Trade unions in India

In India the Trade Union movement is generally divided on political lines. According to provisional statistics from the Ministry of Labor, trade unions had a combined membership of 24,601,589 in 2002. As of 2011, there are 13 Central Trade Union Organizations (CTUO) recognized by the Ministry of Labor.

1.Indian National Trade Union Congress

Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) is the trade union wing of the Indian National Congress. It was founded May 3, 1947, and is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation. According to provisional statistics from the Ministry of Labour, INTUC had a membership of 3892011 in 2002.

AIMS
To establish an order of society which is free from hindrance in the way on an all round development of its individual members, which fosters the growth of human personality in all its aspects and goes to the utmost limit in progressively eliminating social political or economic exploitation and inequality, the profit motive in the economic activity and organization of society and the anti-social concentration in any form. To place industry under national ownership and control in suitable form in order to realize the aforesaid objectives in the quickest time. To organize society in such a manner as to ensure full employment and the best utilization of its manpower and other resources. To secure increasing association of the worker in the administration of industry and their full participation in its control. To promote generally the social civic and political interest of the working class to secure an effective and complete organization of all categories of workers, including agricultural labour. To guide and co-ordinate the activities of the affiliated organizations. To assist and co-ordinate the activities of the affiliated organizations. To assist in the formation of trade unions. To promote the organization of workers of each industry on a nation-wide basis. To assist in the formation of Regional or Pradesh Branches or Federations.

To secure speedy improvement of conditions of work and life and of the status of the workers in industry and society. To obtain for the workers various measures of social security, including adequate provision in respect of accidents, maternity, sickness, old age and unemployment. To secure a living wage for every worker in normal employment and to bring about a progressive improvement in the workers standard of living. To regulate hours and other conditions of work in keeping with the conditions of the workers and to ensure the proper enforcement of legislation for the protection and up-lift of labour. To establish just industrial relations. To secure redressal of grievances, without stoppages of work, by means of negotiations and conciliation and failing these by arbitration or adjudication. To take recourse to other legitimate method, including strikes or any suitable form of satyagraha, where adjudication is not applied and settlement of disputes within a reasonable time by arbitration is not available for the redress of grievances. To make necessary arrangements for the efficient conduct satisfactory and speedy conclusion of authorized strikes or satyagraha. To foster the spirit of solidarity, service, brotherhood co-operation and mutual help among the workers. To develop in the workers a sense of responsibility towards the industry and community. To raise the workers' standard of efficiency and discipline.

2.All India Trade Union Congress

The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) is the oldest trade union federations in India and one of the five largest. According to provisional statistics from the Ministry of Labour, AITUC had a membership of 2,677,979 in 2002. It was founded on 31 October 1920 in Bombay by Lala Lajpat Rai and a few others and, until 1945 when unions became organised on party lines, it was the primary trade union organisation in India. Since then it has been associated with the Communist Party of India. AITUC is governed by a body headed by General Secretary Gurudas Dasgupta, a politician affiliated with Communist Party of India. AITUC is a founder member of the World Federation of Trade Unions. Today, its institutional records are part of the Archives at the Nehru Memorial Museum & Library, at Teen Murti House, Delhi.

Aims and objectives of AITUC

To establish a socialist state in India; To socialize and nationalize the means of production, distribution and exchange as far as possible; To ameliorate the economic and social conditions of the working class; To watch, promote, safeguard and further the interests, rights and privileges of the workers in all matters relating to their employment. To secure and maintain for the workers : The freedom of speech The freedom of press The freedom of association The freedom of assembly The right of strike ; and The right to work or maintenance

To co-ordinate the activities of the trade unions affiliated to the AITUC To abolish political or economic advantage based on caste, creed, community, race or religion; to fight against all forms of social oppression and injustice; To fight against all forms of atrocities against women and harassment at place of work The AITUC shall endeavor to further the aforesaid objects by all legitimate, peaceful and democratic methods such as legislation and, in the last resort, by strikes and similar other methods, as the AITUC may, from time to time, decide.

