2 TRADE UNION MOVEMENT Background © Industralization started by the British in 19® century in India (Mainly for exploitation, economic drain) + The thousands of hands employed in the construction of railways were the harbingers of Indian working class + Problems suffered : Less wages, long working hours, unhygienie and hazardous ‘working conditions employment of child labor absence of basic amenities ‘© But it was British (Lancashire Textile mill owners) not the Indians who first demanded for reforms. (Fear of competition due to cheap labor ete.) Factories Act-1881 Mainly for child labors [Reason: children are more energetic]: Minimum age- 7 (limit: 7-12); ‘maximum working hours- 9, 4 leaves per month, distance from dangerous machines, Factories Act-1891 © Children: Minimum age further increased (lo 9 & 14 y), maximum working hours: reduced to 8 hours with no work at night. © Women: working hours were fixed. (11 hours, including lunch of 1 hour) © Men: not fixed. Both these acts (1881 and 1891) were not applicable in Tea & Coffee plantations. The bond ‘was signed with labors. Breaking the rules was a criminal offence and the plantation owner could arrest them for it Indian leaders did not support these acts. Initial Efforts © 1870: workingmen’s club & Bharat Shrar + 1878: Sorabjee Shapoorjee Bengali got a bill providing better working conditions to labor, passed in Bombay Legislative counc + 1880: Narayan Meghaji Lokhande wrote Dinbandhu Newspaper.set up Bombay Mill & Milhands Association. © 1899: Great Indian Peninsular Railways strike. Tilak supported in his newspapers Kesari and Maharatta © Others: G. Subramanian Ayyer (The Hindu), Bipin Chandra Pal Demanded better ‘working cot jons for laborers During Sweshi Movement © Workers participated in wider political issues © Leaders: Subramaniya Siva, Chidambaram Pillai : organized strikes in Tuticorin and ‘Tirunelveli and were arrested ‘© Attempts to form trade unions were made but were not very successful ‘© Biggest strike on Tilak’s arrest. During First World War © High inflation post WW L ‘© Profiteering opportunities for the industrialists but very low wages for the workers ‘© Socialism was breeding in India, ‘© Impact of Gandhi ji : Mobilization of peasants and workers for the national cause synopsisias.in 20-20 & 50-50 SYNOPSISIAS PROCESS SIMPLIFIED $© SYNOPSISIAS © teas eee > ‘+ International events like the establishment of a socialist Republic in the Soviet Union, formation of the Comintern and setting up of ILO Further encouraged the movement of the working class AITUC Established 1920, Lala Lajpat Rai & Diwan Chamantl © “Imperialism and militarism are the twin children of capitalism” Lala Ii + Due to CR. Das’ efforts, ATTUC was integrated with Congress andhi Ji ‘© Important role in Ahmedabad Textile Labor Association (1918). ‘© Philosophy of non-violence,trusteeship and class collaboration © Secured through a protest a 27.5% wage hike. (Later 35%) Trade Union Act-1926 © Legalized trade unions. ‘© Laid down conditions for registration and regulation of trade union activities ‘© secured immunity both civil and criminal for trade unions from prosecution for legitimate activities Socialist Movements (Late 1920s ) © Strong communist influence © Gimi Kamgar Union- 6-month strike in Bombay Textile Mill (1928), © Leaders: S.A. Dange, PC Joshi & Joshi, Mazaffar Ahmad, ‘Trade Dispute Act, 1929 ‘© Setting up of Inquiry & Consultation Board-mandatory for settling industrial disputes ‘© No strike in public utility services without prior intimation, ‘© Forbade trade union activity of coercive or purely political nature Meerut Conspiracy Case, 1929 ‘© Amst of 31 main labour leaders and conviction of Muzaffar Ahmad, SA Dange ete ‘© This got worldwide publicity but the working-class movement got weakened. During Civil Disobedience Movement © 1930: The working class participated ly ‘© 1931: Dip in participation by the working class Because of a split ‘©The corporatist trend led by NM Joshi split from the AITUC to form AITUF © Ideological divide: Leftists (Communist) & Rightist. © The AITUC supported Congress candidates in 1937 clections and the Congress governments in the provinces gave a fillip to the trade union activity and were sympathetic to the workers” demands, During Second World War ‘© Barlier communists opposed the war, ‘© Butafter Russia entered the war- they described it Peoples war” and supported it ‘© No support to Quit India Movement ‘© Advocated the policy of industrial peace Before Independence: Participated in post war national observers, supoorted the RIN mutiny. Post-Independence The working class got polatized on the basis of political ideologies synopsisias.in 20-20 & 50-50