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CHAPTER – 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Emergence of wage earners
Trade unions are voluntary organizations of workers formed to
promote and protect the interest of workers through collective action.
Trade unions are a product of industrial society. The main elements in the
development of these unions in every country have been more or less the
same. The setting up of large scale industrial units and the wide spread use
of machinery, opening of new lines of production, changes in living and
working environments of workers and concentration of industries in large
urban centres have all created a new class of ‘wage-earners’.
1.2 Emergence of large scale industries in India
The industrial working class in India constitutes relatively a small
section of the total population. India is still a predominantly rural and
agricultural country despite the growth of industries over the last century.
Before the 1850's the only industry in the modern sense was coal-mining.
However, in the decade between 1850 and 1860 a number of developments
took place which led to the preliminary stage of India's 'industrial
revolution.' A start was made at building railways around Bombay and
Calcutta, in 1854 Calcutta was linked by rail to the coal-mining centre,
Raniganj. In the same year a Scottish entrepreneur established the first jute
mill in Bengal and in Bombay, a member of the Parsi trading community
setup the first cotton textile mill.
During the next sixty years 'industrialization' was confined to these
industries. The cotton textile industry expanded in Bombay and spread out
to other centres such as Ahmedabad, Sholapur, Nagpur and Kanpur. In
1914 there were 234 cotton mills working in India employing around
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260,000 operatives. In Bengal the jute industry also developed and by 1912
there were more than 60 mills employing about 2,00,000 workers1.
1.3 Emergence of Trade unions
The first quarter of the twentieth century saw the birth of the trade
union movement in India. Though the germs of the movement were to be
found in the last quarter of the 19th
century, S.S.Bangalee, M.Lokhande and
others succeeded in forming trade unions2. However it was not until the
close of the first World war that the modern trade union movement really
took permanent form in Indian soil.
Low wages, long hours of work and deplorable working conditions
were common factors. The workers were too weak to safeguard their
interests and resist exploitation by the employers. The bargaining power of
the individual worker vis-à-vis the employer was minimal. Collective
action was practically unknown. Competition in the labour market added
new problems to the worker’s plight because of its tendency to determine
low wages and thus undermine the living standards of the workers.
To combat the evils of industrial competition and to ameliorate their
conditions through improved bargaining power and status, the workers
organized themselves into trade unions.
Trade unions play a significant role in the industrial relations. In
India, the trade unions were created by political leaders of the freedom
movement. It is the trade unions that determine the living standards of the
employees and the economy of the country. Thus the trade unions played a
significant role not only for workers but also to the community as a whole.
1 V.B. Karnick Indian Trade Unions A survey, Manaktalas Pub. Bombay (1967) pp.7-8.
2 Ruddar Dutt, K.P.M.Sundara, Indian Economy, S.Chand. Pub. (2005)
3
In India most of the trade unions were established by political leaders as
they needed the support of the workers and the masses.
1.4 Trade unions and political affiliations
The relations between the trade unions and their political
affiliations, in the light of economic reforms, is a worthwhile discussion as
our "trade unions were born in politics and they will have to, it appears,
live and grow in politics”3, as expressed by Karnick. It involves two
important aspects:
(a) Trade union involvement in politics;
(b) Political involvement in Trade unions.
As far as the former aspect is concerned, it is desirable and
indispensable to the labour force, since it has to secure favourable
legislation and economic policies. For instance, in England, Trade unions
themselves created their own labour party. But the problem arises with the
latter aspect, i.e., political involvement in trade unions, as it is still a
controversial issue.
The main object of the trade unions was to work for the social,
economic and cultural upliftment of the workers. According to Gandhiji, a
trade union is not only to settle industrial disputes, but to cover all aspects
of work, both inside the factory and at home. Labour unions as Gandhiji
said, should aim to raise the moral and intellectual height of labour and
thus by sheer merit make labour master of the means production instead of
being the slave that it is4.
3V.B.Karnic, Trade unions and politics, Bombay university press (1968) p.15
4V.B.Karnick, Indian Labour – Problems and Prospects (1974) p.140
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Trade unions themselves established a political party in Britan i.e.,
Labour party. In the U.S.A the trade unions are economical unions. They
concentrate on the economical needs and advancement of the employees
rather than other aspects. They do not have political affiliations to the
parties. They do not want to identify themselves as political unions
apparently. In Russia and some other countries like Ghana, the trade unions
are subordinate to the government. They have to act according to the
instructions of the Government.
