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Industrial Relation
Sheet-I
Why the Trade Union Movement?
In the absence of collective action, workers were ruthlessly exploited, and
had to work hard for unbelievably long hours, from sunrise to sunset, in dark
and dingy factories and under very tiring conditions and the protest by
individual workers could have no effect on the employers because of the
plentiful supply of labour.
The workers had, therefore, to join together
Growth and Development of the Trade Union Movement
The growth and development of the labour movement, and for that part of the
trade unions, in India, can be divided into following periods, each of them
revealing different tendencies that mark it from others.
(1) Social Welfare period, from 1875 to 1918.
(2) Early Trade Union period, from 1918 to 1924.
(3) Left-wing Trade Unionism period, from 1924 to 1934.
(4) Trade Unions' Unity period from 1935 to 1947.
(5) Post-independence period from 1947 to-date.
(1) Social Welfare Period (1875-1918)
The Indian First Factories Act was passed in 1881, and then amended in
1891 and 1911, respectively. These Acts introduced some improvements in
regard to shorter hours, and conditions of work for children and women
labour.
The mill owners agreed to grant a weekly holiday to workers. Encouraged by
this success, Bombay Millhands Association was formed in 1890 by N.M.
Lokhanday.
The purpose was to provide a clearing house for the grievances of mill workers
and to help in drawing public attention to the cause of labour. This was the
first union in India which earned for its founder the title of being the "first
trade unionist" of the country.
He also published Dinbhandhu, a working-class newspaper, to place before
the authorities and the employers, the legitimate grievances of workers.
The most noticeable features of the period, 1875-1918, were:
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(1) The early leadership was provided by three types of persons. First,
intellectuals such as lawyers, reformers, editors, teachers and preachers, who
readily came forward to organise and lead the workers.
Second, the careerists, who saw in the needs of workers opportunities for
furthering their own ends, jumped in masquerading as labour leaders."
The third group from which labour leaders emerged consisted of politicians
and nationalists like B.P. Wadia, V.V. Giri, M. Vardarajulu Naidu, B. Shiv
Rao, Annie Besant, B.G. Tilak and N.M. Joshi.
The entire period, on the whole, has been divided into two:
first, the Regulation Period (1875-1891), when the child and women labour
in factories was regulated by legislation, such as the Factories Acts of 1881
and 1891;
second, the Abolition Period (1891-1917) when a successful protest was made
against the indentured system under which Indian labourers were sent out to
British colonies to work as plantation labour.
(2) Early Trade Union Period (1918-1924)
The year 1918 was an important one for the Indian trade union movement.
"It marked the start of a 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 World War I.
This situation was due to:(i) The industrial unrest that grew up as a result of
grave economic difficulties created by war. The rising cost of living prompted
the workers to demand reasonable wages for which purpose they united to
take resort to collective action.'
(ii) The Swaraj movement intensified the movement, widened the gulf
between the employers and the employees and brought about a mass
awakening among the workers
(iii) The success of the Russian Revolution of 1917 created a revolutionary
wave of ideas and a new self-respect and enlightenment
(iv) The establishment of the ILO, in 1919, gave dignity to the working class
and also an opportunity to send a delegation to the annual conference of this
body.
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At about this time, many unions were formed, such as the Indian Seamen's
Union both at Calcutta and Mumbai, the Punjab Press Employees
Association, the GIP Railway Workers' Union, Bombay, MSM Railwaymen's
Union, Madras, the Madras Textile Labour Union.
The Textile Labour Association was formed in 1920 at the initiation of
Gandhiji. It adopted the ideology of Truth and Non-violence as its means to
get the demands fulfilled.
On October 30, 1920, representatives of 64 trade unions with a membership
of 140,854, met in Bombay and established the All-India Trade Union
Congress under the chairmanship of Lala Lajpat Rai.
It had the support of such national leaders like C.R. Das, Sardar Vallabhbhai
Patel, Moti Lal Nehru, J.L. Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, Gulzarilal
Nanda.
