HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT II CHAPTER 11: TRADE UNIONS
Meaning of Trade Unions According to G.D.H. Cole, a trade union means an association carried on mainly for the purpose of protecting and advancing the members economic interests in connection with their daily work Dale Yoder defined a trade union as a continuing long term association of employees, formed and maintained for the specific purpose of advancing and protecting the interest of the Contd.
Meaning of Trade Unions Members in their working relationship Indian Trade Union Act, 1926 defined trade union as any combination, whether temporary or permanent, formed primarily for the purpose of regulating the relations between workmen and employers or between workmen and workmen, between employees and employers or for imposing restrictive conditions on the conduct of any trade or business and include any federation of two or more trade unions
Why do workers join Trade Unions? Workers join trade unions to achieve their objectives which they could not achieve individually. Some specific reasons are: To attain economic security To improve their bargaining power and balance it with that of management To ventilate the workers grievances to the management To satisfy social, psychological and other needs for belongingness To secure power
CHARACTERISTICS OF TRADE UNIONS The trade unions may be an association either of the employers or employees or of independent workers Trade unions are relatively permanent combination of workers and are not temporary or casual who are engaged in securing economic benefits for their members The origin and growth of trade unions has been influenced by a number of ideologies and their character has been constantly changing
Functions and Role of Trade Unions Basic function is to protect and promote the interest of the workers and conditions of their employment. The other factors are: Achieving higher wages and better working and living conditions for the members Acquiring the control of industry by workers Raising the status of the workers as partners Through collective bargaining protect the interest of the members against victimization and injustice To protect the right of to be consulted on all the matters attracting the worker s interest
Functions of Trade Unions The functions of trade unions can be divided into following categories: Militant or protective or intra-mural functions Fraternal or Extra-Mural Functions Social Functions Political Functions Ancillary Functions
THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LABOUR The National Commission on Labour has pointed out following basic functions on which the trade unions have to pay greater attention: To secure for workers fair wages To safeguard security of tenure and improve conditions of service To enlarge opportunities for promotion and training To improve working and living conditions To provide for educational, cultural and recreational facilities To cooperate in and facilitate technological advances To promote identity of interests of workers with their industry To offer responsive coordination in improving productivity To promote individual and collective welfare
Objectives of Important Indian Trade Unions The most important year in the history of Indian Trade Union Movement is 1920 when All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) was formed consequent upon necessity of electing delegates for the International Labour Organization (ILO). This is the first All India Trade Union in the country The efforts of the Indian National Congress resulted in the establishment of Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) by bringing Contd.
the split in the AITUC Socialists separated from AITUC had formed Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) in 1948 Radicals formed another union under the name of United Trade Union Congress in 1949 Some other central unions were also formed. They are: Bharatiya Mazdoor sangh (BMS) in 1955 The Hind Mazdoor Panchayat (HMP) in 1965 The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) in 1970 Contd.
The split in the Congress party in 1969 resulted in the split in INTUC and led to the formation of National Labour Organization (NLO) All these Trade Unions have their individual basic objectives like To establish a socialistic state in India, To socialise and nationalise means of production, distribution and exchange, To establish a socialistic state in India and fight for immediate interest of the working class and repressive policy of the Government towards the democratic and trade union movement etc.
ILL EFFECTS OF OUTSIDE LEADERSHIP The union s lack of formal power is the reasons for outside political leadership It undermines the purpose of Trade Union It is responsible for the slow growth of Trade Union internal leadership has not been developed fully
Union Structure The structure of Trade Unions in India varies from organization to organization and can be classified into four types: Craft Unions General Unions Industrial Unions Federation and Confederation
STEPS TO STRENGTHEN TRADE UNION MOVEMENT IN INDIA The Trade Union Act should be amended Trade Unions should not unnecessarily interfere in the management decision
Problems of Trade Unions Inactive functioning Victimisation Low membership
CAUSES OF UNION RIVALRY 1. Domination of Union by outside leaders 2. Attitude and policy of the management
NCL RECOMMENDATIONS TO MINIMIZE UNION RIVALRY 1. Elimination of party politics 2. Improving the system of union recognition 3. Encouraging union security
REASONS FOR DECLINE OF MEMBERSHIP 1. Rivalry among the leaders and central Organizations 2. Unionisation in India started with the big employers and gradually spread to smaller employers
Measures to Strengthen Trade Union Trade Unions should form a labour party and the trade unions in the country should be affiliated to it There should be legal provision for the recognition of the representative union Trade Unions should extent welfare measures to the members
STEPS TO STRENGTHEN TRADE UNION MOVEMENT IN INDIA The Trade Union Act should be amended Trade Unions should not unnecessarily interfere in the management decision