Page 142 - DMGT516_LABOUR_LEGISLATIONS

Unit 6: Trade Union Act

of unionisation, total funds collected are small. The general picture of fi nances of Notes
unions is disappointing.”
(e) Other problems: The other factors responsible for the unsound functioning of trade
unions in India are:
(i) Illiteracy: Workers in India fail to understand the implications of modern trade
unionism. Their illiteracy coupled with ignorance and indifference account for
the predominance of outside leadership.
(ii) Uneven Growth: Trade unionism activities are, more or less, confi ned to
major metros in India and are traceable only in large scale units (especially
cotton textile industry). The degree of unionism also varies from industry to
industry, varying between to 30-70 per cent in coal, cotton textiles, iron and
steel, tobacco, railways, cement, banking, insurance, ports and docks, etc. The
degree of unionism is quite negligible in the agricultural and unorganised
sectors.

(iii) Low Membership: The average membership figures of each union are quite
depressing. In 1992-93 the average membership figure was 632, a steady fall

from 3,594 per union from 1927-28. Because of their small size, unions suffer
from lack of adequate funds and find it difficult to engage the services of

experts to aid and advise members in times of need. They can’t bargain with
the employer effectively on their own.
(iv) Heterogeneous Nature of Labour: Since workers come to the factory with
varying backgrounds, it is difficult for them to preset a joint front in case of

trouble. Employers exploit the situation, under the circumstances, by dividing
workers on the basis of race, religion, language, caste, etc.
(v) Lack of Interest: For a large majority of workers, unionism even today
remains a foreign issue. In fact, workers avoid union activities out of sheer
disinterestedness. Those who become part of the union, do not also participate
in the union work enthusiastically. In such a scenario, it is not surprising to fi nd
outside political leaders exploiting the situation to serve their own personal
agenda.

(vi) Absence of Paid Office Bearers: Weak finances do not permit unions to engage

the services of full time, paid office bearers. Union activists, who work on a
part-time basis, neither have the time nor the energy to take up union activities
sincerely and diligently.
6.6 Functions of Trade Unions

1. Militant or protective or intra-mutual functions: These functions include protecting the
workers’ interests, i.e., hike in wages, providing more benefi ts, job security, etc., through
collective bargaining and direct action such as strikes, gheraos, etc.

2. Fraternal or extramural functions: These functions include providing financial and non-
financial assistance to workers during the periods of strikes and lock-outs, extension of

medical facilities during slackness and casualties, provision of education, recreation,
recreational and housing facilities, provision of social and religious benefi ts, etc.
3. Political functions: These functions include affiliating the union to a political party, helping

the political party in enrolling members, collecting donations, seeking the help of political
parties during the periods of strikes and lock-outs.

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 137