TRADE UNION MOVEMENTS IN INDIA.

The trade union movements are all organized activity of wage earners to better their own
conditions either immediately or in the more or less distant future. According to Professor Cole,
‘Labour movement implies in some degree , a community of outlook. It is an organization, or
rather many forms of organizations based upon the sense of a common status asn a common
need for mutual help’. It emerges from a common need to serve a common interest. It seeks to
develop among workers a spirit of combination , class consciousness for self respect , rights and
duties . A trade union is an essential basis of a labour movement because the trade unions are the
principal schools in which the workers learn the lesson of solidarity and self reliance.

The trade union movement in India ran in six phases. The phases werei.Pre-1918 Phase( social
welfare period)ii.1918-1924 ( early trade union period)iii. 1925-1934( left wing trade
unionism period)iv.1935-1938( trade unions unity period)v.1939-1946( second world war
period)vi. 1947 and since ( post independence period to date)

I. The Social Welfare Period ( pre-1918 phase)-

The setting up of textile and jute mills and laying of the railways since 1850 paved the way for the
emergence of industrial activity and in turn , labour movement in India. The first labour agitation ,
under the guidance and leadership of Mr. S.S Bengalee, a social reformist and philanthropist
started in Bombay in 1875to protect against the apalling conditions of workers in factories ,
especially those of women and children and appealed to the authorities to introduce legislation for
the amelioration of their working conditions. As, a result , the first Factory Commission was
appointed in Bombay in the year 1875 and the first Factories Act was passed in 1881. Mr.
N.M. Lokhande may be said to be the founder of organized labour movement in India who founded
the first trade union in the country namely , the Bombay Mill Hands Association (1890). Other
important unions were also founded that aimed at promoting welfare facilities for workers and
spreading literacy among them. They included, Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants in India
(1897), the Printers’ Union of Calcutta (1905), the Madras and Calcutta Postal Union (1907),
and the Kamgar Hitwardhak Sabha (1910).

The most noticeable feature of this phase were- 1. complete absence of radicalism in the labour
movement. The methods used by the workers were “ characterized by a tendency to petition,
memorials and seek redress of grievances by mild pressure.” These methods reflect the
influence of leaders like Shapuejee Bengali, Naryan Meghajee Lokhanday, S.N Banerjee and
others who were all political moderates and law abiding persons. They were rather social
workers desirous ti serve the society through amelioration. 2. the movement depended greatly
on external philanthropy “ Philantropic agitation was the fore- runner of labour movement in
India and having originated in philanthropy its motive force was sympathy rather than
justice…. Born of philanthrophy, it was a movement for the worker rather than by the
workers.” 3. due to lack of definite aims and constitution most of the organizations were
unatable and of loose type. Once the particular grievances was settled the association would
disband.4. There was little conception of permanent trade union membership , the payment of
dues or organized collective bargaining. . About the Bombay Millhands Assoiation, Shri Dutt
observed, “ the association has no existence as an organized body, having no roll of
membership , no funds , no rule” 5. the movement developed mostly among the educated class
of workers .It however did not make much progress in organized industries like mining,
plantations and textiles.6.the early leadership was provided by three types of persons- first
intellectuals such as lawyers, reformers , editors , teachers etc ; the second who saw in the
needs of workers oppurtunities for furthering their own ends. The third group consisted of
politicians and nationalists like B.P Wadia, V.V. Giri , M. Vardarajulu Naidu, B.Shiv Rao ,
Annie Besant and B.G. Tilak.

II. 1918-1924 ( early trade union period)

This phase is considered as the era of formation of modern trade unionism in the country. The
trade union movement got momentum just after the close of the World War I. The postwar
economic and political conditions contributed to the new awakening of class consciousness among
the workers. This led to the formation of trade unions in the truly modern sense of the term. The
year 1918 was an important one for the Indian Trade Union. “ It marked the start of the
new era , an era of growth and one in which the leadership of the trade unions was to pass
from the hands of the social workers into the hands of the politicians. The movement could
take permanent roots in the Indian soil only after the close of the WW I. 21

The Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association in 1917 led by Shrimati Anusuyaben Sarabhai ;
the Madras Labour Union in 1918 led by B.P.Wadia ; Indian Seamen’s Union in Calcutta and
All India Postal and RMS Association were formed during this phase.

