- 1. Trade UnionsConcept & Role in Industrial RelationsOnkar R SatamKantilal Kamble Anit Nair
2. Trade Unions: What?The Trade Union Act 1926 defines a trade union as a 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 condition on the conduct of any trade or business, and includes any federation of 3. Objectives of TradeUnions Representation Negotiation Voice in decisions affecting workers Member Services Education and training Legal assistance Financial discounts Welfare benefits 4. Functions of Trade Unions1) Militant Functions To achieve higher wages and better working conditions To raise the status of workers as a part of industry To protect laborers against victimization and injustice2) FraternalFunctions To take up welfare measures for improving the morale ofworkers To generate self confidence among worker To encourage sincerity and discipline among worker To provide opportunities for promotion and growth To protect women workers against discrimination 5. Importance of TradeUnionsTrade unions proved being of great importance :-By helping in the recruitment and selection ofworkers.-By inculcating discipline among the workforce-By enabling settlement of industrial disputes in arational manner-By helping social adjustments. (Workers have toadjust themselves to the new workingconditions, the new rules and policies. Workerscoming from different backgrounds may become 6. Social Responsibilities ofTrade Unions Promoting and maintaining national integration by reducing the number of industrial disputes Incorporating a sense of corporate social responsibility in workers Achieving industrial peace 7. Reasons for joiningTrade Unions1. Greater Bargaining Power2. Minimize Discrimination3. Sense of Security4. Sense of Participation5. Sense of Belongingness6. Platform for self expression7. Betterment of relationships 8. Current Stagnation of TradeUnions in India Table Showing Growth Of Trade Unions and Membership is following below 9. The Code of Discipline 1958The Management and Union(s) agree - That no unilateral action will be taken with anycompany matter and that disputes will be settled atappropriate level; That the existing machinery for settlement ofdisputes would be utilized with the utmostexpedition; That there would be no strike or lockout withoutnotice; That affirming their faith in democratic principles, 10. That neither party will have recourse to (a) coercion,(b) intimidation, (c) victimization or (d) go-slow; That they will avoid, (a) litigation, (b) sit down andstay in strikes and (c) lock outs; That they will promote constructive co-operationbetween their representatives at all levels and asbetween workers themselves and abide by the spiritof agreements mutually entered into; That they will establish upon a mutually agreedbasis, a grievance procedure which will ensure aspeedy and full investigation leading to settlement; That they will abide by various stages in thegrievance procedure and to take no arbitrary actionwhich would bypass this procedure; and That they will educate the management personnel 11. The Management agree- Not to increase work loads unless agreed upon or settled otherwise; Not to support or encourage any unfair labour practice such as (a) interference with the right of employees to enroll or continue as union members, (b) discrimination restraint or coercion against any employee because of recognised activity or trade unions and (c) vcictimisation of any employee and abuse of authority in any form; To take prompt action for (a) settlement of grievances and (b) implementation of settlements, awards, decisions and orders; 12. To distinguish between actions justifying immediate discharge and those where discharge must be preceded by warning, reprimand, suspension or some other form of disciplinary action and to arrange that all such disciplinary action should be subject to an appeal through normal grievance procedure; To take appropriate disciplinary action against its officers and members in cases where enquiries reveal that they were responsible for precipitated action by workers leading to indiscipline; and To recognise the union in accordance with the 13. The Union(s) agree: Not to engage in any form of physical duress; Not to permit demonstrations which are not peaceful and not to permit rowdyism in demonstrations; That their member will not engage or cause other employees to engage in any union activity during working hours, unless as provided by law, agreement of practice; To discourage unfair labour practices such as (a) negligence of duty (b) careless operation, (c) damage to the property, (d) interference with or disturbance to normal work and (e) insubordination; 14. To take prompt action to implement awards, agreements, settlements and decisions; To display in conspicuous places in the union offices, the provisions of this code in the local language (s); and To express disapproval and to take appropriate action against office-bearers and members for indulging in action against the spirit of this code. 15. REGISTRATION OF THETRADE UNIONS Minimum of 7 members required to register a Trade Union Application is sent to the Registrar for registration the particular state. Application contains names and other details of the employees who wish to be members of the trade union Application should also contain suggestions for the Name of the Trade Union (3) On registration the union becomes a body corporate and enjoys privileges such as Raising 16. RECOGNITION OF TRADEUNIONRecognition is of two types DEFACTO -: Those trade unions who do not bother about recognition and commands attendance and knows that whether the employer recognize or not it can dictate terms are known as defacto recognition. DE JURE -: A trade union is said to be dejure when it is duly and officially recognized by the management. As employer may on his on volition grant recognition or he may act with the unions as if it is recognized. 17. CRITERIA FOR RECOGNITION OF UNIONS1. Where there is more than one union, a unionclaiming recognition should have been functioningfor at least one year after registration. Where there isonly one union, this condition would not apply.2. The membership of the union should cover at least15% of the workers in the establishment concerned.Membership would be counted only to those whohad paid their subscription for at least three monthsduring the period of six months immediatelyproceeding the reckoning.3. A union may claim to be recognised as arepresentative union for an industry in a local area ifit has a membership of atleast 25% of the workers ofthat industry in that area. 18. 5. Where there are several unions in an industry orestablishment, the one with the largest membership shouldbe recognised6. A representative union for an industry in an area shouldhave the right to represent the workers in all theestablishments in the industry, but if a union of workers in aparticular establishment has a membership of 50% ormore of the workers of that establishment, it should havethe right to deal with matters of purely local interest suchas, for instance, the handling of grievances pertaining to itsown members. All workers who are not members of thatunion might either operate through representative union forthe industry or seek redress directly.7. In the case of trade union federations, which are notaffiliated to any of the four central organisations of labour, 19. Collective Bargaining: Role oftrade UnionsThe collective bargaining process comprises of five core steps: Prepare Discuss Propose Bargain Settlement 20. Case Study of Hotel Oberoi The employees of the hotel used to get 65 days holiday per year, but the management wanted to reduce it by 15 days due to some managerial issues. The workers readily and strongly opposed this proposaland approached Maharashtra Samarth Kamgar Sanghatna to solve this issue. MSKS understood the workers dilemma and went to the management to reach an understanding via collective bargaining. 21. Collective Bargaining Process1.MSKS agreed to convince the workers but inreturn asked the management to pay 20 days extrasalary in the month of December.2. The management and workers debated overthe issue.The management found that they had the workersworking for 15 extra days and the workers foundthat they were being paid for 20 days just for 15days of extra work. 22. Case Study of HotelLeela The 9/11 Twin towers blasts in America, had its adverse effects on the hotel industry as well. Hotel Leela decided to eliminate 280 of its employees because of low salary availability. This 280 employees included 200 workers and 80 supervisors. The employees approached Maharashtra Samarth Kamgar Sanghatna and a meeting was held between the management and the secretary of MSKS. 23. Collective BargainingProcess The reason behind this decision was asked and the reason given by the management was that they were unable to pay heavy remunerations to this large amount of employees. After some calculations it was found that if 10% of the remuneration of the workers was cut then it would be able to provide remuneration to the 200 workers. The management agreed and 200 workers were 24. Collective Bargaining Process Further it was found that if 2.5% reduction from the existing salary could be done along with the reduction of 10%, then even the remaining 80 could be employed. MSKS wanted the reduction to be done right from the upper level managers to the lower level employees which the management accepted. This reduction continued only for 3 months and after that everything was back to normal. 25. Thank You
