9 Major Central Trade Unions Led by Various Political Parties

History of Trade Unions:-
1918 P.P. Wadia founded the Madras labour Union.
By 1920 trade unions appeared in all states.
AITUC was set up under the Indian National Congress to coordinate the
efforts of trade unions in the country.
In 1926 the Trade Unions Act was passed.
In 1929 AITUC split and the right wing formed itself as
All India Trade Union Federation under N.M.Joshi and the left wing was
captured by the communists.
AITUC again split and a militant Red TUC was formed under Ranadive.
Another right wing union-National Federation of Labour-NFL- was
formed and this later merged with AITUF to form NTUF -
National Trade union Federation.
1935 RTUC merged with AITUC.
In 1938 The BOMBAY Industrial Disputes Act was enacted which
provided for compulsory recognition of unions, certification of standing
orders, establishment of industrial courts etc.
During Second World War AITUC and NTUF merged and became
the only major union.
AITUC which supported war efforts split and Indian Federation of
labour was formed.
During the war TU activities were barred under DIR rules.
In 1947 there was another split and INTUC was formed under
Congress leadership.
AITUC remained a left wing TU .In 1948 supporters of Praja Socialist
party formed
HMP- Hind Mazdoor Panchayat which later merged with IFL and formed
HMS-Hind Mazdoor Ssngh. 1970.
AITUC split and the left communists formed
CITU-Centre Of Trade Unions.In 1972 following emergency
INTUC, AITUC and HMS joined and made a common platform.
They formed a national apex body with employers’ organizations
during emergency.
After emergency they again split.Presently there are
9 major central trade unions led by various political parties.

• INTUC congress.


• Bhartiya mazdor sangh B. J. P.


• Hind Mazdoor sangh(HMS) Socialist party.


• UTUC R.S.P.


• UTUC (Lenin Sarani) radicals.


• CITU C. P. (M).


• AITUC Communist Party of India.


• National Labour organization (Old congess)


• National Front of Indian Trade Unions.

Besides there are 13 other central Trade unions in various national
institutions and occupations -railways, Banks, postal etc. they are not
affiliated to political parties or central bodies.
Politically affiliated trade unions play a role in influencing the govt. in
policy making on labour matters.