organization it had no members, rules or regular funds.

11.Although strikes had become common in all major industries there were no

proper trade union until the beginning of this century. There was a strongconnection between nationalist policies and labour movement because, in

1908, mill workers in Bombay went on strike in protest against conviction of

B.C. tilak on charges of sedition.

12.In 1920, the Ahmadabad textile labour association was formed by lala Rajput

rai, who was also the president of the congress.

13.All India trade union congress was formed as a direct result of ILO in 1919, as

to send a delegate was necessary.

14.Initially the trade union was centralized in Bombay, Kolkata and madras.

15.The initial strikes were not for economic gain but political is nationalist

movement. Many unions were only strike committees, are move out of

existence once strike was out.

16.In 1922, Indian factories act, was formed to restrict the working has to 10

hours per day. In 192, the Indian trade union act made it legal for any of

workers to form a union as it was lepalised.

17.There was a decline in trade uniob activities in late 1920s after the world war

because of decline in profits. Many strikes endrol in failure.

18.Three distinct groups of trade union emerged as follows:

19.In the next two decades there was a lot of infighting and factionalism in trade

union.

In 1947, congress formed a new federation INTUC project socialist party.

Congress socialist formed hind mazdoor sabha in 1948. Other radical group

formed united TUC.