Reinventing unions

The century-old International Labour Office (ILO) has been engaged in consolidating the rights of trade unions. The ILO is urging the Union Government to ratify two of its fundamental conventions — Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) and Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98). While the ILO’s intentions here are commendable, its role in making trade unions (TUs) responsible to wider social issues is less visible.

TUs do not play a proactive role in environmental issues. This is borne out in the case of the recent outburst of local citizens against Sterlite in Thoothugudi, the issue of potable water pollution as a result of chromite mining in Sukinda Valley, Odisha, illegal mining in Goa, and protest of indigenous people against bauxite mining in Kashipur, Odisha.

The TUs’ apathy towards the pathetic conditions of growing number of contract workers is only too evident. While submitting their charter of demand to the management, the contract workers’ issues do find an obligatory mention in the list.

But this is not a priority for the TUs. As soon as the major demands are fulfilled, the agitation is called off.

Stepping up involvement

How can TUs step up their involvement in a gamut of areas? We have to examine the legitimacy of the ILO, which is “based on tripartism and the rich and complementary practical experience of its government, employer and worker constituents in addressing economic and social policies affecting the lives of people” (ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization, June 10, 2008, Geneva).

In other words, the legitimacy of trade unions stands on its utilitarian values — where all stakeholders get justice. For realising the obligations of TUs towards the larger society, a new kind of workers representative has emerged: for example, the environmental representative in the UK.

“Case studies of six companies in the UK found that these trade union representatives had contributed to a fall in carbon emissions per employee by 54.8 per cent; nitrous oxide levels falling by an average of 10 per cent over a four-year period and fall of 80 per cent in sulphur dioxide levels (‘Why trade unions are a good thing’ by Sterling Smith, November 6, 2015, Ethical Trading Initiative ). There is a growing trend of reduction of TU membership in Europe and the US.

Thierry Pech, Director General of think tank Terra Nova, pointed out that European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) deserves criticism for seeking legitimacy “through its capacity to federate very heterogeneous components, even at the price of acrobatic compromises, rather than trying to strengthen its capacity to address major social issues of today (‘The End of Trade Unionism?’ by Therry Pech, ProgressivePolitics ).”

In India, as per the Statistical Year Book India 2016 , the number of TUs in 2008 was 27,137 and total membership was 95,73,000; in 2012 the corresponding figures are 16,712 and 91,82,000. There was a dip in 2009 when the total membership was 64,81,000.

These are based on the returns filed by the trade unions. Anecdotal evidence suggests that trade unions are losing public sympathy in India as well.

TUs have a positive economic role to play as well as in achieving social justice goals. But who will take the initiative in enabling them to realise larger responsibilities? Can the ILO be a silent observer?

The writer is a professor in SIBM, Pune. Views are personal

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