N.Pattabi Raman, a scholar on Trade unions in India stated that the
outside political leadership has been the labour benefactor as well as
exploiter5. By the above statement, we can understand that if the leader is
like N.M. Joshi, who devoted all his time for the cause of the labour, the
union will be benefited. However if the leader is selfish, the union will be
exploited. This study, therefore includes the origin of the trade unions and
their nexus with the political leaders. Another considered opinion on this
aspect is as follows.
“It must be realised that outsiders are necessary to a certain extent
due to the present illiteracy of the workers, but it is considered desirable to
decrease the ratio with the advent of literacy among the workers as there is
always likelihood of the workers being exploited by irresponsible labour
leaders for political gain”.6
However, there is nothing unique in this phenomenon. In almost
every country, outsider leaders have helped and guided the trade union
movement. Particularly in its early stages, even in U.K.-"0ne will be
impressed by the contribution that was made by outsiders like Robert
5 N. Pattabi Raman, Political involvement of Trade Unions, Asian Pub. New Delhi (1966) p.163.
6 Report of the Plantation enquiry Commission (1976), P.139.
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Owen, Francis Harrison and others to the cause of labour and trade
unionism. But the leadership gradually passed on to the workers
themselves”.7
In developing countries like India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia where
these countries have recently achieved freedom from colonial domination,
the trade unions were nourished along with the freedom movements. The
leaders of the freedom movements were the leaders of trade unions. Hence,
the existence of political federations continued in India. But there is a little
change in the present trend. The trade unions are making efforts to keep
political parties away from industrial relations.
1.5 Why political involvement is necessitated in Indian Trade
Unions?
The history of the trade union movement indicates the close and
direct link between the political parties as well as contributions made by
political leaders to the growth of the unions. This close link is partly
explained by the fact that the Indian trade union movement was nursed and
developed by the political leaders of the country as a part of the national
movement for independence8.
The dominant personalities in the political movement and trade
union movement on many occasions were same. There was no trade union
untouched by the political colour of national independence. This tendency
was natural and inevitable, moreover this is not a unique phenomenon.
Wherever colonial countries had been struggling for national
independence, the trade unions have been an integral part of the national
7A.S. Mathur and J.S. Mathur, Trade Union movement in India, Chaitanya Allahabad Pub. (1962)
p. 250. 8G.P.Sinha& PRN Sinha, Indian trade unions and political parties and the problem of leadership
in industrial relations and labour legislations (1977) p.178.
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movement. In these circumstances, it was not possible for trade unions to
remain independent, without participating in the freedom movement.
The unions desire association with the political parties and the
political parties need association with the trade unions to secure the support
of workers whose votes along with those of their family members account
for a sizeable democratic force to reckon with. So, it is a reciprocal
tendency and an important factor for mutual benefit. Moreover, there is a
belief that as a consequence of their affiliation with political parties, trade
unions are better benefited, either through legislation or through higher
bargaining power by exerting political pressure.
Indian workers are not in a position to create their own unions
because of their lack of literacy and economically poor standards of living.
On the other hand due to sophisticated lifestyles of the modern world, they
usually stick to the religious traditions and sentiments e.g. most of the
workers think or attribute their position to the “Karma or the theory of
Rebirth”9.
The workers were poor and illiterate and were in constant dread of
being thrown out of employment. The outsider with his influence in the
local area was therefore, requested by the workers to assist in forming a
trade union and to represent their grievances to their employer. The
workers assumed that their condition was a punishment for their sins which
were done in their previous life.
Our society has been a hierarchical society. The superiority of the
employer is paramount and the workers are never regarded as equals at the
9Ruder Dutt, Indian Economy, 51
st Edition, S.Chand Pub. New Delhi (2005) p.724.
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bargaining table. Hence, some means of high status are required to
represent the grievances of the workmen to the employer.
The problem of the fear of victimisation is widely prevalent,
particularly with regard to Indian conditions. Hence, the workers required
outside help to channelize their aspirations.
Continuous dominance of the trade union movement by outsiders
due to the inability of the trade unions to develop internal leadership is
apparent. The trade union finances are too inadequate to pay for full time
leaders. Hence, they have to depend on outside leaders.
Compulsory adjudication has necessitated that the union leadership
must be adept in law because of the volume of complex legal provisions
under which trade unions in India operate. This puts heavy burden on the
union leadership. The legal skills necessary for resolving disputes through
the legal process is unlikely to be found among inside leaders10
. Thus
unions were and are led by non-workers who are usually persons with
political connections.
