National Trade Union Initiative

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National Trade Union Initiative

Presented by

Group 7

Abdur Rehman

Mily Ghildiyal

Sanya Bakshi

Anu Lall

Priyanka Malhotra


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INTRODUCTION- NTUI

UNITY DEMOCRACY MILITANCY

Several independent trade unions in the organised

and unorganised sector came together in 2001.

NTUI proclaims itself as independent from politicalparties.

NTUI is committed to the concept of one union inone factory.

Works with all progressive unions


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FOUNDING CONFERENCE

NTUI decided to constitute itself formally into a federation

and seek the status of a national trade union federation

at the Founding Conference of the NTUI, held in March

2006 in New Delhi.

Occasion to debate on, and adopt the Constitution

of NTUI.

A forum for the major left and democratic trade union

federations from India and across the world to debate on

issues vital to the trade union movement, and to working

class politics.


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OBJECTIVES

NTUI affiliates from the informal and formal sectors engagewith employers and the state on different issues of collectivebargaining and regulation of employment.

The engagement includes organising workers, issue basedstruggles, campaigns for legislation on labour rights,

education for workplace and organisational democracy andmany others.

Important affiliate engagements include :

struggles around minimum wage legislation and implementationof legislation;

organisation in the formal sector and of contract labour;

organising rural workers and the NREGA;

collective bargaining struggles in the formal and informal sector.

Unionising among women workers and issues of trade unionorganisation for women is an important concern.


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Major campaigns at the local and national levels include

campaign for Universal Social Security;

Right to Association issues;

Occupation Health and Safety and Minimum Wage.

Unions also engage in research around issues of

concern, and document struggles and campaigns.

Research and documentation feed into activist and

cadre training.


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MINIMUM WAGES

NTUI demands:

A need based regional minimum wage, not based on skill

Link minimum wages to Dearness Allowance with 100%

neutralisation

A national floor wage for rural workers and for urban workers no wage can be less than this.

A higher wage for skilled workers.

The right to inspect and prosecute cases of violation should

be extended to registered trade unions Five yearly revisions of the minimum wages by the Advisory

Board should be made mandatory. In case the Board fails to

revise, then the VDA of 5 years should be clubbed with the

basic along with a flat 15% increment Non- a ment of minimum wa es to be made a co nisable


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UNIVERSAL SOCIAL SECURITYNTUI recommendations for the Bill

Registration: Registration along with provision of a unique social security number shall be the

responsibility of the state and not the individual workers.

Enforcement: There should be compulsory enforcement of employers to employ only registered

workers, and violation should be made a criminal offence. However the benefits underthe Social Security Bill should not be contingent on or linked to enforcement.

Pension: It is fixed arbitrarily at Rs. 200 per month per worker. There is no basis for this

calculation. Standard pension calculation is at 50% of average emoluments drawn bya worker during the terminal year of employment.

Other benefits: The provisions related to women workers should adequately compensate for the

reproductive and nurturing responsibilities that society has placed upon them. Workers Participation:

The bill only allows for worker participation in Worker Facilitation Centres.The Billshould provide for proper structures, processes and protocols for effectiveparticipation.

RTI:

The Bill should provide for clear applicability of RTI Act covering all aspects of itsfunctioning


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PLANTATION WORK

Asom Mojuri Srameek Union and Bagicha SramikSantha are the two unions affiliated to NTUI whose

interests are looked after by NTUI.

The plight of the tea-workers of Assam especially of

Barak Valley led to a lot of hue and cry over the abjectstate of the plantation workers.

Consequently a memorandum was sent to the Deputy

Commissioner of Cachar, Assam to highlight the

condition of plantation workers so that needful actionscould be taken by the government.


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Women and Work The active participation of women in the trade union movement has

historically been low, indeed far lower than their representation in the

workforce, paid or unpaid.

NTUI views the issue of gender inequality in a trade union

framework. NTUI calls for expanding the base of the trade union

movement, to go all out in organizing the unorganized and to organize

them militantly.

Organizing the women workers under the banner of a trade union would

only be possible if one attempts this centering on the demands of:

Recognition of work

Regulation of work

Skill training

Collectivizing unpaid domestic work, like community crches,

laundry, kitchen etc.

Creating a conducive environment for women to take up work,

trade union leadership and lead a successful struggle for creating

a gender equal society.


