Industrial Conflict in India : Is the Sleeping Giant Waking Up? Book

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Theoretical and Conceptual Aspects of Industrial Conflict and Strikes. 3. The Institutional Framework of IRS in India. 4. Labour Flexibility Debate and Labour Reforms Controversy. 5. A Statistical Analysis of Trade Unions and Industrial Conflict in the Post-reform Period in India. 6. Strikes and Struggles in Automobile Industry. 7. Strikes and agitations in Public Sector. 9. Strikes and Agitations by Unorganized Workers: A Study of Contract Workers. 10. Assessment and Discussion. Appendix. References.

As the forces of globalization have gained strength, the economic system in India has changed. The changes in the economic system have significantly impacted the industrial relations system (IRS). The initial impact of the forces of globalization on the collective institutions was adverse. Trade unions which were once powerful turned defensive. The incidence of strikes in general showed a declining trend. The pro-reform theorists began to dismiss trade unions and industrial conflict. Industrial relations scholars and the employers began to preach trade unions the virtues of cooperation. It is in this context the industrial relations scholars and the media in India have been struck by the stories of industrial conflict (especially workers’ strikes) and workers’ violent deeds (including murders) that have been doing rounds in the last few years on a frequency not witnessed for quite some time. The past few years thus been eventful. The economic slow down worsened the problems for labour as labour bore the brunt of the crisis in the form of lay offs and retrenchments, wage freeze and so on while the employers sought and secured the cover of state protection. The very process of reforms and the crises they have generated has provoked industrial conflicts, some even bloody. The obituaries of unions and strikes have turned into stories of union revival and return of labour militancy. These prompt us to ask the question: Is the sleeping giant of industrial conflict waking up? We seek to provide answers ton this question in this monograph. (Jacket)