Trade Union Definition

A trade union is a group that works to advance the rights of employees in a certain sector or line of activity. It is sometimes called a guild, trade organization, or labor union. A trade union's primary goal is to bargain with employers on behalf of its members to raise working standards, pay, and benefits.

Typically, workers who have common interests and objectives form trade unions. They could share a profession or sector, or their abilities or credentials might be comparable. Trade unions exist in many sectors, including industry, healthcare, education, and transportation.

A trade union's main duty is to represent its members' interests while collectively bargaining with employers. In order to come to an agreement on pay, benefits, and other terms of employment, the union bargains with the employer. The union may also offer its members assistance in the form of training, education, and legal representation.

Additionally, trade unions play a political role by lobbying governments to enhance working conditions and uphold workers' rights. Additionally, they might participate in social activism by promoting social justice and helping local causes.

Definition Of Trade Union

A union is an organisation created by employees of a particular business, industry, or sector to represent and defend their rights and interests as a group. Another way to think of a union is as a group of employees who get together to advance and defend their constituents' political, social, and economic interests.

To improve working conditions, pay, benefits, and other workplace rights, unions strive to bargain with employers on behalf of their members. In the event of disagreements or complaints, they may also offer legal and financial support to its members.

During the Industrial Revolution, workers were exploited and mistreated, which led to the idea of creating unions. Workers came to understand that by uniting, they could bargain with their bosses on their behalf and better working conditions.

In many nations today, unions are recognised and given legal protection. They are crucial in defending worker rights, enhancing conditions and safety on the job, and advancing social and economic justice.

History Of Trade Unions

Associations of employees, known as trade unions, were created to protect their rights and enhance working conditions. Trade unions have a long history, dating back to the European Industrial Revolution, when employees had to contend with poor working conditions, low pay, and lengthy workdays. The history of trade unions in India and the rest of the globe will be examined in this piece.

Smaller worker organisations began to form in Britain in the 18th century. Still, they were sporadic and short-lived for most of the 19^th century, partly due to the hostility they encountered from employers and government organisations who disapproved of this new form of political and economic activism. At that time, in Britain and the United States, numerous restraint-of-trade and conspiracy legislation was frequently used to punish unions and unionists.

The Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers, founded in England in 1765, was the first trade union ever officially recognised. Trade unions were not allowed in the early days and employees who did so risked being disciplined or dismissed from their positions. However, legislation protecting their rights was passed as a result of worker organisation and political pressure.

An important turning point in the development of trade unions was the founding of the International Workingmen's Association, often known as the First International, in 1864. This organisation brought together employees from many nations with the goal of fostering worker solidarity on a global scale.

The Trade-Union Act of 1871 served as the legislative foundation for British union membership. A number of court rulings that reduced the use of injunctions, conspiracy laws, and other tactics against unions in the United States led to a similar impact, albeit more gradually and uncertainly. An early attempt to establish a federation of American unions was made in 1866 with the founding of the National Labour Union (NLU). Several of the NLU's affiliate trade unions persisted after it ceased to exist in the 1870s, covering a variety of professions, including shoemakers, spinners, coal miners, and railway employees.

Many nations established rules that supported unionisation and collective bargaining in the years following World War II. Strong unions were created in nations like Germany, France, and Italy during the post-war era.

History Of The Unions In India

Our nation has had a trade union movement for a century. The trade union movement began in the first part of the twenty-first century, although its seeds were planted far earlier. The AII India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) was founded in 1920 to advocate for workers' rights, coordinate the efforts of all labour unions in the nation, and educate people about the need for unionisation.

The passage of the Trade Unions Act in 1926 was a turning point in the history of the labour movement since, unlike the 1920s, the 1930s were unfavourable to the trade union movement. 167 trade unions had a quarter million members by 1924.

India had a boom in militant trade unionism in the 1960s and 1970s, when unions organised rallies and strikes to call for higher pay and improved working conditions. However, economic liberalisation measures caused many state-owned businesses to close their doors and the informal sector to expand, which resulted in a loss in union influence in the 1980s and 1990s.

Then, unions did not do well in the years after Independence. Workers had hoped that the national government would provide better facilities and pay, but this did not happen. There was widespread discontent, and the number of strikes and lockouts increased.

Trade unions in India now confront a variety of difficulties, including as low membership, fragmentation, and rivalry from employees in the unorganised sector. They nonetheless continue to be very important in promoting workers' rights and enhancing working conditions.