1.6 Trade unions and Indian conditions
a) Dominance of outsiders
Outside leadership has been playing a vital role in the Indian trade
union movement due to the inability of insiders to meet the needs and
demands of the movement, in view of the low education standards and
poor command over the English language which is still the principal
language of legislation. There is a criticism that outside leadership
undermined the proposals of the trade unions and weakened their authority.
10
R.Chatterji, Union Politics and the State, South Asian Pub. New Delhi (1980) p.194.
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Personal benefits and prejudices, sometimes, weighed more than the
interests of unions and adjudication of industrial disputes.
b) Political unionism
In India, trade unions were established by political leaders of
freedom movement. Political parties have taken a lot of interest in
organizing trade unions since the Nineteen Twenties in order to secure
mass support for the freedom movement. Most of the trade union leaders
were also the political leaders or at least had political loyalties. These
leaders were more interested in their political elevation than the genuine
welfare of the workers.
c) Multiple unions
Multiple unionism both at the plant and industry levels poses a
serious threat to industrial peace and harmony in India. Every political
party wants to establish a trade union in order to get a foothold among
workers and thereby secure a large bloc of votes. In doing this, they
unleashed divisive tendencies in the union structure by setting up rival
unions at the plant, industry, regional and national levels which resulted in
multiplicity of unions.
In a country like India the problem of multiplicity of unions prevails
in the entire industrial scene because of the multiparty system.
d) Union rivalry
The system of multiple unionism resulted in inter union rivalry in
different industries. The inter union rivalry breaks the very purpose of the
trade unions by weakening the strength of collective bargaining.
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The state of rivalry between two groups of the same union is said to
be intra-union rivalry. Inter-union and intra-union rivalry have been a
potent cause of industrial disputes in the country. They are responsible for
the weak bargaining power of trade unions in collective bargaining. These
rivalries are also responsible for the slow growth of the trade union
movement in the country.
e) Finances
Most of the unions in India suffer from inadequate funds. Sound
financial position is an essential ingredient for the effective functioning of
trade unions. Because of inadequate funds most of the trade unions are
unable to engage full time trade union leaders to replace the outside leaders
who do not understand the workers’ problems as they do not live the life of
a worker.
f) Absence of paid office bearers
Weak finances do not permit unions to engage the services of full
time, paid office bearers and union activists. Outside leaders who work on
part-time basis, neither have the time nor the energy to take up the union
activities sincerely and diligently.
g) Illiteracy
Most of the workers in India are unable to understand the
implications of modern trade unionism. Their illiteracy coupled with
ignorance and indifference account for the predominance of outside
leadership.
1.7 Trade unions methods to promote their interests
The precise methods used by trade unions to further their aims vary
considerably from country to country even from union to union within the
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same country. Nevertheless, their principal methods fall broadly into two
categories - industrial and political. Industrial methods include negotiations
with the employer and all that belongs to collective bargaining, grievance
procedure, picketing, strike action, arbitration and so on. Political methods
on the other hand cover all types of union participation in party politics.
When they use political methods they bring their power and influences to
bear on the parties or the government. In practice the distinction may be
difficult to draw at the margins, especially as industry and politics have
become increasingly interwoven.
When they have choice, trade unions inevitably prefer to rely on
industrial rather than political methods to achieve their aim. This does not
mean that they necessarily dispose political action. On the contrary they are
ready to resort to it as a second string to their bow. It means that they are
prepared to use political methods to get support and to supplement their
industrial methods. Thus labour unions employ two general methods in
promoting and protecting their interests.
1.8 Aim of the present study
The present study aims at studying how the unions, particularly
political unions are functioning in the wake of the introduction of
economic reforms from 1991, which implies privatization, globalization
and liberalization.
Even before the introduction of economic reforms, the problem of
political parties’ involvement has always been a controversial issue. One
set of scholars like Karnick and Murthy say that political involvement is
necessary, essential and inevitable for the development of trade unions.
Otherwise trade unions will indulge not only in industrial action i.e.,
strikes, dharnas and picketing but also resort to violence. Another set of
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people like Dr.Siddique say political involvement not only retards the
internal leadership but also creates a measure of indiscipline, intimidation,
assault and violence in the industrial atmosphere and also creates confusion
about the future of trade union movement.
Prof.B.Benerjee in his article Trade Unions and Politics explains the
term political trade unionism as follows.
"Political trade unionism refers to the pre-occupation of trade unions
with political activities, consequently neglecting legitimate activities of
industry for which trade unions were formed”11
.
