CHAPTER - III

Trade Unions in Sangli Division of MSRTC

CHAPTER THREE / TRADE UNIONS IN SANGLI DIVISION OF MSRTC.

3.1 I introduction:

The Sangli Division of the MSRTC was established

in 1970 consequent to the growing public pressure for road

transport facilities within the district. As a matter of policy/

the territorial jurisdiction of an MSRTC's Division is limited

to the geographical boundaries of the district. Accordingly/

Sangli Division also exerts its control over the operations

in the geographical area of the Sangli District. The Division

is further divided into nine depots/ viz. Sangli/ Miraj/ Jat,

Atpadi/ Vita/ Tasgaon/ Shirala/ Islampur and Kavathe-Mahankal.

Moreover, the Divisional Workshop is located at Chandanwadi

near Miraj city/ about 10 kms. from the district headquarters.

In the Sangli Division/ initially there was a fleet

of 581 buses running over 900 routes in every corner of Sangli

district. "Die total length of these routes was 49/142 kilometres.

Daily about 2,00,000 passengers travelled in the ST buses

operated by the Division and the number of employees was 4/367.

Hie Division also operated 46 long distance services (250 kms. and above) as well as 21 night-services.1

Sangli Division has to meet the road transport needs

of a population scattered in 718 villages. Due to the easy

availability of transport, there is a spread of education, social

welfare, medical facilities and industrial development.

(19)

The development of backward areas cannot take place

unless it is opened by roads to the free movement of people

and goods and this is made possible by the buses operated by

the State Transport. Also, the various needs of the people from

rural and urban areas are bun,j satisfied by providing more

travel facilities.

3.2 Trade Onions in Sangli Division:

There are four active trade Unions in Sangli

Division, namely:

1. Maharashtra State Transport Employees Union (INTUG)

2. Maharashtra State Transport Karogar Sanghathana,

3. Maharashtra State Transport Chalak-Wahak Sanghathana,

4. Rajya Pariwahan Gastribe Karmachari Sanghathana.

Out of the above trade unions, the Maharashtra State

Transport Employees Union is affiliated to the INTUG (Indian

National Trade Union Congress). The remaining three trade Unions,

viz. Kamgar Sanghathana, Chalak-Wahak Sanghathana and Gastribe

Sanghathana, are not affiliated to any central body. The kamgar

Sanghathana strives to establish socialistic order of society.

On the other hand, Chalak-Wahak and Gastribe Sanghathana are

working for specific classes of the employees. In other wordss,

Chalak-Wahak Sanghathana is working for the betterment of drivers

and conductors only and the Gastribe Sanghathana is working

for the betterment of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes

employees only.

(20)

3.2-A) Maharashtra State Transport Employees Union (INTUC):

The Maharashtra State Transport Employees Union (INTUC)

was established in 1950. This was the first recognized Union

in the MSRTC. The head-office of this Union is located at Bombay.

Any person employed in the MSRTC is entitled to become an

ordinary member of this Union. In the Sangli Division, this

Union has about 2340 members.

Aims and Objectives:

■mis Union has the following aims and objectives:

1. To coordinate the activities of the MSRTC employees local

unions which are affiliated to this Union and to render

them all possible help;

2. To promote economic, political, social and civic interests

of the State Transport employees;

3. To watch, secure, defend and safeguard the interests,

rights and privileges of the State Transport employees;

4. To act as a representative organization of the employees in

the transport industry and to negotiate, conclude and

revoke collective agreements on wages and service

conditions, etc., for the State Tcau .v-ort employees;5. To represent the State Transport employees at

conferences, committees or other bodies that may beheld or set up from ; s me to time;

6. To educate, prepare and encourage the State Transport

employees to take a growing part in the administration,

management and control of the organization in the

transport industry;

(21)

7. To impart education and training in order to create working

class leadership in various walks of life;

8. To co-operate and federate with the organizations in other

industries having similar aims and objectives.

). To raise funds and acquire properties by way of

subscriptions/ donations/ special levies or loans from

member-unions or other persons as may be necessary.

10. To receive aid in cash or otherwise from Government or

other institutions for education and cultural

development of the enployees.

Management:

The machinery for management of this Union is as

follows;

1. Delegate Council:

This is the supreme body for the administration of the

INTUC. One delegate is elected for each 50 members of

the Union. This Council lays down the policy for

administration of the Union. The Delegate Council elects

the following office-bearers:

1 President/ 1 Working President/ 4 Vice-Presidents,

1 General Secretary/ 1 Resident Secretary, 4 Joint

Secretaries and 1 Treasurer.

