Trade Union

Meaning

• A trade union (British English), • labour union (Canadian English) or • labor union (American English)

• The most common purpose of these associations or unions is "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment".

Meaning

• is an organization of workers who have banded together to achieve common goals such as protecting the integrity of its trade, achieving higher pay, increasing the number of employees an employer hires, and better working conditions.

Definition

• An organisation whose membership consists of workers and union leaders united to protect and promote their common interests. (Business Dictionary).

Significant

• by helping in the recruitment and selection of workers.

• by inculcating discipline among the workforce• by enabling settlement of industrial disputes

in a rational manner• by helping social adjustments. Workers have

to adjust themselves to the new working conditions, the new rules and policies.

History of Trade Unions

• the first Phase(1850-1900)• The Second Phase(1900-1946)• The Third Phase(1947)

The Third Phase

• The third phase began with the emergence of Independent India (1947). The partition of country affected the trade union movement particularly Bengal & Punjab.

• By 1949, four central trade union organizations were functioning in the country:

• The All India Trade Union Congress • The Indian National Trade Union Congress• The Hindu Mazdoor Sang • The United Trade Union Congress

Objectives of Trade Unions

• To improve the economic lot of employees by securing for them better wages

• To secure better working conditions for workers• To secure bonus for the employees from the profit of the

concern• To secure welfare of employees through group schemes

which give benefit to every employee• To protect the interest of employees by taking active

participation in the management• To secure social welfare of the employees• To secure organizational stability, growth & stability

Functions of Trade Unions

Militant functions• To achieve higher wages and better working

conditions• To raise the status of workers as a part of

industry• To protect labors against victimization and

injustice

Fraternal Functions• To take up welfare measures for improving the

morale of workers• To generate self confidence among workers• To encourage sincerity and discipline among

workers• To provide opportunities for promotion and

growth• To protect women workers against discrimination

Reason for joining Trade Unions

• Greater Bargaining Power• Minimize Discrimination• Sense of Security• Sense of Participation• Sense of Belongingness• Platform for self expression• Betterment of relationships

Rights & Responsibilities

• Rights• To protest & take industrial action• To consultation about changes in work

practice• To recruit new members• To Negotiate on their members behalf• Participation in election• Participation in Industrial action

• Responsibilities• To work with in law• To listen to members view• To not pressurize non members to join• To keep their members informed• Vote in election• Report problem to representatives• Act within the law when taking part in action

Types of Trade Unions

• Craft / Skill union : These unions represents the skilled workers Eg. Musician

• Industrial Union : These unions represents the different industries Eg. Fire Brigade Union

• General Union : These represent workers from different industries & any level of skills Eg. Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)

• White Collars Union : They represents office workers Eg. National Union of Teachers

Trade Unions in India

• The Indian workforce consists of 430 million workers, growing 2% annually. The Indian labor markets consist of three sectors:

• The rural workers, who constitute about 60 per cent of the workforce.

• Organized sector, which employs 8 per cent of workforce.

• The urban informal sector (which includes the growing software industry and other services, not included in the formal sector) which constitutes the rest 32 per cent of the workforce.

At present there are twelve Central Trade Union Organizations in India

• All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC)• Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS)• Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)• Hind Mazdoor Kisan Panchayat (HMKP)• Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS)• Indian Federation of Free Trade Unions (IFFTU)• Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)• National Front of Indian Trade Unions (NFITU)• National Labor Organization (NLO)• Trade Unions Co-ordination Centre (TUCC)• United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) and• United Trade Union Congress - Lenin Sarani (UTUC - LS)

Problems & Weakness of Trade Unions

• Uneven Growth• Limited Membership• Multiplicity of Unions• Outside Leadership• Financial Problems• Indifferent attitude of workers