1.9 Welfare state and economic reforms
India after independence adopted the philosophy of welfare state.
Article 38(1) of the Indian Constitutions provides that “the state shall strive
promote the welfare of people by securing and protecting as effectively as
it may, a social order in which justice, social, economic and political, shall
inform all the institutions of the national life”. This article, which
contained in the Directive Principles of State Policy reaffirms what has
already been said in the preamble. Article 39 provides:
(a) Equal right of men and women to adequate means of livelihood
(b) Distribution of ownership and control of the material resources of the
community to the common good.
(c) To ensure that the economic system should not result in concentration
of wealth and means of production to the common detriment.
(d) Equal pay for equal work for both men and women etc.
Thus the Directive Principles of the Indian Constitutions resulted in
enacting a series of labour legislations such as Minimum Wage Act, Bonus 11
Prof.B.Benerjee, Trade unions and politics, law quarterly Journal, June (1980) p.1l7.
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Act, Factories Act and Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act etc.
These acts aimed at to provide protection and justice to the working class
which was weak and defenceless. Hence the state assumed an
interventionist role in industrial relations and it continues to hold the same
position even after many changes have taken place in the industrial system.
Now the situation has changed. Our indigenous industries are being
replaced by multinational corporations. Introduction of economic reforms
caused severe effects with regard to employment opportunities apart from
job losses which resulted in reduction in membership of trade unions.
All over the world, the workers’ response to the technological and
organizational changes is undergoing a change. Indian workers cannot be
an exception.
Various changes taking place in different economies are affecting
the strength and strategy of the trade unions. Growing unemployment in
developed as well as developing countries and the declining hold of
communism and socialism adversely affect the role of the trade unions.
International legislative changes such as resolutions of World trade
organization etc. reduce the immunities of the trade unions by opening up
opportunities for legal actions by employers, and by attempting to regulate
internal organizational matters of the unions. These changes often look
more like long term shifts and not just temporary experiments. These
changes have increased employees’ fears about job security. Technological
change brings both fear and hopes; fears for established skills and job
opportunity and hopes for longer term growth and productivity
improvement.
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Opinions vary about the effect of technological change on industrial
relations. Some holding pessimistic view say that the new technology is yet
another weapon in the armoury of employers seeking to degrade work,
while some others think optimistically that it will reduce the demeaning
unpleasant jobs.
In developing countries like India, where the labour movement has
to encounter a substantial portion of small enterprises, the unions are linked
to political parties and the political parties are competing for trade union
support. As a result, pluralism of trade unions has assumed a complex
nature.
The package of economic reforms includes both stabilization and
structural adjustment. Structural adjustment policy aims at promoting
market led growth through privatization, trade liberalization, deregulation,
disinvestment of public sector undertaking and so on. The main objectives
are to promote economic efficiency through deregulation and integration of
the Indian economy with the global economy. Privatization and
introduction of multinational corporations one way or other suppress the
freedom of the workers because they reduce the work force and replace
workers with technological inventions.
The key elements of Economic reforms are
(a) Liberalization
(b) Privatization
(c) Globalization
Liberalization denotes one of the government policies associated
with economic reforms which reduces regulations of economic activity and
limits the intervention of the state on business activity and allowing for
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unfiltered operation of market forces in determining the economic process.
An important feature of liberalization is the removal of the licence system.
Now there is no need to wait upon ministers and departments for licences.
Another feature of liberalization is the easing of import restrictions and
removal of Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices (MRTP) Act which
would enable the private sector to grow in size in the place of the public
sector.
Privatization in a narrow sense means replacing public sectors with
private ownership or even without changing ownership, induction of
private management and control in the public sector enterprises.
Globalization implies growing interdependence in the world
economy where by resources flow from one region to another, goods and
services also move relatively fully from one region to another. The aim of
globalization is to see the entire world as one economic unit.
1.10 Effects of economic reforms on trade unions
(a) Structural adjustment which advocates technical upgradation
ultimately leads to large scale unemployment and workers on a large
scale will be retrenched and no trade union can enable them to find
new jobs. The trade unions would thus lose their credibility to some
extent.
(b) Private industries particularly multinational industries, according to
their different structures and strategies, like technical knowledge,
productivity, quality would prefer to have company unions posing a
challenge to the trade union movement.
(c) More unions will be freed from political dominance. The big trade
unions in their efforts to survive will seek more and more an efficient
inter dependent system of functioning.