2. Managing Committee;

The Managing Committee is formed to manage and conduct

all affairs of the Union regarding collective action,

salaries and allowances of the office-bearers, etc. The

Managing Committee consists of:

(22)

1 Chairman, 1 Working President, 4 Vice-Presidents,

1 General Secretary# 1 Resident Secretary, 4 Joint

Secretaries, 4 Regional Secretaries and 1 Treasurer.

3. Standing Committee:

This Committee considers and decides the issues requiring

immediate attention and looks after the day-to-day affairs

of the Union. The Standing Committee consists of the

following office-bearers:

The President, the Working President, the

Vice-President, the General Secretary, the Treasurer,

the Resident Secretary and four Regional Secretaries.

4. Branches:

For efficient, effective and smooth working of the Union's

branches at the Division, the Central or the Regional

Workshops, regional office and the central office are

organized. Minimum requirement is 50 members in any one

of the above mentioned areas.

The Branch has its General Body and Executive Council,

The Council elects one President, one Working President,

two Vice-Presidents, one General Secretary, two Joint

Secretaries, one Treasurer and one Auditor.

5. Depot Committees:

The Depot or Workshop Committee i3 formed from amongst

the workers for a particular depot. It consists of the

members elected by the workers on the basis of one delegate

for every 20 (twenty) members. The committee elects a

Depot President, a Depot Secretary and a Treasurer. The

(23)

2term of office of all the office-bearers is two years.

3.2-B) Maharashtra State Transport Karogar Sanghathana

This Union is recognized by the MSRTC in 1955. The

head office of this Union is located at Bombay. The working

of th. Kamagar Sanghathana is restricted only upto the employees

of the MSRTC. In the Sangli Division, this Union has about 1945

member-employees.

The Union believes in democratic methods such as

legislation, education, propaganda, mass-meetings, negotiations,

demonstrations and in the last, resort to strikes and similar

methods.

Aims and Qbjectives;

Following are the aims and objectives of this Union:

1. To organize and unite the persons employed in the MSRTC

and to regulate their relations with their employers;

2. To promote, protect, improve and safeguard the rights,

interests, status and privileges of the State Transport

employees by all recognized trade union methods and

activities;

3. To promote economic, social, cultural and national

interests of the State Transport employees in alliance

with the rest of the working class; to promote friendly

feelings and foster the spirit of brotherhood and

operation amongst the State Transport employees in

general;

(24)

4. To secure to the members of the Kamgar Sanghathana fair

and decent conditions of living and service;

5. To improve efficiency of the State Transport services;

6. To provide legal assistance to the members in respect

of matters arising out of and/or incidental to their

work;

7. To endeavour to settle disputes between the employees

and the State Transport Corporation authorities amicably

by negotiations and by other legitimate means;

8. To try to prevent any reduction of wages and changes in

conditions of service;

10. To endeavour to render aid to the members during any strike

brought about with the sanction of the Kamgar

Sanghathana;

11. To obtain information with reference to the road transport

industry in India and from overseas countries;

12. To co-operate and federate, affiliate with or be affiliated

to any organization having kindered aims and objects

in India and overseas countries and to take suitable

steps to secure civil tights of the labour.

13. To take part in any democratic movement for the general

advancement and progress of the working class;

14. No general strike shall be declared unless it is resolved

by atleast 2/3rd majority in the Central Executive

Committee meeting called for the purpose.

For the achievement of these objectives, the Kamagar

Sanghathana organizes branches in the Divisions, the Central

(25)

and Regional Workshops, Central Office and in the Depots of

the M3RTC.

Management:

The machinery used for management of the Union is

as follows:

1. General Council:

This is the supreme authority of the Kamgar Sanghathana

and is vested with all the powers of the General Body.

It consists of the following office-bearers and delegates:

i) Office-bearers:1 President, 1 Working President, 6 Vice-Presidents,

1 General Secretary, 6 Regional Secretaries, 1 Head­

quarters Secretary and 1 Treasurer,

ii) The delegates are elected by the Branches on the

basis of 1 (one) delegate for every 2 members. All

of them are elected at the Annual General Meeting

except the Headquarters Secretary, who is appointed

by the General Secretary.2. Central Executive Committee:

The Central Executive Committee nonages the financial as well as the general affairs. It consists of (i) all

office-bearers of the Sanghathana, (ii) the regional secretaries, (iii) the Divisional Secretaries, and (iv) the Headquarters Secretary.

3. Branches:

For efficient, effective and smooth functioning of the

Kamgar Sanghathana, branches at the Divisions, the Central

(26)

or Regional Workshops, Regional Offices and Central office are organized. The minimum requirement of the Branch is

50 members in any one of the above mentioned areas.

