Trade unions and politics in India
- Bombay Manktalas 1966
- 315 p.
BOOKS on Indian trade unionism have so far laid emphasis on their legal and economic aspects, almost com pletely ignoring their political aspects. In this book trade unionism is viewed as an extension of the activities of political parties. Since the author be lieves that the 'politicization' of trade unionism is natural in underdeveloped countries and that the concern of poli tical parties with the organization of trade unions is inevitable in democra cies.
After justifying his emphasis on the political side of Indian trade unionism the author discusses the peculiar prob lems of Indian trade unionists due to the nature of the Indian working class. The growing intervention of the state and its consequences for trade unions are then considered. In the next chap ters a historical outline of the develop ment of Indian trade unions is pro vided, leading to the series of splits in the trade union movement after the Second World War. Detailed studies are made of the relationship between political parties and the four main trade union federations, INTUC, AITUC, HMS, and UTUC, and of the relationships between the federa tions. Some conclusions are then rawn on the role of trade unions in the Indian political system.