Pravin SINHA
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Union Futures - 03/06/2007 13:06
This thread discusses the Content article: Union Futures
Need for Adopting Inclusive Approach
Individualism and competition are products of globalisation and no organisation could wash it away. A look at the annals of socio economic history of any economy would give ample evidences wherein the divisive forces have led to marginalisation of membership based institutions. Trade unions were established as a representative body of the working class, however, they remain confined to workers in the formal sector which any case represented a minority sector of the working class. In developing countries, for example, informal sector workers dominate in size while interm of membership to trade unions they in minority. Resultingly their concerns have more or less remained ignored by the trade unions. This may not be a major issue in the developed world as an individual opts for work in the informal secor, out of one's own choice. In developing countires, for example in south Asia, an idividual is complelled to work in the informal sector wherein the conditions of work are, in ILO language, not "Decent".
Invent of Information and Communication Technology [ICT] which is at the centre of current phase of globalisation have caused to delimit the influence of geographical distance as information could move freely accross the national boundaries. The result is that not only capital but production lines could be moved without much difficulties. Further an individual talks about "job" and not "employment" implying that he / she has become market sensitive and is mobile.
Under such an encironment, the traditional approach of enlisting membership may not be of much help. We have seen, in the last few decades that the trade unions are loosing its credibility as they are some time not in tune with the ground realities. For example, the real exploitation is faced by the workers in the informal sector while the trade unions are active in the formal sector which any case represent no more that ten percent of the total workforce. Further, the national law requires establishment of employer-employee relationship before the provisions of important labour laws could be made applicable. This however working in an environment where was active player in the industrial relations.
The liberalised global market gad turned the government into a passive player. On the other hand the employers have become rigid and aggrassive. In such a situation it imparative for trade unions to rethink not only on their strategies but also redefine its constituency. It is the total workforce, not employees, that ought to be the cocern of the trade unions. The membership of unions sould be open to all, whether employed or not and belonging to formal or informal sector. It could also be ensured that all have the collective bargaining rights and that results of an agrrement is made effective on all workers.
This no doubt is a mamoth task but there is no challange that is not faceable. The global market needs to be challanged with global networking of trade unions. The solodarity, that is at the focus of trade unions, needs to be practice more sincerely. However, the delicate balance between the powers of the global unions viz a viz national unions be maintained in such a way that the local unions are strong force at the local level.
In this regards the use of ICT would prove beneficial. The knowledge workers with rapidly increasing access to PCs and internet, organising works could be undertaken with much ease and expence.
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