IMPLEMENTATION – I  SECTION

 

·                     Recognition of unions under the Code of Discipline in respect of industries / undertakings in the Central Sphere.

·                     Rendering assistance in securing recognition to unions in multi-state establishments which are in the State sphere, as and when such requests are received.

·                     Verification of membership of unions in Major Ports and Docks for the purpose of allocation of seats in the Port Trusts and Dock Labour Boards.

·                     Verification of membership of unions operating in nationalized Banks and SBI for the purpose of identifying the representative union for appointment of workmen, Directors on the Boards of Nationalized Banks.

·                     Rendering advice / clarification in matters of withdrawal / de-recognition of unions, criteria for recognition of unions, verification procedure rights and privileges of recognized and unrecognized unions etc.

·                     General verification of membership of trade unions.

·                     Implementation of the Code of Discipline.

·                     Implementation of awards under the Industrial Disputes Act.

·                     Screening of proposals for appeal against industrial awards under the Industrial Dispute Act by Public Sector Undertakings.

 

SCREENING  PROCEDURE

 

            According to the screening procedure as approved by the Committee of Economic Secretaries in its meeting held on August 1, 1964, the Public Sector Undertakings are required to consult the Administrative Ministry concerned whenever they have to file an appeal challenging the award of the Tribunal etc.  The Administrative Ministries are invariably required to consult the Ministry of Law and Justice and Ministry of Labour before filing a Writ Petition in the High Court.  If the Labour and the concerned Administrative Ministries do not agree with the decision, the matter is to be taken to the Committee of Economic Secretaries.

 

CRITERIA FOR RECOGNITION OF UNIONS

 

·                     Where there is more than one union, the union claiming recognition should have been functioning for at least one year after registration.  Where there is only one union, this condition would not apply.

 

·                     The membership of the union should cover at least 15% of the workers in the establishment concerned.  Membership would be counted only of those who had paid their subscriptions for at least three months during the period of six months immediately preceding the reckoning.

 

·                     A union may claim to be recognized as a representative union for an industry in a local area if it has a membership of at least 25% of the workers of that industry in that area.

 

·                     When a union has been recognized, there should be no change in its position for a period of two years.

 

·                     Where there are several unions in an industry or establishment, the one with the largest membership should be recognized.

 

·                     A representative union for an industry in an area should have the right to represent the workers in all the establishments in the industry, but if a union of workers in a particular establishment has a membership of 50% or more of the workers of that establishment it should have the right to deal with matters of purely local interest, such as, for instance, the handling of grievances pertaining to its own members.  All other workers who are not members of that union might either operate through the representative union for the industry or seek redress directly.

 

·                     In the case of trade union federations which are not affiliated to any of the four central organizations of labour, the question of recognition would have to be dealt with separately.

 

·                     Only union which observe the Code of Discipline would be entitled to recognition.

 

MEMBERSHIP OF CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS

 

A.          Verification of membership of unions affiliated to the Central Organisation of Workers in the Country is one of the important functions of this organization.  Representations of Labour on the Tripartite Bodies, Development Councils, Committees, Boards, etc. at national and international level (including ILO) are granted on the basis of the results of general verification.

B.          The Ministry of Labour & Employment decided to conduct verification of membership of trade union organizations with December 31, 1997 as the date of reckoning.  However, the matter pertaining to date of reckoning was sub-judice for long time.  The case has recently been disposed off by the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi by deciding 31.12.2002 as date of reckoning.  Accordingly the Ministry has issued a notification on 1.11.03 calling claims/applications from the Central Trade Union Organisation by 31.1.04 to conduct the general verification of CTUs. The verification was conducted by CLC(c) through their field offices in 2007. Final verified membership of CTUs as accepted by Standing Committee was submitted to this Ministry on 31.12.2007. Accordingly, the verified membership of CTUs was issued to all concerned on 11.1.2008.  

C.          The position of membership of Central Trade Unions in the earlier general verification carried out with date of reckoning 31.12.80, 31.12.89 and 31.12.2002 is as under:-

 

S.No.

Name of Trade Union

Membership with date of reckoning as on 31.12.1980

Membership with date of reckoning as on 31.12.1989

Membership with date of reckoning as on 31.12.2002

1.

INTUC

22,36,128

26,92,388

39,54,012

2.

BMS

12,11,345

31,16,564

62,15,797

3.

HMS

7,62,882

14,80,963

33,38,491

4.

UTUC(LS)

6,21,359

8,43,256

13,73,268

5.