(3) Left-wing Unionism Period (1924-1934)
The AITUC emerged as the sole representative of the Indian working class. By
1927, it united 57 unions with a membership of 150,555. The rapid growth
of the trade unionism was facilitated by several factors, such as:
(i) the growth of anti-imperialism national movement;
(ii) the brutal violence and repressive measures let loose by the British
government, particularly the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, Rowlatt
Act, indiscriminate arrests and imprisonment of national leaders and
Satyagrahis; and
On the other hand, the Leftists argued that trade unions are 'class
organisations', the ultimate aim of which is to overthrow capitalism and
establish a Socialist society. Finding compromise with the communists
unacceptable the moderates (under the leadership of N.M. Joshi) and the
representatives of 24 affiliated unions seceded from the AlTUC saying that,
"the control and direction of the new majority in the Executive Council will be
fundamentally opposed to the genuine interests of the working class.
They formed a separate union- the All-India Trade Union Federation
(AITUF). The Communists led by B.T. Ranadive and S.V. Deshpande, formed
the Red Trade Union Congress (RTUC).
(4) Trade Union's Unity Period (1935-1945)
The one important development of this period was that through the efforts of
V.V. Giri, the path to unity was paved in 1938 in Nagpur when the AITUC
finally decided to accept the conditions of merger as laid down by the
NFTU(Railway Unions and some unaffiliated unions united with the
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IFTU to form the National Federation of Trade Unions (NFTU) in 1933).
Thus, after 9 years of split, the trade union unity was completed in 1940
when the NTUF dissolved itself and merged with the AlTUC and the AITUC
again became the sole representative of the organised labour.
The Post-Independence Period (From 1947 to 2000)
As pointed out earlier, when attempts to restructure, the AITUC failed those
believing in the aims and ideals other than those of the AlTUC separated from
the organisation and established the Indian National Trade Union Congress
(INTUC) in May, 1947. forming a new union was expressed by G.L. Nanda.
A group of left-wing trade unionists dissatisfied with the attitude of the
majority of the socialist party, who had influence in the HMS, formed yet
another organisation, United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) in 1949, "to
conduct trade union activity on the broadest possible basis of trade union
unity, free from sectarian politics".
Thus, by 1949, the trade union movement was split again with the INTUC,
the AlTUC, the HMS and the UTUC representing the four rival groups and a
few national federations and unions remaining unaffiliated with any of them.
The close relationship of the INTUC with the Congress party, of the HMS with
the Socialist party, of the AITUC with the Communist party, and of the
UTUC with the Revolutionary Socialist party.
There was again a rift in the AlTUC, in 1970, when the Communists divided
themselves into the CPI and the CPM. The AlTUC came under the control of
the former and the PM started a new central organisation-the Centre of Indian
Trade Union (CITU).
The Indian National Trade Union Congress
The INTUC came into existence on 4' May, 1948, as a result of the resolution
passed on 17 November 1947, by the Central Board of the Hindustan
Mazdoor Sevak Sangh, which was a labour organisation working under the
direction of National Congress-minded labour leaders on the Gandhian
Philosophy of Sarvodaya.
The INTUC is associated with the ILO since 1949, and is the founder-member
of the International Confederation of Free Trade Union Congress (ICFTC).
It publishes an English weekly (India Worker) and a Hindi weekly (Mazdoor
Sandesh).
All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC)
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It was established in 1920 as a result of a resolution passed by the organised
workers of Bombay and the delegates which met in a conference on 31
October, 1920. It was attended by such first rank political leaders as Motilal
Nehru, M.A. Jinnah, Annie Besant and Vallabhbhai Patel and Col.
Wedgewood on behalf of the British Trade Union Congress. The first President
was Lala Lajpat Rai.
Its thesis, according to V.V. Giri, is that, "Labour and capital cannot be
reconciled within a socialistic system and the trade unions are organs of class
struggle. Its approach seems to be more
radical but not as violent as that of the INTUC.
