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Multiplicity of Trade Unions and Inter Union Rivalry in India
Multiplicity of Trade Unions and Inter Union Rivalry in India
Submitted by:
Bidish Goswami
Dept.: HRM
INTRODUCTION:
The term Trade Union has been defined in various ways because of wide
differences in the use of this term in different countries. Of all the definitions of a trade
union, the classic definition of Sidney and Webbs has been most popular. According to
them a trade union is a continuous association of wage-earners for the purpose of
maintaining or improving the condition of their working lives. Since this definition does
not cover all the extensions of trade union activities in modern times, a trade union with
some modification may be redefined as a continuous association of wage-earners or
salaried employees for maintaining the conditions of their working lives and ensuring
them a better and healthier status in industry as well as in the society.
The trade unions are organisations of and for the workers and the main functions
and objectives of a trade union are summarised below:
2. To protect workers from the atrocities and unfair practices of the management.
4. To exert pressure for enhancement of rewards associated with the work only
after making a realistic assessment of its practical implications.
10. To impress upon works the need to exercise restraint in the use of rights and to
enforce them after realistically ascertaining their practical implications.
12. The raise the status of trade union members in the industrial organization and
in the society at large.
TRADE UNIONS IN INDIA:
There are nearly thirteen trade unions in India out of which only four are the
major unions of the country. They are:
The following are some of the most important problems of the trade unions in
India:
3. Financial Weakness.
4. Leadership Issues.
Out of the above mentioned problems only the Multiplicity of Trade Unions and Inter-
union Rivalry is selected as the topic for the seminar.
The multiplicity of trade unions is a major problem among the trade unions. These
multiple trade unionism is seen mainly because of the political outsiders wanting to
establish their unions for their own view of increasing their political influence although in
the urban areas. The existence of different conflicting or rival organisations, with
divergent political views, is greatly responsible for inadequate and unhealthy growth of
the movement. Within a single organisation one comes across a number of groups
comprising or insiders and outsiders, new-comers, and old-timers, moderates and
radicals, and high and low caste people. This develops small size unions which are not
helpful for the workers or employees and creates problems such as:
India has the largest number of Trade Unions in the world but the rivalry between
the unions or the inter-union rivalry is a niggling problem. Inter-union and intra-union
rivalry undermines the strength and solidarity of the workers in many ways.
As the trade unions are functioning from the plant level, there is room for
disagreement within the democratic structure of trade union. Even the absence of any
legal requirements in the greater part of the country to recognize any union as the sole
bargaining agent is a major factor which generates the wide-spread and a bitter trade
union rivalry. This problem may lead to Industrial Unrest, strikes, gheraos etc in the
organisation.
CODE OF CONDUCT:
The four central labour organisations (the INTUC, the AITUC, the HMS, and the
UTUC) voluntarily adopted an inter union Code of Conduct on May 21st, 1958 to
observe the following basic principles for the maintenance of harmonious trade union
relation. They are:
1. Every employee in the industry or unit shall have the freedom and
right to join a union of his choice. No coercion shall be exercised in
this matter.
CONCLUSION:
The problem of trade union rivalry is a vexing problem among the trade unions of
the country mainly because of the multiplicity of trade unions and also for the view of
increasing their political influence mainly in the urban areas of the country. The growth
of small sized unions have lessened the strength of the trade unions which have greatly
affected the workers as it weakens the power of collective bargaining, and reduces the
effectiveness of workers in securing their legitimate rights. The method of divide and
rule is seen in the case of trade union in the present day world.
SUGGESTIONS:
It is regrettable to note that these recommendations have not yet been implemented by the
government.
SOURCES AND REFERRENCES :
BOOKS:
1. Dr. C.B. Mamoria, Dr. Satish Mamoria and S.V. Gankar, Dynamics of
Industrial Relation, Himalaya Publication House Pvt. Ltd.
INTERNET:
1. http://jir.sagepub.com/content/9/2/140.extract
2. www.usak.ca/law/sallows/papers/harcourt