ABSTRACT
Trade unions in India emerged in the context of, and arising out of, the dynamics of state interventionist industrial relations system in a command economy. Workers’ representation has been largely dominated by conventional trade unions which were mostly affiliated to political parties. The trade union movement was highly fragmented though powerful in some sectors and regions. With the advent of globalisation as well as huge and rising informality, workers’ representation faces new challenges. However, these very forces have shaken up the docile and a rather complacent and fragmented union movement challenging it to reinvent its relevance and strategies. In response to the emergence of new voice institutions, coalitions both within and without the trade union movement, resistance to erosion of labour rights and the fight for new rights, trade union movement is becoming more inclusive. Although significant experiments are taking place in terms of expanding voice coverage, much work remains to be done.