Some Of the Recognised Unions In India

In India, there are several officially recognised trade unions in various industries. Among them are:

• One of India's first trade unions, the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), was founded in 1920. It is associated with the Communist Party of India and is present in a number of industries, including banking, mining, railroads, and textiles.
• Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), INTUC was established in 1947 and is a member of the Indian National Congress political organisation. It is one of India's biggest labour unions and operates in the steel, coal, and power industries.
• One of the biggest trade unions in India is the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), which was founded in 1955 and is connected to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). It operates in industries like banking, insurance, and defence.
• Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) is a labour union federation connected to the Socialist Party of India established in 1948. It operates in a number of industries, including textiles, chemicals, and transportation.
• The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), which was founded in 1970, is a member of the Marxist-leaning Communist Party of India. It operates in a number of industries, including coal, energy, and transportation.

How Unions Are Registered

The actions listed below can be completed to register a union:

• Recruit members: A trade union must have a certain number of members in order to be registered. This number can range from 7 to 100 members depending on the nation.
• Pick a name: The union must pick a different name that another union hasn't taken. The union's goals and objectives should also be reflected in the name.
• Construct a constitution: The laws and policies of the union are laid forth in a constitution. Information about membership, dues, officers, meetings, and the selection process for officers should all be included.
• Organise a meeting: The union's members should get together to adopt the charter and choose officers. The meeting should be reported in writing, and the minutes should be maintained for future use.
• Application: The union must submit an application to the relevant government body, such as the Ministry of Labour, outlining its goals and those of its members.
• Obtain approval: After the application is submitted, the government body will examine it to ensure it satisfies all registration conditions. The union will be given registration if everything is in order and will be given a certificate of registration.

It is significant to note that the stages or regulations for registering a union may differ depending on the nation. An experienced union organizer or attorney should be consulted for advice on the registration procedure.

Categorization Of Trade Unions

Trade unions can be grouped based on their degree of operation, membership, and goals.

1. Type of Operation Undertaken

• Enterprise-level unions: These unions represent the employees of a certain corporation at the level of a single enterprise or organization.
• Unions at the industry level: These unions represent employees from various firms within the industry as a whole.
• Unions that operate on a nationwide scale: these include members from many sectors and industries and are referred to as national-level unions.

2. Based on Competitiveness

• Craft and skill-oriented unions: Unions that specialize in a particular specialty or skill, such as carpentry, electrical work, or plumbing, are examples of these unions. For instance, mechanics employed in unrelated businesses may establish a union that represents mechanics exclusively.
• Unions that are industrial or general: These unions represent employees from many trades and vocations that are part of the same sector or industry. For instance, an industrial union would be created if the whole workforce of the pharma sector decided to do so. This union would include workers from many trades.

3. Based on Objectivity

• Business-based Unions:- These unions fight to improve member benefits, pay, and working conditions while preserving positive working relationships with their employers.
• Revolution-oriented Unions:- A political agenda and the capitalist system's downfall are revolutionary unions' goals. Any of the following kinds of revolutionary unions are possible:
  1. Anarchist Unions: These unions typically employ violent methods in their attempts to topple the current economic order.
  2. Predatory Unions: These unions, founded by Professor Hoxie, support benefit theft and aggressive pursuit of the issue at hand by using whatever methods, regardless of ethical, legal, or moral considerations.
  3. Politically active unions:- These unions seek to oust capitalists from power via political activity so that workers may gain more influence.
• Associations for employees: These organisations speak on behalf of workers in non-industrial occupations, such as those in administration, technology, or the arts.

There also exist "Federations" that are top national organisations associated with plant-level unions, craft unions, industrial unions, and general unions. They manage the business of different unions under their umbrella.

Functions Of Trade Unions

Broadly the function of trade unions can be divided into two parts:- internal/external OR Representational/Societal duties.

• Overall Negotiation: The representation of employees' interests during talks with employers is one of the main responsibilities of trade unions. Negotiating pay, working conditions, benefits, and other employment terms is a common part of this process, which is referred to as collective bargaining.
• Redress of Grievances: Trade unions also assist workers in resolving disputes arising from their jobs, such as those involving discrimination, harassment, or unpaid wages.
• Democratic Workplaces: Trade unions support democratic workplaces by giving employees a platform to express their issues and viewpoints. By doing so, it may be possible to foster a more welcoming and employee-focused workplace culture.