Trade Unions

♤ The trade unions in India have been present since even before the Independence such as the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), which was established in 1920 and the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) established in 1947. The emergence of the communist movement also played an important role in the growth of trade unions in India.

♤ Trade Unions in India are closely affiliated with the political parties; many national political parties have got their own federations of trade unions. In fact, very little amount of independence from political parties exists in trade unions. They seem to have been able to exert significant pressure at the policy formulation level and their strength is well recognised by political parties and government.

♤ The trade unions when required can be very vocal and militant in their actions to meet their demands. They work through the weapon of strike and have been able to achieve monetary gains in terms of wage increase, bonus, change in wage structure, etc. These types of pressure groups have been able to encourage class consciousness and class solidarity among the workers.

♤ India has witnessed the trade unions resorting to demonstrations, during the disinvestment by the government in public sector undertakings over the past few years. Despite certain institutional limitations, such as, ideological differences, internal splits, external pressures, lack of international backing, the trade unions exert significant pressure at various levels of policy formulation.