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Collective Bargaining NTUI believes that Politically, we have a much less confident

government at the centre, faced with high inflation and an economic

slowdown. Across the world, there is a definite swing towards

demanding greater regulation and greater equity.

This is a situation when trade unions can regroup and collectively

confront the political establishment for better regulation of labour rights,

and greater control over industry and capital. However the regrouping

has to be on clearly defined positions.

NTUI therefore demands:

Only 8-hour Working Day

Equal Wage for Equal Work for Contract Workers

Right to Fair & Safe Work for All

Remove the Ceiling on Bonus Payment

That Unfair Labour Practices are Prosecuted Criminally

Make Trade Union Recognition Compulsory


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Occupational Safety & Health

NTUI views the health services for workers at three levels: publichealth system (PHS), ESI and OHS and struggles for a health

policy that develops the three levels and integrates them in a

comprehensive manner.

We need to build pressure on the government to ensure that all

components of health systems are involved in an integrated

response to the specific health needs of working populations and

that the workplace also serves as a setting for delivery of other

essential public-health interventions, and for health promotion.

NTUI intends to organise workers on the axis of workers health.


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Trade Union Education

NTUI since its founding is committed to promote educational,research, cultural, media and communication institutions of the

labour movement for the cultural and knowledge development of

working people and to build general will in support of the

interests, beliefs and values of the labour movement.

In taking this forward, NTUI takes initiative to develop trainingmanuals and organises training workshops for activists on

workplace issues as well as social issues.

They have organized workshops to sensitize people on various

issues. Some of the activities undertaken by them are National

workshop on Construction work, Workshop in NAREGA,Workshop with Silicosis victims.


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CONTRACT LABOURLabour Cost reduction

Division of workers into core and periphery

Mumbai Electric Employees Union (MEEU):

There are about 7500 contract workers employed by Reliance Energy in

the suburbs of Mumbai. Mumbai Electric Employees Union represents the

majority of them.

From 2005 to 2008, through continuous agitations, demonstrations andstrikes, MEEU has succeeded in regularising payment, ensuring that each

worker is provided identity cards and uniforms, establishing their right to a

21 day paid leave, a right to bonus ( Rs. 7800 in 2008) and an annual pay

hike.

Jharkhand Krantikaari Mazdoor Union:

JKMUhas been struggling for many years demanding permanent status for

all workers on contract in perennial jobs in the Bokaro Steel Plant.

The JKMU has been made a member of the Jharkhand State Contract

Labour Advisory Board and the Jharkhand State Engineering Industries

Wage Board.This is a rare incident as it is usuall acce ted that onl central trade


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Kachra Vahatuk Shramik Sangh

KVSS has been involved in litigating the case for

permanency for 3280 contract workers of the Bombay

Municipal Corporation.

Chemical Mazdoor Panchayat:

In Gujarat, the Chemical Mazdoor Panchayat (CMP) won

a major legal victory for contract labour in Gujarat

Electricity Board where approximately 600 workers won

permanent status

Through a long-drawn struggle for increasing the

minimum wages the union won a revision of contractlabour wages to Rs. 138.70, 142.80, 144.30 and 149.07

for unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled workers.


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RURAL WORK

Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity (PBKMS) protested at Krishnanagar District Head quarters in Nadia

district to demand pending wages, work and food Hundreds of PBKMS members armed with empty plates, of women

and men surrounded the District Magistrates office, giving slogansof A Government that breaks its own law has no right to rule.

Grameen Mazdoor Sabha The initiative to form a rural workers union was started in Gujarat

from the Panchmahal District.

After several meetings from May 2005 with local leaders and ruralworkers, the Gramin Mazdoor Sabha, the first union of rural

workers in Gujarat was formed. It was decided at the conference to implement the NREGA in the

four districts of Dang, Panchmahal, Narmada and Sabarkantha.

In a public meeting and a rally on May Day in 2007, about 4000people reached the Collectors office and submitted a memorandumdemanding work under NREGA and proper implementation of the


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The GMS also organised village level and taluka levelawareness workshops for activists that was instrumental

in ensuring that all families that had demanded work

received 100 days of work and were paid more than 100Rs. per day.

The GMS in 2008 also ensured that nuclear families were

taken as the basis for job cards. They have also ensured

payment of minimum wages to all workers. In additionthey have ensured settlement of accident claims at

worksites.

