Home > Indian History > History of India > Trade Union Movement in India
Trade Union Movement in India
Trade Union Movement in India emerged due to the state intervention for the need of improved working conditions of the working classes.

Share this Article:

Trade Union Movement in IndiaThe Trade Union Movement in India commenced as a result of state intervention for the demand of improved working conditions. Economic reforms based on privatisation, liberalisation and austerity measures to provide favourable environment for the trade unions to engage in greater industrial disputes, but there is increasing dissension or fragmentation within the trade union movement itself.

Trade Union movement emerged due to the need of improved working conditions of the working class in India; there has also been a decline in trade union activities over the years. During the period from 1991 to 2000, economic reforms for liberalisation and privatisation measures were introduced by the Government of India. Privatisation refers to policies that decrease the state`s role and increases the private sector`s responsibility to drive the economic decisions in the market. As of 2002, the combined membership of trade unions in India is around 24,601,589, as per statistics from the Ministry of Labour. Around 11 Central Trade Union Organisations (CTUO) are documented by the Ministry of Labour in 2008.

Aim of the Trade Union Movement
The Trade Union is an association that meets up and looks after the continuous demand of the wage earners for the purpose of maintaining or improving the working conditions. Political motivations and the ideologies have influenced Indian trade`s union movement. The twin aspects of the Indian Trade Union Movement, labours organisation for industrial bargaining and its ideological orientation were analysed with the political colour. The aspects of the Trade Unions were scanned in the wider background of the nationalists struggle against imperialism. There is simultaneous dissension or fragmentation within the trade union movement itself.

History of Trade Union Movement
The initial demand for the regulations of the working conditions in the Indian factories came from the Lancashire textile capitalist lobby. They perceived that the emergence of a competitive rival in the Indian textile industry under favourable conditions would deteriorate their position. They demanded the appointment of a commission for an investigation of the factory and working conditions of the labours. The first commission was appointed in 1875, although the First Factory Act was not passed before 1881. The Act prohibited the employment of children under the age of 7. The Act also limited the working hours of children below the age of 12 years. Similar circumstances resulted in the enactment of the factory acts for the jute industry in 1909 and 1911.

The trade union movement in British empire in India got an impetus when Bombay Mill Hands Association was formed on 24th April, 1890. The establishment of ILO, in 1919, provided a source of inspiration for the workers to become politically conscious. India`s membership exerted great influence in the formation of a central organisation of workers called All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), in 1920, for the purpose of conducting and coordinating the activities of the labour organisations.

Development of Trade Union Movement
The period from 1924 to 1935 can be regarded as the era of revolutionary trade union movement. M.N. Roy, Muzaffer Ahmed, S.A. Dange and Shawkat Osmani led the trade union movements and as a result the political consciousness among industrial workers increased. The First World War and its consequences brought a period of soaring prices, unprecedented exploitation for the industrialists but miserably low wages for the workers. The emergence of Mahatma Gandhi led to the growth of non-violent trend of nationalist struggle, which could not mobilize the workers for the national cause. The worker class throughout the world awakened to organise a Proletarian Revolution. The setting up of a League of Nation`s Agency (ILO) gave an international importance to the labour problem.

Indian National Trade Union Congress
The nationalist leaders took the initiative of forming the Trade union as a national body. The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) came into existence on 31st October, 1920. Lala Lajpat Rai was elected as the President of the AITUC. The national leaders were closely associated with the Trade union congress. The celebrated nationalist leaders like C.R. Dass, V.V. Giri and later on Sarojini Naidu, Jawaharlal Nehru etc presided over the annual sessions of the All India Trade union Congress (AITUC). By 1927, the number of trade union Congress affiliated to the AITUC increased to 57.

During 1926-27, the AITUC was divided into two groups, namely, the reforming and the revolutionary groups. The Communist thinking seemed to carry greater influence in the formation and the working of the AITUC. The strikes became the principal weapon of the Trade Union. They published their own journal named Kranti, which became the instrument to propagate the ideals and principle of the Trade union. The motto of the Kranti was to defeat capitalism. The Trade unionists strongly believed that until the capitalists were completely overthrown, the proletariat would be deprived from the privileges. The strikes called by the Trade unionists were inspired more by the political ideas rather than the immediate economic demands. The AITUC was later affiliated to the Pan Pacific secretariat and to the Third International at Moscow. To protest the Communist supremacy in the International level, the moderates under the leadership of Joshi withdrew from AITUC and formed the All India Trade Union Federation.

