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The Concept of Trade Union

The document discusses the concept of trade unions in India. It defines a trade union as a voluntary association of employees formed primarily to protect members' interests through collective action. Trade unions work to regulate the relationship between employees and employers. The first trade unions in India emerged in the late 1800s in response to poor working conditions in factories and other industrial settings. The document outlines the key features and assumptions of trade unions and provides definitions from various scholars.

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111 views8 pages

The Concept of Trade Union

The document discusses the concept of trade unions in India. It defines a trade union as a voluntary association of employees formed primarily to protect members' interests through collective action. Trade unions work to regulate the relationship between employees and employers. The first trade unions in India emerged in the late 1800s in response to poor working conditions in factories and other industrial settings. The document outlines the key features and assumptions of trade unions and provides definitions from various scholars.

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samsonawane09
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi

Faculty of Social Work

Department of Social Work


Topic: Employee Welfare& Trade Union

Sub-Topic: The Concept of Trade Union

Key-Words:
Employee, Employer, Trade Union, factory, workshop,
working conditions, Labour, Welfare measures

Subject: Social Work


Class: M.S.W. III SEM.

Paper 305(E): Employee Welfare &Trade Unionism

Creator: Prof. M.M. Verma

Mob.No.: 9452585202

Email-ID: [email protected]
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
The students shall be able to learn about:

 the concept of Trade Union


 Features of Trade Union
 Characteristics of Trade Union
 Assumptions of Trade Union

Contents:

The Concept of Trade Union:


a. Background:
 Employees‟ associations constitute one of the major stakeholders in industrial relations
system. These associations are called by different names, but the term „trade union‟ has
become most common throughout the world.

 The concept of trade union, though originated in the context of blue-collar workers, has
extended beyond and covers white-collar employees and even supervisors and officers.

 In the present context, all classes of employees at lower levels in organizations have
formed unions to protect their interests.

The first trade union was started in 1877 in Nagpur. It was this labour protest
on an organized scale, through the support of some philanthropic personalities, that
organized labour unions came to be formed. The setting up of large-scale industrial
units created conditions of widespread use of machinery, new lines of production,
and brought about changes in working and living environment of workers, and
concentration of industries in large towns.

The first Factories Act was passed in 1881. N.M. Lokhode was instrumental
behind passing this Act. In 1919, the Madras Labour Union was the first union in
India to have been formed and established by B. P. Vadia. The Bombay Trade
Union was formed in 1975 under the leadership of Sorabjee Shapurjee Bengalee.
b. Trade Union – Meaning and Definitions:
Trade unions are voluntary associations of employees formed to promote and
protect their interests through collective actions. These are basically associations of
workers formed with the aim of protecting the workers against exploitation by their
employers and also improving their living conditions.

Trade Union means a combination formed for the purpose of regulating the
relations not only between workmen and employers but also between workmen and
workmen or between employers and employers.

G. D. H. Cole, Dale Yoder, and S. D. Punekar have defined „trade union‟ as


follows:

 G.D.H. Cole- “A trade union means an association of workers in one or


more professions-an association is carried on mainly for the purpose of
protecting and advancing the members‟ economic interest in connection with
their daily work”.
 Dale Yoder- “A trade union as a continuing long term association of
employees, formed and maintained for the specific purpose of advancing and
protecting the interest of the members in their working relationship”.
 S.D. Punekar- “A trade union is a continuous association of persons in the
industry-whether employer or independent workers-formed primarily for the
purpose of the pursuit of the interests of its members of the trade they
represent”.
 Thus, scholars have defined “trade union” in their own ways, using
different combinations of words. Of the various definitions offered,
the one suggested by Sydney Webb (1859-1947) and Beatrice Webb
(1858-1943) stands out most articulate and is oft-quoted all over the
world.
 Webb, Sydney and Beatrice Webb say, “A Trade Union, as we understand
the term, is a continuous association of wage-earners for the purpose of
maintaining or improving the conditions of their working lives”.
 Section 2(h) of the Trade Unions Act, 1926 has defined a trade union as
follows: “Trade union means any combination, whether temporary or
permanent, formed primarily for the purpose of (a) regulating the relations
(1) between workmen and employers, or (2) between workmen and
workmen, or (3) between employers and employers; or (b) for imposing
restrictive conditions on the conduct of any trade or business, and includes
any federation of two or more trade unions”.

 Thus, the Act has covered employer‟s associations also in the


category of trade unions. However, the various provisions of the Act
do not specify the relationship between employers and employers.

 Further, the other definitions of trade unions do not include


employers‟ associations in the category of trade unions.

 For example, the British Ministry of Labour has defined trade unions as-
“All organizations of employees including those of salaried and professional
workers as well as those of manual wage earners which are known to include
among their functions that of negotiating with their employers with the
object of regulating conditions of employment”.

 According to British Trade Union Act, 1953 – “Trade Union is an


association of workers formed with the main objective of the regulation of
relations between workmen and masters for imposing of restrictive
conditions on the conduct of any trade or business and also provision of
benefits to members.

 In simple terms, a trade union may be defined as a continuous organization


of employees formed primarily for the purpose of protecting and promoting
the interests of its members, and in many cases, also those of the workers in
general.

c. Features of Trade Union:


Based on the above definitions, we may derive the features of trade unions as
follows:

1. Trade unions are voluntary associations formed by employees to safeguard


their interests through collective actions.
2. Such associations at the level of individual organizations as well as the apex
bodies with which these may be affiliated fall in the category of trade
unions.

3. Since trade unions are voluntary, an employee has a choice to join or not to
join a union. Similarly, a trade union has choice to affiliate or not to affiliate
itself with an apex body of trade unions.

d. Characteristics of Trade Union:


 A union normally represents members in many companies throughout the
industry or occupation.
 A union is fundamentally an employer regulating device. It sharpens
management efficiency and performance while protecting the interests of the
members.
 A union is a part of the working class movement.
 A union is a pressure organisation originating in the desire on the part of a
group with relatively little power to influence the action of a group with
relatively more power.
 A union is a political institution in its internal structure and procedures.

e. Assumptions of Trade Union:


Trade unions are formed as a continuous organization of employees of
different cadres in order to protect and promote their interests in industrial as
well as other organizations. These are formed along the following
assumptions:

i. Capitalist society,

ii. Integrated group of people within the work organization,

iii. Common values, interests and objectives.


Summary:
It is clear from above analysis that the concept of Trade union includes
organization of all categories of employees formed as per the provisions of labour
legislation to secure their common interests and well being; and to ensure the
safety, security and welfare of the working class of people mostly employed in
factories, mines, and plantations, etc. Actually, the objectives of trade unions are
closely connected with the objectives of social justice in the realm of industry and
labour.

Questions to Check Progress:


1. What do you understand by trade union?

2. Define the term trade union.

3. What are the characteristic features of trade union?

4. What are the Assumptions of Trade Union?

Web References:
1. www.businessmanagementideas.com> Trade Unions- Kalpana R.
2. www.accountingnotes.net>Trade Union- Jayna B.
References:
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