How Are Indian Trade Unions Adapting to Globalization? Seeking Insights for My Research

Research on Indian Trade Unions in the Era of Globalization

This is Giridhar. I am pursuing my LL.M course, and as part of that, I am currently researching the "Position of Indian Trade Unions in The Era of Globalization." Therefore, I request the members to share their valuable knowledge in this regard on this most useful site or even send an email to [Email Removed For Privacy Reasons]. I hope you will extend your support. Thank you all.

I thank Mr. M. Umakantan, a senior member of this site, for his excellent idea. Thank you, Sir.

In my view, there is no change in the basic agenda of trade unions, whether before globalization or during globalization, which is the protection of the interests of the workers/employees. However, with the phenomenal development of technology and the consequent advent of new-age industries like IT, ITES, and biotech, the growth of the service sector, and the shrinkage of the manufacturing sector led to the emergence of a new breed of workers called 'knowledge workers' who are better informed and who have attracted the attention of trade unions, setting the agenda for them.

This appears to have compelled the trade unions to shift their traditional stance towards technology from one of resistance to that of developing a better understanding of it. They have started showing interest in initiatives from management like employee engagement, which they used to be lukewarm about in their response some 15 years ago. They have shown more sensitivity to issues like work-life balance and have accepted flexible working hours for workers, as these issues are pressing for the modern-day workforce. They seem to be shedding the traditional image of a mere militant collective bargaining body to that of a proactive institution in employee development. That's why you hear less about strikes and demonstrations now, except for some in the manufacturing sector. However, these are only observations from standing on the sidelines. Hope this helps in your research.

Regards,
B. Saikumar

Impact of Fixed-Term Appointments on Trade Unions

The fixed-term appointment, the termination of which is excluded from the concept of retrenchment, and more and more employees coming out of the purview of labor laws are eroding the traditional concept of trade union activities.

Regards,
Varghese Mathew
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]

I hope you have had the chance to review the replies posted in response to your request. We have not yet received your response to these replies. Members who promptly respond to requests from those seeking answers are also eager to hear back from those who initiate discussions, as it creates a platform for the exchange of ideas and views. This is an interesting topic, and I look forward to hearing contributions from other knowledgeable members as well.

Best regards,
B. Saikumar
In-house HR & IR Advisor