Hind Mazdoor Sabha

The Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS, a Hindi name with approximate meaning 'Workers Assembly of India') is a national trade union center in India.

History
The HMS was founded in Howrah on December 24, 1948, by socialists, Forward Bloc followers and independent unionists. Its founders included Basawon Singh (Sinha), Ashok Mehta, R.S. Ruikar, Maniben Kara, Shibnath Banerjee, R.A. Khedgikar, T.S. Ramanujam, V.S. Mathur, G.G. Mehta. R.S. Ruikar was elected president and Ashok Mehta general secretary. HMS absorbed the Royist Indian Federation of Labour and the socialist Hind Mazdoor Panchayat[citation needed]. In March 1949, HMS claimed to have 380 affiliated unions with a combined membership of 618 802.

Membership
According to provisional statistics from the Ministry of Labour, HMS had a membership of

3342213 in 2002.(13% of the total trade union membership in the country).

International affiliations
In 1949 HMS became a founding member of the ICFTU.Currently, it is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation.

United Trade Union Congress

United Trade Union Congress is a central trade union organisation in India. UTUC is politically tied to Revolutionary Socialist Party. Abani Roy is the general secretary of UTUC.[1] According to provisional statistics from the Ministry of Labour, UTUC had a membership of 383 946 in 2002. UTUC was founded at an All India Labour Conference in Calcutta, May 1, 1949. The founding president was professor K.T. Shah, a member of the Constituent Assembly from Bombay, and the founding general secretary was Mrinal Kanti Bose, a former AITUC president from Bengal. At the time of its foundation, Bose claimed that the organisation consisted of 236 unions with a combined membership of 347 428. Initially, UTUC profiled itself as an independent trade union centre, organising members of different leftwing factions. In 1953 the Deputy Labour Minister of India, Abid Ali, estimated the UTUC membership at 384 962. At the time UTUC had 332 affiliated unions.

Centre of Indian Trade Unions

Centre of Indian Trade Unions (Hindi: ), CITU is a National level Trade Union in India politically attached to the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The Centre of Indian Trade Unions is today one of biggest assembly of workers and classes of India. It has strong unchallangeable presence in the Indian states of West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura besides a good presence in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. It has presence in almost all of the Indian states. 4th CITU West Bengal state conference poster According to the provisional statistics from the Ministry of Labour, CITU had a membership of 3,222,532 in 2002. Chittabrata Majumdar was the General Secretary of CITU from 2003-2007. 12th Conference (held in January 2007) of CITU re-elected him as its General Secretary. But he died on 20 February 2007. The General Council of CITU met on 17 May 2007 and elected Mohammed Amin as its new General Secretary.

Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh

The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (Indian Workers' Union) is the largest central trade union organization in India. It was founded by Dattopantji Thengdi on July 23, 1955, which also happens to the birthday of Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Starting from zero in 1955, BMS is now a well-knit organisation in all the states and in private and public sector undertakings. Several organisations of the State and Central government

employees are also affiliated to the BMS. The Sangh also enjoys the premier position in several industries. At present it has over 5,680 affiliated unions with a membership of more than 76.39 lakhs (7.639 million). Although not affiliated to any International Trade Union Confederation, BMS has relations with Central Labour Organisations of other countries. BMS representatives are taking part in the ILO sessions at Geneva for the past 25 years. Shri C. K. Saji Narayanan is the current president of the organization, and Shri. Baij Nath Rai its General Secretary.