The AITUC is affiliated to the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU). It
publishes Hindi version of its organ Vishwa Darshan.
United Trade Union Congress (UTUC)
Some trade union leaders of the socialist bent met together in December 1948
to form a new central organisation of labour, called Hind Mazdoor Sabha.
Some of the leaders did not agree with the principles and objectives of the
Sabha and they, therefore, again met at Calcutta on December 27, 1948, and
decided to call upon a conference of trade union leaders to form a United
Trade Union
Committee. This Committee called for a meeting of the various leaders at
Calcutta on April 30, 1949, and formed a new union under the name of United
Trade Union Congress.
Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS)
This union has been the outcome of decision taken by the Jana Sangh in its
Convention at Bhopal on 23rd July, 1954. Its General Secretary is the
veteran labour leader Datto Pant Thengadi.
National Front of Indian Trade Unions (NFITL)
This union was founded in 1967, with the claim that "this trade union of
India is not controlled by any of the political party, employers or government.
Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU)
This union was formed in 1970 when as a result of the rift in the AlTUC, some
members of the Communist party seceded. About the objectives of the CITU,
its constitution says:
HMS founded by G. L. Nanda
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▪ Industrialisation in India:
o Port cities Bombay, Calcutta and Madras became
the centres of the capitalist economy.
o Cotton mills in Bombay, jute mills in Calcutta, and
several factories in Madras were set up in the late
19th century. Similar developments took place in the
cities of Ahmedabad, Kanpur, Solapur and Nagpur.
o The first jute mill of India was set up in Calcutta in
1854 by a Scottish entrepreneur.
o The ownership of the cotton mills was with the
Indian entrepreneurs, while that of jute was with the
foreigners for a long time.
Workers’ Movement in Pre-Independence India
▪ Initial Attempts to Improve Workers’ Conditions: Attempts
were made in 1870-1880 to better the working conditions of the
workers by legislation.
o Till the Swadeshi surge of 1903-08, there was no
concerted effort to better the working conditions of
the labour.
o Again between 1915-1922, there was resurgence of
workers’ movement along with the Home Rule
Movement and the Non-Cooperation Movement.
o The earlier attempts to improve the economic
conditions of the workers were in the nature
of philanthropic efforts which were isolated,
sporadic and aimed at specific local grievances.
▪ Workers’ Movements before the Emergence of Trade Unions:
o Plantation and Mine Workers: The plantation and
mine workers were heavily exploited but their
conditions did not attract much attention
initially as they were away from the notice of early
social reformers, journalists and public activists.
• Despite this isolation, the plantation
workers, on their own, registered their
protests against the exploitation and
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oppression by the plantation owners and
managers.
o Industrial Workers: The cotton and jute
industry workers were more in the public gaze.
• The early social workers
and philanthropists were also
involved with them facilitating better
organisational work as well as better
reporting and public support.
o Formation of Organisations:
• In Bengal, Sasipada Banerjee founded
the ‘Working Men’s Club’ in 1870 and
started publishing a monthly journal in
Bengali entitled ‘Bharat Shramjibi’ in
1874.
• The Brahmo Samaj formed the ‘Working
Men’s Mission’ in Bengal in 1878 to impart
moral education among the workers.
• It also established the ‘Working
Men’s Institution’ in 1905.
• In 1890 in Maharashtra, N.M.
Lokhandey established the ‘Bombay
Millhands’ Association’, and in 1898, he
started publishing a journal
entitled ‘Dinbandhu’ in Marathi.
• The Bombay Millhands Defence
Association formed by Bal
Gangadhar Tilak in 1908.
• However, these bodies were
primarily interested in welfare
activities and did not have much
organisational base among the workers.
▪ Formation of Trade Unions:
o The Madras Labour Union, formed in April 1918, is
generally considered to be the first trade union in India.
