What is Trade unions? Present and future of trade unions in India.

1. Trade unions
Present and future of trade unions in India

2. Trade unions
● A trade union, is defined as the Trade union Act 1926 (previously
known as The Indian Trade Union), is a collective body formed with
the primary purpose of regulating relations between workers and
employers, or between workers themselves, or between employers
themselves.
● Trade unions are voluntary organizations of workers as well as
employers formed to protect and promote the interest of their
members.

3. ● In British accent they are known as Trade Unions, in American accent
they are known as Labour Unions.
● Trade unions typically fund their head office and legal team function
though regularly imposed fees called Union Dues.
● Most trade unions are independent of employers but have close
relationships with them.
● Trade union movement in India is divided mainly along political lines
and follows a pattern of contradictory relations between pre-
independence political parties and unions.

4. ❖ A modern definition by the Australian Bureau of Statistics states
that a trade union is “an organization consisting predominating of
employees, the principal activity of which includes the negotiation
of rates of pay and conditions of employment for its membership”.

5. Present status of Trade Unions in India
● Uneven growth: Trade unions are mainly concentrating on Industrial
labour. They are not enough concerned about Domestic labour. They also
have to think about the growth of domestic labour.
● Multiplicity of unions: According to the Trade Union Act 1926, Act
permits any association of seven workers to be registered as a union. In
1947, there were 2,766 registered unions. As per the latest data, released
for 2012, there were 16,154 trade unions in India(based on return from 15
states– out of total of 28 states and 9 territories).

6. ● Outside leadership: It is though these leaders that the Indian political
parties control the policies and the day to day working of the trade
unions. Such leaders have come to known as “outsiders”. Besides the
politician, social workers, lawyers and doctors have also been providing
leadership to the Indian trade unions.
● Inter-union rivalry: It refers to competition or conflict that arise between
different trade unions or labour organizations. It occurs when multiple
unions seek to represent the same group of workers or compete for
membership in a particular industry or sector.

7. ● Weak financial position: Low membership and low rate of membership
fee is the cause of weak financial position of trade unions. Trade Union
Act, 1926 prescribed the membership fee at 25 paisa per member per
month.
● Lack of public support: Nowadays trade unions are not getting the enough
public support. People don’t find them enough supportive for themselves.

8. Future of trade unions in India
● Marginalization: The continuation of decreasing of unionization in
combination with aging unions. This may result in a gradual
marginalization of trade unions.
● Dualization: Trade unions defends their current positions, servicing
workers closest to them and in sectors where they are strong, for instance
workers in a formal employment relationship and in big in industries or
the public sector. This would come at the cost of others, more precarious
workers or less represented sectors.

9. ● Replacement: Trade union face competition from other organizations,
such as non-government organisations, other intermediary agencies,
labour lawyers or employers, for instance through alternatives forms of
worker participation, led by management and without trade union
involvement.
● Revitalization: Trade union find innovation tactics and conditions to
organize and defend all workers and to strengthen inclusive and effective
social dialogue.

10. Thank you