History
BMS was founded on 23rd of July, 1955 the day being the birth anniversary of Lok Manya Bal Gangadhar Tilak veteran of Freedom Movement. Two important aspects stand out in connection with this: (a) Formation of BMS was not the result of split in the existing trade union organisations, unlike in the case of almost all other trade unions. Hence it had the formidable responsibility of building its organisational structure from the grass root level. It started from zero having no trade union, no membership, no activist (karyakarta), no office and no fund. (b) On the very first day it was visualised as a trade union whose base-sheet anchors would be Nationalism, would work as a genuine trade union, keeping itself scrupulously away from party politics. This was also unlike other trade unions which were linked to one or the other political party, overtly or otherwise.

Aims And Objectives

The aims and objectives of BMS are: (a) To establish ultimately the Bharatiya order of society in which there shall be secured among other things: i. Complete utilisation of manpower and resources leading to full employment and maximum production. ii. Replacement of profit motive by service motive and establishment of economic democracy resulting in equitable distribution of wealth to the best advantage of all individual citizens and of the national as a whole. iii. Development of autonomous industrial communities forming part and parcel of the nation, culminating in Labourisation of industry iv. Provision of work with living wage to every individual through maximum industrialisation of the nation. (b) With a view to enable the workers to strive successfully for the ultimate realisation of the above objects and to strengthen them, in the meanwhile, to make their own contribution to the cause of protecting and promoting their interest consistent with those of the community: v. To assist workers in organising themselves in trade unions as a medium of service to the motherland irrespective of faiths and political affinities. vi. To guide, direct, supervise and coordinate the activities of the affiliated unions. vii. To assist the affiliated unions in the formation of state BMS units and Industrial Federations as constituent units of the BMS and viii. To bring about unity in the trade union movement. (c) To secure and preserve for the workers:

ix. The right to work, the right for security of service and for social security, the right to conduct trade union activities and the right to strike as a last resort after having exhausted other legitimate methods of trade unionism for redressal of grievances. x. Improvement in conditions of work, life and social and industrial status. xi. A living wage consistent with a national minimum and due share in the profits in their respective industries as partners. xii. Other appropriate amenities xiii. Expeditious enforcement and appropriate amendment of existing labour legislation in their interest and xiv. Enactment of new labour laws from time to time in consultation with the labour representatives. (d) To inculcate in the minds of the workers the spirit of service, cooperation and dutifulness and develop in them a sense of responsibility towards the nation in general and industry in particular (e) To educate the labour by organising workers training classes, study circles, guest lectures, seminars, symposia, excursions etc., in cooperation with institutions and organisations having similar aims and objects such as the Central Board of Workers Education. Labour Research Centre, Universities etc., and also to maintain libraries. (f) To publish or cause publication of journals, periodicals, pamphlets, pictures, books and many other types of literature mainly concerning labour and their interests and to purchase, sell & circulate them. (g) To establish, encourage and organise Labour Research Centres and similar activities. (h) Generally to take such other steps as may be necessary to ameliorate the social, economic, cultural, civic and general conditions of the workers. For sound health of workers and society BMS has been against the use of any type of drugs, liquor, alcohol and smoking. (i) To render assistance or to establish cooperative societies, welfare institutions, clubs etc., for the overall welfare of the common man in general and the workers and their families in particular.

Affiliates

Bhakra Management Board Karamchari Sangh Bharatiya Pratiraksha Mazdoor Sangh MCF Mazdoor Sangh Mica Mazdoor Sangh

Trade Union Coordination Committee

Trade Union Coordination Committee, a central trade union federation in India. TUCC is politically attached to All India Forward Bloc. According to provisional statistics from the Ministry of Labour, TUCC had a membership of 732760 in 2002 The general secretary is Nripendra Kumar Mahto. Krishi Shramik Union (Agricultural Labour Union) is affiliated to TUCC. In Pune, the Ammunition Factory Khadki (AFK) Employees Union and the Dehu Road Ordnance Factory Employees Union are affiliated to TUCC.

