Multiplicity of trade unions in india and its impact on collective bargaining

Jaishnav S; Vijayendra Kumar M

Multiplicity of trade unions in india and its impact on collective bargaining

Author(s)	Jaishnav S, Vijayendra Kumar M
Country	India
Abstract	The trade union movement is very important for safeguarding and advancing workers rights and also for fostering harmonious relations between employers and their employees. Now within the Indian context, the trade unions are particularly significant in the realm of collective bargaining which also seeks to achieve improved remuneration and favorable working conditions and enhanced job security for employees. The legal structure governing trade unions primarily comes from the Trade Unions Act of 1926. This legislation stipulates the procedures for union registration and delineates their respective rights and obligations. A significant impediment within the Indian labor relations framework is the proliferation of trade unions, with numerous unions frequently active within the same workplace or sector. Despite the legal provision for multiple union registrations, a definitive mechanism for designating a single union to represent all workers in negotiations is absent. As a result, the presence of many trade unions often leads to competition, which makes it harder to negotiate collective agreements effectively. Rather than providing a unified front for negotiations with employers, workers are often fragmented and represented by different unions with different agendas. This has often been responsible for undermining the negotiation process and generating instability in the process. In many instances, the political affiliations of trade unions are also responsible for undermining the process and generating competition. This scholarly article aims to examine the multiplicity of trade unions in India and evaluate it in terms of implications on collective bargaining. The article identifies and demarcates the legal scenario relating to trade unions, socio-political circumstances leading to multiplicity, and implications of multiplicity on trade unions. The article also attempts to evaluate the changes brought about by the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, which aims to deal with these issues through concepts of negotiating unions and negotiating councils. Through an evaluation of legal provisions, judgments, and scholarly opinions, it has been argued in this paper that despite trade unions being an essential part of labor rights, multiplicity has significantly impacted their effectiveness. The article concludes with recommendations on strengthening legal provisions relating to recognition of trade unions and institutional changes to strengthen collective bargaining in India.
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 2, March-April 2026
Published On	2026-04-16

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Multiplicity of trade unions in india and its impact on collective bargaining

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