NLO

2,46,540

1,38,877

-

6.

UTUC

1,65,614

5,84,523

6,06,935

7.

TUCC

1,23,048

2,30,139

7,32,760

8.

NFITU

84,123

5,29,762

6,03,219

(DHN-569599

KOl-33620)

9.

AITUC

3,44,746

9,38,486

34,42,239

10.

CITU

3,31,031

17,75,220

26,78,473

11.

HMKP

-

3,516

-

12.

IFFTU

-

428

-

13

SEWA

-

-

6,88,140

14

LPF

 

 

6,11,506

15

AICCTU

 

 

6,39,962

16.

TOTAL

61,26,816

1,23,34,142

2,48,84,802

 

 

 

D.          The general verification of Central Trade Unions with date of reckoning as on 31.12.2002 checking of records and sampling is in process/progress.

 

 

               CODE OF DISCIPLINE IN INDUSTRY

 

 

 

I.          To maintain Discipline in Industry both in public and private sector there has to be (i) a just recognition by employers and workers of the rights and responsibilities of either party, as defined by the laws and agreements (including bipartite and tripartite agreements arrived at all levels from time to time) and (ii) a proper and willing discharge by either party of its obligations consequent on such recognition.

 

The Central and State Governments, on their part, are required to examine and set right any shortcomings in the machinery they constitute for the administration of labour laws.

 

To ensure better discipline in industry.

 

 

II.         Management and Union(s) agree

 

(i)         that no unilateral action should be taken in connection with any industrial matter and that should be settled at appropriate level.

 

(ii)        that the existing machinery for settlement of disputes should be utilized with the utmost expedition.

 

(iii)       that there should be no strike or lock-out without notice;

 

(iv)       that affirming their faith in democratic principles, they bind themselves settle all future differences, disputes and grievances by mutual negotiation, conciliation and voluntary arbitration;

 

(v)        that neither party will have recourse to (a) coercion,  (b)  intimidation,  (c) victimization or (d) go-slow;

 

(vi)       that they will avoid, (a) litigation, (b) sit-down and stay-in strikes and (c) lock-outs;

 

(vii)      that they will promote constructive co-operation between their representatives at all levels and as between workers themselves and abide by the spirit of agreements mutually entered into;

 

(viii)      that they will establish upon a mutually agreed basis, a grievance procedure which will ensure a speedy and full investigation leading to settlement;

 

(ix)       that they will abide by various stages in the grievance procedure and take no arbitrary action which would by-pass this procedure; and

 

(x)        that they will educate the management personnel and workers regarding their obligations to each other.

 

III.        Management Agree.

 

(i)            not to increase work-loads unless agreed upon or settled otherwise;

 

(ii)        not to support or encourage any unfair labour practice such as (a) interference with the right of employees to enroll or continue as union members, (b) discrimination, restraint or coercion against any employee because of recognized activity of trade unions and (c) victimization of any employee and abuse of authority in any form;

 

(iii)       to take prompt action for (a) settlement of grievances and (b) implementation of settlements, awards, decision and orders;

 

(iv)       to display in conspicuous places in the undertaking the provisions of this code in the local language(s);

 

(v)       to distinguish between actions justifying immediate discharge and those where discharge must be preceded by warning, reprimand, suspension or some other form of disciplinary action and to arrange that all such disciplinary action should be subject to an appeal through normal grievance procedure;

 

(vi)       to take appropriate disciplinary action against its officers and members in cases where enquiries reveal that they were responsible for precipitate action by workers leading to indiscipline; and

 

(vii)      to recognize the union in accordance with the criteria (Annexure-I) evolved at the 16th Session of the Indian Labour Conference held in May 1958.

 

 

IV.       Union(s) agree -

 

(i)            not to engage in any form of physical duress;

 

(ii)        not to permit demonstrations which are not peaceful and not to permit rowdyism in demonstration;

 

(iii)       that their members will not engage or cause other employees to engage in any union activity during working hours, unless as provided for by law, agreement of practice;

 

(iv)       to discourage unfair labour practices such as (a) negligence of duty, (b) careless operation, (c) damage to property, (d) interference with or disturbance to normal work and (e) insubordination;

 

(v)        to take prompt action to implement awards, agreements, settlements and decisions;

 

(vi)       to display in conspicuous places in the union offices, the provisions of this  Code in the local language(s), and

 

(vii)      to express disapproval and to take appropriate action against office-bearers and members for indulging in action against the spirit of this code.