Why have a trade union?
The basic purpose of a trade union is to prevent exploitation of workers.Under the doctrine of laissez-faire, in vogue during the 19th century, a worker was pitted against the management. Although he had the freedom to enter into a contract with the management, in practice, it had no meaning for the worker. The rule of hire and fire made the workers position even more precarious. A worker had neither the knowledge, nor the resources, to demand even legitimate dues from the management. As laissez-faire yielded place to the concept of a welfare state, trade unionism came to be recognised as a legitimate instrument for preventing explo-itation and promoting worker interest. What are the legal provisions governing trade unionism in India? The trade union movement here is governed by the Trade Unions Act, 1926, passed by the Central Legislative Assembly, due to the efforts of NM Joshi, the then general secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress (Aituc). The right to organise strikes an