All India United Trade Union Centre

The All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), formerly known as United Trade Union Centre (Lanin Sarani) or UTUC-LS, is a Central Trade Union Organisation in India and the labour wing of the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist). Presently its activities are spread over 19 states. The organisation claims to have 600 affiliated unions, comprising an individual membership of over two million. It is the 6th largest trade union in India.[1] According to provisional statistics from the Ministry of Labour, UTUC-LS had a membership of 1,368,535 in 2002.

History
All India UTUC was founded at a conference held in Kolkata April 2627, 1958, following a split in the United Trade Union Congress. Initially it used the name UTUC, but in the general media it was referred to as UTUC (Dharamtala Street) (where it had its offices) to distinguish it from the original UTUC. In 1969, at the initiative of Subodh Banerjee, West Bengal State Committee President of the organisation and PWD Minister in anti-Congress United Front Government in the state, the name of the street was changed to 'Lenin Sarani'. Thus the new name of the organisation became UTUC (Lenin Sarani). In the 17th UTUC(LS) conference held in Delhi in 1985 the organisation was re-named as 'United Trade Union Centre (Lenin Sarani)'. In the 18th conference held in 1992 in Calcutta 'Lenin Sarani' was un-bracketed, implying that it no longer referred to the name of the street where the office is located but became an integral part of the name of the organisation which was there after known as 'United Trade Union Centre-Lenin Sarani' (UTUC-LS). The 19th all India conference of the organization held in Delhi on 27th March 2008 approved the change of name to All India United Trade Union Centre (All India UTUC).

Activities
The All India UTUC is functioning in both formal and informal sectors. In informal sector, the most important segment where it has been working from the very inception, is agriculture. In the formal sectors All India UTUC has unions, federations and activities in basic, heavy and key industries and important service sectors like Iron and Steel, Engineering, Electricity, Coal and Non-Coal Mines, Railways, Port and Dock, Road-Transport, Banks and Financial Institutions, Insurance, Central and State Government Services. On the basis of its membership strength All India UTUC has been recognised as a Central Trade Union Organisation by the Government of India and has its representations in apex level tripartite committees as well as in International Labour Conferences (ILC) of the ILO.

3.

National Labour Organisation

The National Labour Organisation, also known as the National Labour Committee, was a British political group formed after the 1931 creation of the National Government to co-ordinate the efforts of the supporters of the government who had come from the Labour Party. The most prominent Labour Party member involved in the Government was the Prime Minister, Ramsay MacDonald. National Labour sponsored Parliamentary candidates but did not consider itself a full political party as it had no policy distinctive from that of the Government which it supported. After MacDonald's death, the group continued in existence until winding up on the eve of the 1945 general election; its newsletter ceased publication two years later.

4.Indian Confederation of Labour

Indian Confederation of Labour, a small trade union federation in India. ICL is affiliated to World Confederation of Labour

5.Hind Mazdoor Kisan Panchayat

Hind Mazdoor Kisan Panchayat (India Workers Peasants Council), is a national trade union confederation in India. Its national president is George Fernandes.

6.National Federation of Independent Unions

The National Federation of Independent Unions began late in 1942 as the Confederated Unions of America, a group of independent labor unions not affiliated with the AFL or the CIO, including the left-wing Mechanics' Educational Society of America (MESA), the United Brotherhood of Weldors, Cutters and Helpers of America, the Western Electric Independent Labor Federation, and the National Brotherhood of Packinghouse Workers, in an effort to create a voice in Washington for independent unionism.A split within the CUA created the National Independent Union Council. In 1963, the two organizations reunited to form the NFIU, a body with an emphasis on what they term "independent unionism": individual, independent unions with "[t]he right to all the benefits of independence, including total autonomy [and] local treasury control." It affiliated with the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA), AFL-CIO, under terms of extreme autonomy which allow the union to offer members the "rights, benefits and privileges of AFL-CIO membership and its Union Privilege Program" while preserving (for better or worse) their tradition of the independence and autonomy of constituent bodies. Since then, LIUNA has left the AFL-CIO to join the Change to Win Federation.