The Branch has its General Council and the Executive

Committee. The Committee elects a Chairman, a Working

Cnairman, three Vice-Chairmen, one Divisional Secretary, four Joint Secretaries, one Organizing Secretary and one

Treasurer.

4. Depot Committee:

The Depot or the Workshop Committee is formed from amongst

the workers for a particular depot. It consists of not

more than 11 members including one Depot Chairman, one

Vice Depot Chairman, one Depot Secretary, two Assistant

Depot Secretaries and one Depot Treasurer.

The term of office of all office-bearers at all levels is one year.^

3.2-C: Maharashtra State Transport Chalak-Wahak Sanghathana'

This Union was established in 1984 and was recognized

by the MSRTC in 1985. The head office of this Union is located

at Poona. Any person employed in the MSRTC can be a member of the Chalak-Wahak Sanghathana. In Sangli Division, this Union

has about 195 employees-members.

Aims and Objectives:

Ihe aims and objectives of this Union are as follows:

1. To organize and unite the persons employed in the MSRTC and to regulate their relations with the employers;

(27)

2. To promote, protect, improve, enhance and safeguard the

rights, interests, status and privileges of the S.T.

employees by all recognized trade union methods and

activities;

3. To promote economic, social, cultural, political and

national interests of the S.T. employees in alliance

with the rest of the working class; to promote friendly

feelings and foster the spirit of brotherhood and co­

operation amongst the S.T.employees;

4. To secure to the members of the Chalak-Wahak Union

fair and decent conditions of living and services;

5. To irtprove the efficiency of the S.T.services;

6. To provide legal assistance to the members in respect

of natters arising out of and/or incidental to their

work;7. To ^endeavour to settle disputes between the employees

and the S.T.Corporation authorities amicably by

negotiations and by other legitimate means;

8. To try to prevent any reduction of wages and change in

conditions of service;

9. To endeavour to secure compensation for the members in

cases of accidents ■ under the Workmen's Compensation

Act;

10. To endeavour to render aid to the members during any 3trike

brought about with the sanction of the Chalak-Wahak

Sangthathana;

11. To obtain information with reference to the road transoort

industry in India and from overseas countries;

(28)

12. To co-operate, federate* affiliate with or be affiliated to

any association* union, Sabha, Panchayat, society or

organization, having kindered aims and objectives, in India

and overseas countries and to take suitable steps to secure

civic rights of the labour;

13. To take part in any democratic movement for the general

advancement and progress of the working class;

14. To generally, to take such other further steps as may be

necessary to ammeliorate social, economic, civic, political

and cultural conditions of the members;

15. No general strike shall be declared unless it is resolved by

atleast 2/3rd majority in the Central Executive Committee

meeting called for the purpose.

In order to achieve the above objectives, the Chalak-Wahak

Sanghathana organize branches in the Divisions, the Central or Regional

Workshops, Central Office and in Depots of MSRTC.

This Union is not affiliated to any central body of the

trade unions. Though the membership of this Union is open to the

employees of all categories employed in the MSRTC, from its name

itself, it mainly works for the bus drivers and conductors. This Union

also believes in settlement of disputes through negotiations and other

legitimate means.

Management :

The machinery used for the management of the Union is

as follows:

(29)

1. General Councils:

This is the supreme authority and is vested with all powers

of the general body of the Chalak-Wahak Sanghathana. It

consists of:

i) Office-bearers:

1 President, 1 Working President, 6 Vice-Presidents,

1 General Secretary, 6 Regional Secretaries, 1 Head­

quarter Secretary and 1 Treasurer, ii) The delegates are elected by the branches on the

basis of one (1) delegate for every 20 members.

2. Central Executive Committee:

The Central Executive Committee manages the financial

as well as the general affairs. It consists of : (i) all

office-bearers of Chalak-Wahak Sanghathana, (ii) Divisional

Secretaries, and (iii) Headquarters Secretary.

3. Branches:For carrrying out the work of the Chalak-Wahak Sanghathana,

efficiently and effectively, the branches are organized

at the Divisions, the Central or Regional Workshops and

the Central Office of the State Transport. Minimum requirement of the Branch is 60 members in any one of the above mentioned areas.

The Branch has its general council and executive committee.

The committee elects one chairman, four vice-chairmen,

one divisional secretary, four joint secretaries, one

organizing secretary and one treasurer.

(30)

4. Depot Committee:

The Depot or Workshop Committee is formed from amongst

the members of the Chalak-Wahak Sanghathana for a

particular depot. It consists of not more than eleven

(11) members including one Depot Chairman, one Vice-Depot

Chairman, one Depot Secretary, two Assistant Depot

Secretaries and one Depot Treasurer.

The term of all office bearers at all levels is 4one year.