The various factors that influenced the growth of Indian Trade Union Movement in India during
this phase were-1. the wretched conditions of workers on account of spiraling prices of
essential commodities during the post World War I , led workers to form trade unions to
improve their bargaining power and in turn living conditions.2. the political scenario
characterized by the home rule movement and the Martial Law in Punjab made the politicians
to recognize workers movement as an asset to their cause. At the same time , workers also
needed guidance and leadership from the politicians to settle their grievances with the
employers.3. the Russian Revelution also swayed the Labour movement in India showing a new
social order to the common man in the country 4.the setting up of the International Labour
Organization (ILO) in 1919 also gave a important shape to the Labour movement in India. Mr.
N.M Joshi for the first time was deputed as the representative from India to International
Labour Conferencesc and Sessions. It ignited workers anxiety to organize. As a result, the All
India Trade Union Congress ( AITUC) was formed in 1920.

III. 1925-1934( left wing trade unionism period)

 With the increasing hardships of workers , the signs of militant tendencies and revolutionary
approach in trade unionism got expression into violent strikes since 1924. In 1924, violent and long
drawn out strike by unions led to the arrest , prosecution , conviction and imprisonment of many
communist leaders. The AITUC emerged as a sole representative of the Indian working classes. By
1927, it united 57 unions with a membership of 150,555. The rapid growth of trade unionism
facilitated by several factors , such as -1. the growth of anti- imperialist national movement 2.
brutal violence and regressive measures let loose by the british government , particularly the
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, Rowlatt Act . indiscriminate arrests and imprisonment of national
leaders and Satyagrahis.3. the phenomenal profits earned by capitalists in the face of the
falling real wages during the post war period.

During this phase there was a split in the AITUC , the moderate section under the leadership of
Mr.N.M.Joshi and Mr. V.V Giri seceded from the Congress and set up a separate organization
named the National Trade Unions Federartion. Another important feature of this period was the
passing of two acts, namely , The Trade Union Act 1926 and the Trade Disputes Act , 1929.
The former act provided for voluntary registration and conferred certain rights and privileges upon
registered unions in return of obligations. The latter act provided for the settlement of trade
unions. This phase may be described as the period of left wing trade unionism.

IV. 1935-1938( trade unions unity period)

The Indian Natinal Congress was in power in seven provinces in 1937. This injected unity in
trade unions. The one important development of this period was that through the efforts of V.V
Giri , the path of unity was paved in 1938 in Nagpur when the AITUC finally decided to accept the
conditions of merger as laid down by the NTUF. Thus, after 9 years of split the trade union unity
was complete in 1940 when the NTUF dissolved itself and merged with the AITUC and the AITUIC
again became the sole representative of the organized labour. According to Punekar, “ during the
decade 1930-1940 Indian Trade Unionism was a divided house and the average industrial
worker kept himself aloof from organized action..” In 1938, one of the most developments took
place was the enactment of the Bombay Industrial Disputes Act , 1938.

V. 1939-1946( second world war period)

Like W.W I , the W.W II also brought chaos in industrial front of the country. Mass retrenchment
witnessed during the post world war II led to the problem of unemployment. This compelled
workers to join unions to secure their jobs. This resulted in big spurt in the membership from 667
in 1939-40 to 1087 in 1945-46. The impact of the war on the trade union activity was
tremendous. One great qualitative changes that had taken place in Indian trade union related to
their ability to participate in negotiations with employers and the tripartite deliberations. The year
1946 was also marked by two important enactments namely the Industrial Employment ( Standing
Orders) Acts , 1946 and the Bombay Industrial Relations Act , 1946. Both the acts through
their provisions contributed to strengthen the trade unionism in the country.
VI. 1947 and since ( post independence period to date)

Proliferation of trade unions in the pattern of proliferation of political parties has been a
distinguishimg feature in the trade union history of India during the post – independence period. In
May 1947, the Indian National Trade Union Congress ( INTUC) was formed by the nationalists
and moderates and was controlled by the Congress Party. Since by then, the AITUC is controlled by
the communists. The post war period has been ,marked by the most rapid strikes so far made by
the trade union movement in India. The most important factors being-1.the constant inflow of
outside and international influences.2.the pressure of trade unions rivalries , often based on
political or ideological differences.3. the enactment of labour laws conferring special privileges
on registered trade unions.4. desire of workers to unite for safeguarding their interest
especially to face harder conditions for labour such as retrenchment , lay off etc and5.
attempts made by some employers to set up unions under their influence.

We can say that the origins and growth of the Indian trade union movement has been very eventful
and interesting. The ideologies concerning the various thinkers and leaders have been very
significant and largely responsible, for the course which the trade union movement took. In spite of
the weaknesses of the Indian trade union movement , it has brought manifold advantages.
Economically , the relative lot of the workers has improved . Politically , the movement has produced
a mighty secular , anti – imperialistic , anti capitalist , egalitarian and socialist forces in the country.
Socially, the trade union movement has emerged as a unique force of national integration in spite of
the hindrance offered by illiterate and rural background of the workers, by communalism , linguism
and casteism. This rich heritage is of strategic importance for building a scocilaist society – which
is the declared social objective of India.