Trade Unions in the Changing Scenario of Industrial Relations - A study

Abstract

Trade Unions are vital institutions in an Industrial Relations System. Since 1991, the IR scenario of the country has been changing. The State Government’s industrial policy is mostly favouring to the employers. Decisions are coming for the industries. Their interest is given priority. Unionism representing the ethos of collectivism appears to be getting marginalized. These institutions are still being afflicted by age long maladies like politicization, rivalries. In this context, quest for the future of unions as an industrial as well as socio-political institution is of great importance. And this study addresses to the role of the unions in the changing scenario of IR. It suggests some measures for the consolidation of trade unionism. The views of the union members with regard to Government’s role, management’s strategy, members’ activities and federations’ role have been interpreted and analysed. For this, the members of trade unions affiliated to six major federations namely AITUC, INTUC, HMS, BMS, CITU & UTUC have been taken equally. All the unions are functioning in a plant located in Orissa.