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• B.P. Wadia, a nationalist leader and an associate
of Annie Besant, was instrumental for its
organisation.
o The Textile Labour Association, also known as Majur
Mahajan Sangh, was established in Ahmedabad in 1920.
• The union was formed following the agitation of mill
workers of Ahmedabad demanding for a bonus to
compensate for the rise in prices.
• This union worked along Gandhian lines and became
very strong over the years.
All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC):
▪ A New Edge to the Workers’ Movement: The most important
development in the workers’ movement was the formation of All-
India Trade Union Congress under the leadership of Bal
Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai.
o Since then the working class movement became strong
and by 1930 onwards, an ideological tone was added to
the movement.
▪ Cause of Formation: Many people connected with labour realised
that there was a need for a central organisation of labour to
coordinate the works of the trade unions all over India.
o The formation of the International Labour
Organisation (ILO) in 1919 acted as a catalyst for it.
• The members selected from AITUC
represented the Indian Labour at the ILO.
▪ Leaders Involved: Bal Gangadhar Tilak, [Link], [Link],
Diwan Chamanlall, Lala Lajpat Rai and Joseph Baptista were
the main leaders behind the formation of AITUC.
o Lala Lajpat Rai became the first president of the
AITUC and Joseph Baptista its vice president.
o Lajpat Rai was the first to link capitalism with
imperialism: “imperialism and militarism are the twin
children of capitalism”.
▪ Ideology of AITUC: In the beginning, the AITUC was influenced
by social democratic ideas of the British Labour Party.
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o The Gandhian philosophy of non-violence, trusteeship
and class-collaboration had great influence on AITUC.
▪ The Trade Union Act, 1926:
o The act recognised trade unions as legal associations.
o It laid down conditions for registration and regulation
of trade union activities.
o It secured civil and criminal immunity for trade unions
from prosecution for legitimate activities, but also put
some restrictions on their political activities.
Role of Communists:
▪ Emergence of Communists and CPI: The most important
phenomenon in the field of labour movement in India was the
emergence of the communists.
o The communist ideology, deriving from the theories
of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin, assigns the working
class the central place.
o The Communist Party of India (CPI), formed in Soviet
Union in 1920, soon after its formation, became active
in the labour movements.
▪ Role in the Movements: The communists organised the workers
in cotton mills of Bombay and jute mills of Calcutta, besides
many other industries and led militant struggles.
▪ Role in Splitting the AITUC: By 1928-29, the communists
gained a marginal majority in the AITUC.
o Splitting the Moderates: In the tenth session of the
AITUC held in Nagpur, the communists called for the
dissociation from the ILO and association with the
League against Imperialism.
• The moderate and reformist group were
against the idea and consequently left the
AITUC and formed the Indian Federation of
Trade Unions (IFTU).
o Splitting the Nationalists: Another split occurred in
1931 due to divergence between the nationalist and
communist opinions.
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• The communists severely criticised
Gandhi and condemned the Round Table
Conference of 1931 in which the Indian
National Congress was participating.
• Unable to secure a majority for this
condemnation, the communists split from
the nationalists and formed the Red Trade
Union Congress (RTUC).
• By 1931, there were three national
federations of trade unions – the AITUC, the
IFTU and the RTUC.
▪ Reunion of Trade Unions: It was felt by many trade union
leaders that the division in their ranks was creating problems for
their political and economic struggles.
o As a result, the Railway Unions and some
unaffiliated unions united with the IFTU to form
the National Federation of Trade Unions (NFTU) in
1933.
• Consequently, the RTUC, and the AITUC
also united in 1935 and the name AITUC
was retained for the unified organisation.
Workers’ Movement in Post-Independence India
▪ Formation of New Unions: The post-independence period saw
the formation of a number of trade unions such as Bharatiya
Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) and Centre of Indian Trade Unions
(CITU )
o CITU was formed by Communist Party of India
(Marxist), splitting from AITUC.
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