Role and responsibility of trade union

                                             

INTRODUCTION With the changed social, political and educational environment in terms of awareness of right, trade unions are considered a major component of industrial relations system. Workers union plays an crucial role to protect the interest of its members. Therefore, this chapter focuses on the need of labour unions, significance and role of union, and welfare activities in sugar industries in the study region. Trade unions are those organisations of employees/workers who work for the maintenance and enhancement of their economic status by insisting on a rise in money wages and improvement in working conditions and benefits. Besides this economic objective, there are other dimensions of trade unions which have grained importance in the context of the changing sociopolitical environment. The workers is not only a factor of production but an individual whose total life situation is a matter of concern for the trade unions. Gandhiji viewed trade unions as moral institutions aiming at making the workers better individuals and responsible citizens. Trade unions are considered to be institutions experimenting with industrial democracy which 42 would strengthen democracy. Traditionally, trade unions have been resistance organisations defending the interests of workers and see to it that they are not exploited. They have also been viewed as instruments of change in the socio-political system so that workers may have their own government and prevent their exploitation. Different authors have defined a trade union in different ways. However, the various definitions of a trade union exhibit two important features, i.e., in the first place, a trade union is defined usually in the light of the functions it is expected to perform. Though there is a diversity of opinions in regard to the role of trade unions in the working class movement, yet all agree to the fundamental purpose

OBJECTIVES AND NEED OF TRADE UNIONS Unions concentrate their attention to achieve the following objectives: (A) Wages and Salaries : The subject which drew the major attention of the trade unions are wages and salaries. This item may be related to policy matters. However, differences may arise in the process of their implementation. In the case of unorganised senior the trade union plays a crucial role in bargaining the pay scales. (B) Working Conditions : Trade unions with a view to safeguard the health of workers demand the management to provide all the basic facilities such as lighting and ventilation, sanitation, rest rooms, safety equipment while discharging hazardous duties, drinking water, refreshment, minimum working hours, leave and rest, holidays with pay, job satisfaction, social security benefits and other welfare measures. of trade unionism, viz., the pursuit of the economic interests of the members. Secondly, a trade union is confined to workers alone. The Webbs1 defined a trade union as "a continuous association of wage-earners for the purpose of maintaining of improving the conditions of their working lives." According to G.D.H. Cole, "a trade union means an association of workers in one or more occupations - an association carried on mainly for the purpose of protecting and advancing the members' economic interests in connection with their daily work"2 Lester3 defines a trade union as "an association of employees designed primarily to maintain or improve the conditions of employment of it

(C) Personnel Policies : Trade unions may fight against improper implementation of personnel policies in respect of recruitment, selection, promotions, transfers, training, etc.

(D) Discipline : Trade unions not only conduct negotiations in respect of the items with which their working conditions may be improved but also protect the workers from the clutches of management whenever workers become the victims of management's unilateral acts and disciplinary policies. This victimisation may take the form of penal transfers, suspensions, dismissals etc. In such a situation the separated worker who is left in a helpless condition may approach the trade union. Ultimately, the problem may be brought to the notice of management by the trade union, which explains about the injustice meted out to an individual worker and fights the management for justice. Thus, the victimised worker may be protected by the trade union.

 (E) Welfare : As stated earlier, trade unions are meant for the welfare of workers. Trade union works as a guide, consulting authority and cooperates inn overcoming the personal problems of workers. It may bring to the notice of management, through collective bargaining meetings the difficulties of workers in respect of sanitation, hospitals, quarters, schools and colleges for their children's cultural and social problems

(F) Employee-Employer Relations : Harmonious relations between the employees and employer are sine quanon for industrial peace. A trade union always strives for achieving this objective. However, the bureaucratic attitude and unilateral thinking of management may lead to conflicts in the organisation which, ultimately, disrupt the relations between the workers and the management. Trade union, being the representative of all the workers, may carry out continuous negotiations with the management with a view to promoting industrial peace.

 (G) Negotiating Machinery : Negotiations include the proposals made by one party and the counterproposals of the other. This process continues until the parties reach an agreement. Thus, negotiations are based on the give and take' principle. Trade union, being a party for negotiations, protects the interests of workers through collective bargaining. Thus, the trade union works as the negotiating machinery.

(H) Safeguarding Organisational Health and the Interest of the Industry : Organisational health can be diagnosed by methods evolved for grievance redressal and techniques adopted to