When repeated complaints to the district administration for

conducting relief work for employment in the village inKhanpur taluka did not work, the union filed a Special Civil

Application at the Gujarat High Court.

They demanded that employment be provided to them or

else they are paid unemployment allowance as per the

provisions of the Act. The High ordered in favour of the


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OBJECTIVES

to preserve and develop unions as centres of resistance against capital and asdemocratic self-organising institutions of workers.

to struggle against all forms of economic exploitation, caste, gender, ethnic andother social discrimination and oppression.

to recognise the principle of class struggle for achieving higher standards ofliving for working people and the emancipation of society from all exploitation.

to recognise womens work, both paid and unpaid, in the economy and thefamily.

to promote fraternity, solidarity, and unity among diverse sections of internationalworking people on the basis of equality and the self-respect of nations andpeoples.

to secure living wages, full employment, right to work, right to livelihood, socialsecurity and civic needs for all working people.

to build a democratic trade union movement through the education of members:one that contributes to effective participation in and control of unions by

members and to developing fraternal relationships between unions andfederations.


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to universalise the principle of the secret ballot for the recognition of a representativeunion of workers in a workplace.

to encourage and enable the participation of labour in the political life of the local,state, national and international community and the exercising of their rights and

responsibilities as citizens to deepen and broaden the democratisation of state andsociety.

to enhance the participation of women in unions and in leadership positions to enableunions to become instruments for shaping the lives of women and men at work, in thefamily and in society.

to promote the organisational unity of all workers on an industrial basis and to pursuea policy of a single, democratic union in a workplace and one federation in an industry,independent of governments, employers and political parties.

to promote educational, research, cultural, media and communication institutions ofthe labour movement for the cultural and knowledge development of working peopleand to build general will in support of the interests, beliefs and values of the labour

movement.

to promote the organisation of unorganised labour on the basis of the unity of interestat the industrial or sectoral level.

to associate with non-union organisations that share the broad aims and objectivesof NTUI and contribute effectively to unionisation, collective bargaining, andcampaigns.


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ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

The NTUI shall consist of1. Affiliate unions

2. Associate organizations

3. Delegates of the Quadrennial General

Assembly4. General Council

5. Executive Council

6. Secretariat

7. Forums8. State Councils and other State Bodies

9. Industrial Councils


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AFFILIATES

The NTUI may affiliate to itself any trade union,

registered or if in existence for at least one year. The trade union seeking affiliation shall make an

application to the General Secretary of the NTUI,The Executive Council shall have the power to

authorise to issue a certificate of affiliation to theapplicant union on receipt of their affiliation fee.

Any organisation or alliance of working people, otherthan trade unions, which has a concern for labourand supports/complements trade union movementand subscribes to the general aims and policies ofthe NTUI, may become an associate of the NTUI.

ASSOCIATES


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GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The General Assembly shall be the supreme body of

the NTUI and all its decisions shall be by a majority vote, except ifotherwise provided in the constitution.

All affiliated unions shall be represented at the General Assemblyby a minimum of one elected delegate and more on the basis ofone elected representative for every 500 members or part thereofexceeding 200 members.

The regular General Assembly shall be held every four yearsbeginning from 2009. The time and place of holding the Assemblyshall be decided by the Executive Council and informed to all

affiliated unions and associates through at least a 90-day notice.

The affiliated unions shall elect delegates for the GeneralAssembly at least 15 days prior to the General Assembly andsubmit the names of the delegates to the General Secretary.


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MERGER AND DISSOLUTION

The decision for merger or dissolution of the NTUI shall

be decided only by a special General Assembly called for

that purpose and by a resolution for merger or dissolution

that is adopted by a three-fourth-majority vote of electeddelegates present at the special General Assembly.


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GENERAL COUNCIL

The General Council shall consist of 1) all the office bearers and 2)elected delegates of affiliate unions on the basis of one representative forevery 2000 members or any part thereof exceeding 1000.

All unions having a membership of more than 1000 shall have a right tonominate one person in the General Council.

The associate organisations shall be represented ordinarily by onedelegate each in the General Council provided that such delegates do notexceed ten percent of the total delegates in the General Council.

The General Council shall have the powers to nominate or co-opt

members in the council.

The General Council shall meet at least once between two GeneralAssemblies or on requisition from the members representing one-half ofthe Executive Council or one-fourth of the affiliated unions at the previousGeneral Assembly or General Council as the case may be. The regularGeneral Council shall be held within two years from the General Assembly.