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(d) Trade unions will be seeking protection more through contractual
obligations than from Industrial Disputes Act. The grand idea of
participation in management will die its natural death. The
managements of new modem industries would keep the workers’
organizations at arm’s length. The workers in general would turn a
deaf ear to the voice of the trade unions and trade unions will have no
alternative but to have one center of labour thus ending, all the
multiplicity of unions12
.
The above changing trends and atmosphere compel the trade unions
to unite themselves for their self-existence. The combined effect of the
harsh macro-economic realities, external pressures, technological changes
and restructuring of enterprises will further weaken the already weak trade
union movement. The economic reforms and present global situation
demand trade unions to give up their negative, agitational and formational
approach vis-a-vis managements and engage in more constructive and
participatory dialogue with both the government and the employers.
It should be clear from the preceding analysis that the trade union
centres in India today need moving closer urgently on issues that
have so far kept them divided and have weakened their movement in
general. The new awareness and concern among workers help to meet the
inevitable challenges of adjustment and modernization, to emphasise
neglected areas of the work situation and to influence the labour market
process more constructively.
The recent economic policies have far reaching implications on the
future of trade unions in India. Their future is also a subject matter of
12
Samuel Masilamani, Economic Reform and Trade unions in India, Friedrich EbertStiftung Pub. New Delhi (1995) p-49.
16
debate throughout the world since trade unions have the potential of
contributing to economic growth. The industry is primarily concerned with
excelling in the highly competitive global environment. The use of latest
technology, which is essential today has considerably reduced the role of
the mass production workers resulting in an adverse impact on the unions.
The unions are now expected to shift to a more cooperative role of
increasing productivity and quality13
. There is a threat regarding the future
of the trade unions throughout the world. Therefore it is high time to
discuss about the political trade unions that are known as weak trade
unions in the present new environment in India, in particular.
1.11 Objectives of the study
The study deals with a set of specific objectives which are as
follows.
1. To analyse the relation between trade unions and politics.
2. To examine the impact of economic reforms on trade unions.
3. To assess the functioning of trade unions which are politically affiliated
in the present situation where the government is attempting to privatise
public service undertakings.
4. To compare the functioning of independent trade unions and the trade
unions having affiliations with political parties.
5. To analyse the advantages and disadvantages of the independent and
politically affiliated trade unions.
History tells that the trade unions are created and developed by
political leaders and most of the labour legislation is the result of the
political leader’s continuous pursuit. It is only because of this reason the
trade unions remain faithful to political parties. Introduction of economic
13
B.P.Guha, Challenges of Economic Reforms Impact on labour and Industrial relations, B.R.Pub. New Delhi (1997) p.168.
17
reforms threaten the very existence of the trade unions because of exit
policy, structural adjustment, and globalization. History is also a witness to
the fact that because of political affiliations there had developed a culture
of splitting in the trade union movement and the workers give importance
to the political ideology to which their unions are affiliated rather to their
economic needs.
Hence the study also attempts to show how trade unions have to
move away from the culture of splitting to bringing unity among
themselves by keeping away from political ideology in order to save the
existence of trade unions and achieving the welfare of workers.
1.12 Sample Selection
For this purpose the scholar selected trade unions of Andhra Pradesh
State Road Corporation, which have political affiliations with all the
parties. The reasons which led to the selection of the above establishment
are numerous. APSRTC is the largest transport corporation in India
employing nearly 1.5 lakh employees in different categories. The unions in
APSRTC have affiliation to important national federations like AITUC,
NITUC, CITUC etc. Besides, there is also the presence of a major
independent union called National Mazdoor Union which was elected as
representative union several times. In the APSRTC therefore is the
availability of political as well as independent trade unions. Further, it is a
public enterprise which is always controversial and we often see the
problems of APSRTC being discussed in the print media and electronic
media. At present, there is a threat of privatization because of economic
reforms. Hence there is change in the attitudes and strategies of the
political unions.
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1.13 Hypothesis
a) Political parties played a crucial role in the emergence of labour
movement and trade union movement in almost all countries in the
world.
b) Wherever the trade union movement had been strong they played an
important role in the establishment of balance of power relations
between employer and workmen, thus contributing to the overall
welfare of the working class.
c) Economic reforms have posed a great threat to the trade union
movement throughout the world.
d) For the effective functioning of the trade unions, political involvement
shall be minimized, particularly for Indian conditions, in the light of the
changes in the economic policies of the government.