CITU - Centre of Indian Trade Union
Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) is a National level Trade Union in India politically attached to the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The Centre of Indian Trade Union is one of biggest assembly of workers in India. It has strong unquestionable 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.

Alarmed at the increasing strength of the Trades Union Movement under the control of the Extremists, the Indian Government considered it as a threat. Hence, it decided to put restrictions by issuing several legislative actions. A Public Safety Bill was introduced in the Legislative Assembly in the year 1928, but it did not get the majority support. Later under the circumstantial pressure, the Bill had to be issued in the form of the Ordinance in 1929. The Trade Disputes Act in 1929, provided for compulsory appointment of the Courts of Enquiry and Conciliation Boards for settling industrial Disputes. It also announced that the strikes were illegal in public utility and services (like the Postal services, Railways, Water and the Electric Departments).

The Act also provided that each individual worker, participating in the strike, should give an advance notice of one month to the administration. Moreover, the Act announced that the Trade union should forbid political activities. However, the Trade Union Movement in India had experienced a rapid success.


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in History of India


History of Uttar Pradesh
The state was the heart of Mahabharata war and the history of Uttar Pradesh is very much the history of India. The place finds its mentions in Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
History Of Archaeology In India
History of archaeology in India contributes a lot to define the past history and the social life of India.
Mughal Architecture during Babur
Mughal Architecture during Babur is of adequate significance in Mughal history, as the emperor introduced Mughal architecture in India, during 16th century.
Princely State of Patdi
Princely State of Patdi or Patri was incorporated as a part of the Baroda Agency, which was a sub division of Western India States Agency.
Architecture during Sayyid and Lodi Dynasty
Architectures during the Sayyid and Lodi dynasty were mainly the tombs and monuments for the dead rulers. It were carefully designed and meticulously constructed.
Brahmanical Sources of Ancient History
Brahmanical Sources of ancient history are contained in the Vedas and they constitute one of the most important literary sources of information about ancient India.
Female Education In British India
The over brimming enthusiasm among zealous Hindu reformers welcomed female education in British India.
Revenue System of Mauryan Empire
Revenue system of Mauryan Empire can be divided into eight categories. The principal revenue of the state was the land revenue, taxes from traders, artisans and professional taxes were also collected.
Mughal Architecture During Jahangir
Mughal architecture during Jahangir`s period was relative dull in comparison to that of Akbar dynasty.
Princely State of Satlasna
Princely State of Satlasna was amongst the former native states of India that was appointed as one of the Indian princely states during the early 19th century.
Coins of Chola Empire
Coins of Chola Empire were issued in gold, silver and copper and carried the Chola emblem.
Social Life during the Pala Period
Religious toleration and simple living were the characteristics of social life during the Pala period.
Coins of the Chalukya Dynasty
Coins of the Chalukya Dynasty was reintroduced in the South India after a brief break of coinage less period of nearly three century. Chalukyas issued coins only in gold and they exhibit a brilliant artistic skill of the engraver.
Costumes of Indus Valley Civilisation
Costumes of Indus valley Civilization have been considered as the basis for Indian clothes. Sophisticated ornaments and make up were used during that age.
Development of Science under Gupta Empire
Development of Science under Gupta Empire was progressive and it had attained considerable perfection. Mathematics, astronomy, medicine, chemistry, physics and metallurgy were the most prominent of the sciences at that time.
Culture under Delhi Sultanate
Culture under Delhi Sultanate had enduring aspects to it. It included the society, the religious condition, literature and art and architecture of that period.
Princely State of Hapa
Princely State of Hapa was incorporated as a part of the Baroda Agency, which was under the administrative control of the Western India States Agency.
Economy Under Chola Dynasty
Economy under Chola dynasty was strong and well developed. The economic life of the people of the Chola Kingdom was well balanced with their social life.
Coins of Khilji Dynasty
Coins of Khilji Dynasty had an influential feature that was followed by the other dynasties.
Religion During Mauryan Dynasty
Religion during Mauryan dynasty became a considerable episode in Indian history with an esteemed lineage of rulers.