Abstract
AbstractDespite nearly three decades of ostensibly pro‐employer economic reforms in India, trade union membership and density in India appear to have risen. Although similar trends have been reported and investigated in other emerging economies such as China and South Africa, the union revival thesis in India is yet to be fully explored. Using large‐scale official survey data from 1993–1994 to 2011–2012 and primary data collected through 56 interviews with key stakeholders, this paper investigates the patterns of union membership growth in India. Findings indicate varying degrees of growth in union membership across all industrial sectors and employment types. We draw upon theoretical insights from economic theories of union growth, comparative politics and social movement unionism to explain union membership growth in India.
Highlights
Trade unions globally are facing challenges of declining membership levels and weakening collective representation in the wake of neo-liberal economic policies followed by governments of various political persuasions (Chor & Freeman, 2005; Connolly et al, 2014)
If there has been a rise in aggregate union membership and density in India during the periods of economic reforms, it leads us to obvious questions—Where are these union members? Which industrial sectors have shown a growth in union membership levels? We looked at the type of employment, that is, regular salaried versus casual employment, to ascertain the profile of union members by the nature of their employment
We examined union membership growth in India over nearly two decades of neo-liberal economic reforms
Summary
Trade unions globally are facing challenges of declining membership levels and weakening collective representation in the wake of neo-liberal economic policies followed by governments of various political persuasions (Chor & Freeman, 2005; Connolly et al, 2014). Socio-political climate that may result in favourable or unfavourable labour laws being enacted by the state, strategic union decisions to invest resources in rank-and-file organizing and role of the union leaders in framing issues to galvanize union membership and secure wider public support to their cause are important factors that may explain union growth or decline. To capture their effects through econometric modelling is fraught with problems and may yield unreliable results. We reviewed unions' campaign literature and their official submissions to Labour Commissions, judicial verdicts on labour issues and government reports on industrial relations
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