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EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

The Executive Council shall consist of the President, General Secretary,

Treasurer and the Secretaries and all Presidents and Secretaries of statecouncils and industrial/ sectoral councils who shall be members of theExecutive Council.

The Executive Council shall elect from among its members such number ofVice Presidents and Joint Secretaries as decided by the Executive Counciltaking into consideration organisational needs.

The Executive Council shall have the power to co-opt any member to theExecutive Council from among the delegates at the last General Council orGeneral Assembly.

The Executive Council shall be the governing body of the NTUI between

General Councils and shall ordinarily meet every 6 months. A specialExecutive Council meeting can be called either by the Committee of OfficeBearers or by requisition from at least one-half of the members of theExecutive Council. The General Secretary or any other Secretary sodelegated, shall be responsible for convening the EC and give at least 15days notice of such meeting with the agenda and relevant papers to all themember.


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SECRETARIAT

The Secretariat shall comprise of the General Secretary, theSecretaries, the Treasurer and Staff-Officers appointed by theGeneral Secretary in consultation with the Committee of OfficeBearers. The Secretariat shall meet at least once a month. TheGeneral Secretary, or in the absence of the General Secretary, a

Secretary so delegated with this responsibility shall preside overmeetings of the Secretariat.

The Secretariat shall act as the executive body of the Committeeof Office Bearers and will report to the Committee of Office

Bearers.

The General Secretary shall have the power to appoint staff andstaff-officers and can nominate such officers to represent thefederation. Such officers shall have delegated authority to

represent the federation.


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FORUM

The NTUI shall have Fora to provide for the autonomousdevelopment of policy focus, campaign, and mobilisation onspecific issues or positions that are consistent with the aimsand objectives of the NTUI.

The General Council on its own or on a proposal supported by

ten percent of the General Council members shall have thepowers to decide and authorise the formation of Fora withinthe NTUI and such fora shall be treated as a Fora of the NTUI.

A proposal for the formation of a Forum shall be submitted tothe General Secretary signed by at least ten per cent of theGeneral Council members.

The Executive Council shall, in consultation with suchmembers of the General Council supporting the proposal,finalise a policy framework and organisational rules for the

internal functioning of the Forum consistent with the aims andob ectives of the NTUI and submit the same for decision in the


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COUNCIL

All affiliated unions and associates shall constitute the State/Local Council as the case may be.

The NTUI shall encourage unions unaffiliated to the NTUI tojoin the State/Local Councils in order to promote the solidarityand unity of the working class in the states and regions, and

such unions shall have equal right in decision-making as perthe procedure framed by the State Councils.

The State Council can take decisions regarding the office-bearers and procedures for its functioning but shall have at

least a President and a Secretary with the President andSecretary being members of affiliated unions.

The State Council may in the interest of wider participation,elect from among them or nominate a person of Emeritusstatus for long-standing contribution to the union movement asChairperson of the State council.


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INDUSTRIAL COUNCIL

The General Council shall decide and authorise the formation of Industrial Councils onits own or when two or more affiliated unions from at least two states in the same

industry or sector seek the formation of an Industrial Council.

The Industrial Council shall be an autonomous organisational entity associated withthe NTUI to promote the unity of interests and strategic convergence for organising andcollective bargaining and for regulating the industry or sector for labour and the generalinterest of society.

All affiliated unions and sections of general unions, which have members in an industryor sector, shall constitute the Industrial Council.

All unions not affiliated to the NTUI may join the Industrial Councils and such unionsshall have equal rights in decision-making of the Council as per rules and regulationsframed by the Council.

Each Industrial Council shall have at least two office-bearers, a President and aSecretary. Such President and Secretary shall be members of affiliated unions ofthe NTUI.

In the event of an issue of a difference of opinion between the Executive Council and anIndustrial Council the matter shall be referred for decision to the General Council whereall members of the concerned Industrial Council shall be invited.


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Relevance

For industrial peace:Decisions taken through he process of collective

bargaining and negotiations between unions and

employer are more influential

Effective communication between the workers

and the management

Economic Development

Recruitment and selectionDiscipline among workforce

Settlement of ID in a rational manner


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Employment protection and job creation Economic protection

Social status- identity

Political role- democratic institution Societal obligation- transformation

Competitiveness and sustainable development


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THANK YOU

Documents

National Trade Union Initiative