TRADE UNION

MOMISHA M S S2 MBA GIMS

A trade union is generally viewed as an organization of workers for the purpose of securing diverse range of benefits for them. Dr. V. V. Giri , former President of India, defines Trade Union as Voluntary Organization of workers formed to promote and protect their interest by collective action.

Definitions
Sec.2(h) of the Indian Trade Union Act, 1926 defines trade union as any combination, whether temporary or permanent, formed primarily for the purpose of regulating the relations between workmen and employers or between workmen and workmen, or between employers and employers, or for imposing restrictive conditions on the conduct of any trade or business, and includes any federation of two or more trade unions.

Objectives and functions of Trade Union

To promote & protect the workers right & obligations. To ensure better terms & conditions of work like reasonable wages, shorter working hours, improved work environment. To offer responsive co-operation in improving levels of production & productivity, discipline & high standard of quality .

 To take collective decisions. To safeguard security of tenure & improve condition of service. To abide by the unions constitution. To promote education & welfare of the working men & women.

Functions
To secure for workers fair wages To safeguard security of tenure & improve conditions of services To enlarge opportunities for promotion & training To improve working & living conditions To provide for educational, cultural & recreational facilities To cooperate in & facilitate technological advance by broadening the understanding of workers on its underlying issues

 To promote identity of interest of the workers with their industry To advice the management on personnel policies & practices To work for achieving better say of workers in the management of affairs of the enterprise which influence the lives of the workers directly To organize demonstrations, strikes, etc to press the demands of the workers To work for the welfare & recreational activities for their members To represent the workers in various national & international forums

The Functions of Trade Union can be broadly classified into 4 categories Militant or protective or intra mural functions Fraternal or extra mural functions Social functions Political functions

Militant or intra mural functions

These functions include protecting the workers interest i.e., hike in wages, providing more benefits, job security etc., through collective bargaining & direct action such as strikes, gheraos etc.

Fraternal or extra mural functions

These functions include providing financial & non-financial assistance to workers during the periods of strikes & lockouts, extension of medical facilities during slackness & casualities, provision of education, recreation, recreational & housing facilities, provision for social & religious benefits etc.

Social functions
These functions include carrying out social service activities, discharging social responsibilities through various sections of the society like educating the customers.

Political functions
These functions include affiliating a union to a political party, helping the political party in enrolling members, collecting donations, canvassing during election period, seeking the help of political parties during the strikes & lock-outs.