1.14 Purpose of the study
The purpose is to get a comprehensive understanding of political
and independent trade unions and find out the advantages and
disadvantages particularly in the light of the new economic environment in
the industries. This would enable to formulate necessary remedial measures
for improving healthy and strong trade unions in order to combat and face
new situations not only in India but also in the world. Another purpose is to
find out how far these economic reforms further weaken the already weak
political trade unions in APSRTC and to suggest remedial measures in
order to reduce the problems that the trade unions as well as the
management have been trying to solve.
After introducing economic reforms the government identified five
major public sector undertakings including APSRTC as loss making
industries. Since then the government is using many strategies to privatize
APSRTC which is the largest transport corporation in the country, one with
historical credentials of serving the people even before independence.
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1.15 Methodology
In the present study both doctrinal and empirical research methods
are used. The data and other information relating to trade unions and
politics in the light of economic reforms in APSRTC has been collected
through questionnaire method. While collecting answers to questionnaires
interviews were also conducted in order to collect reliable data. Care was
taken to ensure that the answers of the workers, trade union leaders and
executives were not unduly influenced by the wording of the questions.
Simple language was used in the questionnaire in order to have good
communication with the workers and the trade union leaders.
Prolonged interviews were conducted with union officials, workers
and management officials in order to gather information about the
advantages of political unions and independent unions and the ill effects of
political affiliations of trade unions in the Andhra Pradesh State Road
Transport Corporation to find out the impact of economic reforms and the
strategies of the government of Andhra Pradesh to privatize APSRTC.
Much care has been taken to avoid personal bias, at the time of conducting
the interviews.
1.16 Limitations
There are limitations in collecting the data as most of the workers,
drivers and conductors, are educationally backward and unable to respond
to the problems associated with economic reforms such as liberalisation.
The workers and trade union leaders who have political affiliations with
their union, do not admit the truth with regard to the damage caused by
political leaders and the parties as they have strong loyalties with the party
and political leaders. Therefore some of the answers they gave to the
questionnaire and at the time of the interviews are half hearted.
20
More over the study is a limited study which is restricted to the
Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation.
1.17 Presentation of study
The present work is conveniently divided into eight chapters.
The First chapter which is introduction to the thesis provides an
outline of concept of trade unions, discusses why political leaders became
part of the trade unions, briefly narrates about the nature of economic
reforms and its impact on trade unions, in addition to the hypotheses,
objectives and purpose of the study it also contains a brief narration of the
methodology used in the collection of data.
The second chapter deals with the evolution of trade unions and
trade unionism and the approaches of trade unions which can be termed as
frames of reference. The theories of trade unions are discussed briefly in
this chapter so as to have a comprehensive study. Brief history of the trade
union movement in Britain and India, functions and problems of trade
unions, meaning, advantages and dis-advantages of political as well as
independent unions are also discussed in this chapter.
The third chapter which is titled Trade Unions and Politics in
developed and developing countries and the impact of economic reforms,
provides a comparative study as to how the trade unions function and their
relations with the political parties. This chapter includes a discussion on the
impact of economic reforms on developed and developing countries.
The fourth chapter deals with the concept, freedom of association
and Article 19(1)(c) of the Constitution of India with reference to important
case law. This chapter also analyses the statutory definition of ‘trade union’
under section 2(h) of the Trade Unions Act, 1926. This chapter also
21
discusses ILO conventions and freedom of associations. The summary of
Trade Unions Amendment Act, 2001 has been included in this chapter.
The fifth chapter examines the ‘trade unions and collective
bargaining’ in which the important aspects like the nature and meaning of
collective bargaining, growth of collective bargaining, collective
bargaining and legal framework, recognition of trade unions, new trends in
collective bargaining and recommendations of the National Commission on
labour (NCL) etc. are discussed.
The sixth chapter is unique in which aspects such as economic
reforms and its implications, trade unions under changing economy,
structural adjustment programme and its implications for labour are
discussed. Issues like impact on trade unions, new role of trade unions,
responses of trade union federations, emerging challenges before trade
unions and strategies of trade union federation to protest against reforms
are dealt with in detail.
The seventh chapter attempts to deal with the empirical study in
which data is collected from trade union members, office bearers and
officials of the management of APSRTC. This chapter is again divided into
three sections. Section I deals with methodology. Section II deals with the
origin of trade unions in APSRTC and origin of APSRTC, views of trade
unions regarding trade unions and politics in APSRTC. Section III deals
with impact of economic reforms in APSRTC.
The last chapter ‘Summary and Conclusions’ presents an overall
summary. The findings and suggestions of the study are discussed in detail
to find out remedial measures for strengthening trade unions and
suggesting the measures to face new situations in the new economic
scenario.