Trade unions raise concerns over Trade Unions (Amendment) Bill

Top officials of workers' unions have raised concerns about the Trade Union Bill.

YP Gautam, general secretary, Airports Authority Officers' Association (India), the only recognized Officers' Association representing communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) executives in Airports Authority of India (AAI), the amendment is not going to be of any help as rules and regulations relating to the working of Unions are already well defined.

"The problem lies in the implementation. We do not need any further umbrella protection as such."

Gautam added that the bigger concern is who will regulate the entire process of decision making by the management, with regard to their demands. "Even the courts, when approached with our grievances, says that the decision is the prerogative of the management," he adds.

DD Ramanandan, secretary, All India Coal workers Federation affiliated to CITU, said the government is trying to amend the labour laws by bringing in certain clauses that are unlikely to benefit workers. According to him, trade unions cannot function under the new Bill. "There will be no legal protection for trade unions."

He said there have been clauses related to maternity as well which may not be beneficial to a woman. There are also clauses like fixed-term employment, which may become a detriment to regular employment in public sectors units.

"The Bill will curb the rights of the workers and it is in no way beneficial to workers and employees. This will damage and demolish the working class," Ramanandan said.