DEFINITION:

 A continuous association of wage

earners for the purpose of maintaining
and improving the conditions of their
working lives
FEATURES:
 An association either of employees or
employers or independent workers
 Permanent association of workers and
not temporary
 Engaged in securing economic benefits
for its members
 Origin and growth influenced by socio
economic and political movements
FUNCTIONS OF TRADE UNIONS OF
INDIA:
 To achieve higher wages and better
working conditions
 To acquire control over running of industry
by workers
 To minimize helplessness of individual
against victimization by employer
 To raise status of workers as partners in
industry and citizens of society
 To encourage sincerity and discipline
among workers
 Take up welfare measures for lifting
morale
TYPES OF UNIONS
A. Classified according to purpose
i. Reformist Unions : Aim at preservation of
capitalist society & maintenance of usual
employee – employer relationship
ii. Revolutionary Unions : Destroying
capitalists, abolish the wage system &
substitute with the socialist / communist
system.
B. Classified on basis of membership structure
i. Craft Union
ii. Staff Union
iii. Industrial Union
CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS
Affiliated to either National federation /
Federation of Unions:-
 INTUC
 AITUC
 HMS
 BMS
 CITU
 UTUC
 Bank Employees Association
 Railwayman
 Port & Dock
GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT OF TU
MOVEMENT (contd..)
Progress of
Year TUs
Registered No. of Membershi
TUs Unions p of
submitting Unions
1947- 2766 returns
1620 (Lakhs)
16
48
1960- 11312 6813 40
61
1971 21606 7007 44
1981 37539 6682 54
1991 53574 8418 61
1998 61592 7403 72
BENEFITS OF TRADE UNIONS
 Solution of Workers Problems created
by modern Industry
 Voluntary associations protect workers
interests by collective actions
 Acts as agents of Govt. in maintaining
social discipline
 Act as partner in facilitating change
 Play the role of class bargainers
GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT OF TU
MOVEMENT (contd..)
Present Scenario
 Unions a permanent feature of
Industrial society & acquired a
remarkable status.
 Succeeded in organizing Central
federations to give sense of direction
 Large no. small size unions have
grown & hand maid of political
parties.
 TU rivalry very sharp.
PROBLEMS OF TUs

 Uneven Growth
 Small size of Unions
 Financial weakness
 Multiplicity of Unions & inter Union
rivalry
 Leadership issue
 Politicization of Unions
 Problems of Recognition of TUs
SUGGESTIONs FOR IMPROVEMENTS
 Enlargement of Functions – Unions to
pay greater attention of basic needs
 Leadership – No ban on non-
employees holding a position.
Permissible limit to be kept upto 25%.
 Union rivalries – Govt. to set up an
independent authority for Union
recognition whenever there is a
dispute
 Registration – To be cancelled if pre-
requisites are not complied.
SUGGESTIONs FOR IMPROVEMENTS
(contd..)
 Improvement of financial Condition –
Membership to be raised
 Verification of membership – IR
commission to decide by examination of
records or secret ballot.
 Recognition of Unions – To be made
compulsory under a Central law.
Minimum membership 25 – 30 % of
workers.
 Unions to look beyond its own horizons :
To fulfill proper role in life of nation &
community.
CENTRAL
TUs
TU No. of Memb % Political Year of
affiliate ership Affiliatio Establi
d (Lakhs n shment
INTUC Unions
4428 )
54 2 Congress 1947
0.8
AITUC 2996 30 1 CPI 1920
1.4
CITU 3011 24 9.2 CPI(M) 1970
HMS 1248 44 1 - 1948
BMS 2871 41 6.7
1 BJP 1955
HMKP 81 16 5.7
6.0 - -
UTUC 413 8 3 RSP -
Total 15000 260