TRADE UNIONISM IN THE 21st CENTURY

Abstract

According to Perlman, three factors reveal as basic in any modern labor situation, “First the resistance of power of capitalism, determined by its own historical development; second the degree of dominance over the labor movement, by the intellectual’s mentality which regularly under-estimates capitalism resistance power and over estimates labor’s will to radical change; third the degree of maturity of trade union mentality”. Industrial relations are formerly concerned with Union-Management relations, techniques of negotiations, collective bargaining, evolution of labour contracts, discipline, joint consultation, strikes, lockout, labour costs etc.  In the modern industrial society labour management relationship have become complex than it was in the past, and has been given a sharp edge because of widespread labour unrest. Today workers have their own trade unions and have gained enormous bargaining power which enables them to give a tough fight to their employer’s inorder to establish their rights in growing industrial society. The presence of trade unions has ensured equal bargaining power for employees. Industrial relations is a by product of healthy labour management relations the promotion of which pre-supposes the existence of strong, well organized, democratic and responsible trade unions and associations. The researcher aims to relate two major variable of labour laws i.e. trade union and industrial relations. It is imperative to point out that both these are closely related to one another and rather industrial relation is a by-product of evolution of trade unions. It thus becomes all the more important that both these are studied in relation to one another, which shall be the aim and objective of research.