Trade Union History

1. Trade Union

2. Definition of Trade Union
An organization of workers or employees formed
mainly to negotiate with the employers on various
employment issues.
** It talks about three relationships
 Workmen and workmen
 Workmen and employers
 Employers and employers.

3. Origin of Trade Union
• The predominance of employer-employee relation is
associated with rise of modern industry and large
production units .The great transformation which
ushered in the industrial society began in Great Britain
in the latter half of the 18th century. During the 19th
century, the movement spread to a dozen of the other
countries .

4. History of Trade Union in Bangladesh
The Pakistan Period (1947-71)
• The East Pakistan Trade Unions Act,
1965 was enacted repealing the
Trade Unions Act, 1926.
• The Labor Disputes Act, 1965
was enacted.
• Industrial Relations Ordinance,
1969 was enacted integrating
the above two Acts.

5.  In 1980s the military government of Bangladesh banned all trade
union activities in the country
 SRAMIK KARMACHARI OIKYA PARISHAD (SKOP) IN 1983 COMPRISING 12
national federations
 Most of the trade union movements organised under SKOP
 SKOP failed to yield any tangible results . The leadership gradually
weakened because most leaders have political affiliations and unable
to avoid party influence
 Major issues settled through agreements include:
a) fixation of national minimum wages;
b) implementation of recommendations of the wages commission
c) updating the labour laws;
d) re-instatement of sacked workers including bank employees;
e) implementation of awards of the minimum Wage Board and
(f) implementation of previous agreements.

6. Analysis of Trade Union
 Multiplicity of union: Leads to disagreement among the union (inter-
union clash)
 Political affiliation: Unions and political parties are in deep intimacy
 Leadership: Union leaders maintain strong political affiliation
 Outsider participation/leadership is very common
 Industrial dispute: Very high in Bangladesh
 Long chain of settlement of dispute

7. Structure of Trade Union
• National Trade Union–Federation of basic unions irrespective of
job categories, SKOP, Jatio Sramik League
 Craft union: trade union combining workers who are engaged in a
particular craft or skill, exmp: Mahanagar Nirman Sramik Union
 White Color Union: A general union represents staffs of industries
 Mixed Union: Labours plus staffs/pen workers
 For EPZ “Workers’ Welfare Association” meaning an association
formed by workers for the purposes of regulating the relations
between workers and employers under the EPZ Workers’ Welfare
Association and Industrial Relations Act, 2010

8. Conclusion
 Trade unions have an important role to play in settling
disputes between workers and management over wages by
way of collective bargaining.
 Bangladesh should also start practicing like Japanese trade
union which has a single union for single enterprise. There is
no conflict, no unfair means and no strikes in productivity and
the growth of the overall economy.