17-12-2024
12:22 PM
Prelims: History of India & Indian National Movement.
Mains: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues
The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) is one of the oldest and the primary trade unions working to improve workers' conditions and protect their rights. It was established in 1920 to represent India at the International Labour Organisation. The AITUC is known for taking a strong stance on worker's rights, focusing on social justice, and advocating for higher wages and job security.
The AITUC experienced divisions based on ideological differences among its members, which led to the emergence of multiple factions. By 1937, the trade union movement had started to gain momentum, fighting for worker rights and also playing a significant role in the national movement.
The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), the first Central Trade Union of India, was founded by Lala Lajpat in 1920 in Bombay to facilitate the socio-economic welfare of the working class. The establishment of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 1919 served as a spur for creating the AITUC.
Trade unions are organisations formed by workers to represent their collective interests. These interests include better wages, improved working conditions, and a voice in workplace policies. Trade union's primary purpose is to regulate the relations between workers and employers. The first trade union Madras Labour Union was formed in 1918 by B.P. Wadia
Trade unionism started growing momentum in India during the early 1900s, with the Madras Labour Union of 1918, formed by B.P. Wadia, and the Majdoor Mahajan of 1920, formed by Mahatma Gandhi. Numerous industrial hubs, including Kanpur, Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, Jamshedpur, and Ahmedabad, saw a surge of strikes in 1919–1920, leading to the formation of the All India Trade Union Congress in 1920 at Bombay with Lala Lajpat Rai presiding over its inaugural session.
The objectives and demands of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) were centred on improving workers' rights, promoting social justice, and addressing the exploitation of labour in both colonial and post-independence India.
The following were the key demands raised by AITUC:
During the period of the Great Economic Depression, which started in 1929 and lasted till 1939, the All India Trade Union Congress saw two splits. Jawahar Lal Nehru was the president of AITUC during the first split of 1929. The main reason for the split was whether AITUC would support or boycott the Royal Commission on Labour appointed by the British.
Until 1945, workers in India, regardless of their political beliefs, were unified under the AITUC. However, the trade union movement later fragmented along political lines, leading to the formation of unions representing both organized and unorganized sectors. After independence, the AITUC broke up into many different trade union centres belonging to different political parties, which can be understood from the below table:
Trade Union | Political Party |
All India Trade Union Congress | Communist Party of India |
Centre for Indian Trade Union | Communist Party Marxist |
Indian National Trade Union Congress | Indian National Congress |
Hindu Mazdoor Panchayat Hindu Mazdoor Sabha | Socialists |
Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh | Bharatiya Janata Party |
Q.1 Who established the All India Trade Union Congress?
Ans. The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) was established in 1920 by N.M. Joshi, along with other prominent leaders like Lala Lajpat Rai.
Q.2 Who was the president of the All India Trade Union Congress in 1929?
Ans. Jawaharlal Nehru served as the president of the All India Trade Union Congress in 1929.
Q.3 Who presided over the first session of the All India Trade Union Congress?
Ans. Lala Lajpat Rai presided over the first session of the AITUC held in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1920.
Q.4 What are the functions of the All India Trade Union Congress?
Ans. AITUC works to safeguard workers’ rights, improve wages and working conditions, promote labor welfare, and advocate for socio-economic justice and equality.
Q.5 Who was the founder of the first trade union in India?
Ans. N.M. Lokhande is regarded as the founder of the first trade union in India, organizing workers' movements in the late 19th century.
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