3.2-D) Rajya Pariwahan Castribe Karmachari Sanghathana:'

The Castribe Sanghathana was established in 1978

and was recognized by the MSRTC in 1985. The head office of

the Union is located at Nagpur. This Union is not connected

with any political parties and is different from party and power

politics. Any person employed in the MSRTC can be a member of

the Castribe Sanghathana. In Sangli Division, this Union has

152 employee-members.

Aims and Objectives:

The aims and objectives of this Union are as follows:

1. To educate, organize and unite the persons particularly

belonging to the backward classes and generally all

employees in MSRTC and to regulate their relations

with their employer;

2. To emphasise MSRTC for filling up the reservation as well

as backlog of the backward class employes;

3. To safeguard the rights, interests, status and privileges

(31)

of all the employees by all the recognized trade union

methods and activities;

4. To promote and protect social equality, cultural and

economic interests of all the employees;

5. To provide legal assistance to the members in respect

of matters arising out of and/or incidental to their

work;

6. To endeavour to settle disputes between the employees

and the 3.T. authorities amicably by negotiations and

by other legitimate means;

7. To try to prevent injustice;

8. To endeavour to assist against the sickness, unemployment,

old age and death and also try to secure compensation

for members in case of accidents under the

Workman's Compensation Act;

9. To secure facilities, rights and privileges laid down

under the Articles of Indian Constitution and to

implement the same in the MSRTC.

This Union is not affiliated to any central body

of the Trade Unions. Enough the membership of this Union is

open to all those employed in the MSRTC, it works mainly for

the backward class employees. This Union also believes in the

settlement of disputes through negotiations and other legitimate

means.

Management:

The machinery for the management of the Union is

as follows:

(32)

1. Central Executive Committee-.

It is the supreme authority of this Union and is vested

with all the powers of the general body. It consists of

the following office-bearers:

1 Chairman, 1 Working President, 1 Senior Vice-President, 4 Vice-Presidents, 1 Chief Organizer,

4 Organizers, 1 General Secretary, 4 Additional

General Secretaries, 1 Treasurer, 1 Auditor, 11

eleven Central Executive Members.

2. Regional Executive Committee:

The Regional Executive Committee works at the regional

level. Following are the office bearers of this committee:

1 Regional President, 1 Working President, 3 Vice-

Presidents, 1 General Secretary, 2 Additional General

Secretaries, 2 Organizing Secretaries, 1 Treasurer,

1 Auditor and 11 Regional Executive Members.

3. Divisional Executive Committee:

Divisional Executive Committee works at the Divisional level with the help of the following office bearers:

1 Divisional President, 1 Vice-President, 1 General

Secretary, 2 Additional Secretaries, 2 Organizing

Secretary, 1 Treasurer, 1 Auditor and 11 Divisional

Executive Committee Members..

4. Depot Executive Committee;

This Committee works at Depot level and consists of

following office-bearers:

1 Depot President, 1 Depot Secretary, 1

Vice-President, 1 additional Secretaries, 1

(33)

Treasurer, 1 Auditor and 5 Members.

Atleast 50 members are essential to establish the

Branch. The term of office of all the office bearers, except

those at the Divisional and Depot-levels, shall be 2 years.5At Division and Depot-levels, it shall be one year.

3.3 Comparative Study of Trade Unions in Sangli Division of tlhe MSRTC.

So far as this study is concerned, there are four

Trade Unions in Sangli Division. These Unions are:

1. Maharashtra State Transport Employees Union (INTUC);

2. Maharashtra State Transport Kamgar Sanghathana;

3. Maharashtra State Transport Chalak-Wahak Sanghathana;

4. Rajya Parivahan Castribe Karmachari Sanghathana.

Following are the important points of comparison

among all these Unions:

1. Aims and Objectives:

It is observed that the aims and objectives of the

Maharashtra S.T.Employees Union (INTUC) and the Maharashtra

S.T.Kamgar Sanghathana are almost the same, i.e. to promote

and protect the economic, social, political and cultural

interests of the employees. However, their principles are totally

different.

The Maharashtra S.T.Employees Union (INTUC) aims

at the Sarvodaya ideals and stands for gradual transformation

of the existing social order. To achieve this, it believes in

(34)

democratic and peaceful means. 'Strike' is used as a last resort

by this Union.

The Maharashtra S.T.Kamgar Sanghathana strives to

establish a socialistic order of society. To achieve this

objective, this Union adopts more radical means as compared

other unions in the MSRTC.

Though the membership of the Chalak-Wahak Sanghathana

is open to all the S.T.Employees, this Union works only for

the drivers and conductors in the S.T. The aims and objectives

of this Union are like other Unions. So, this Union also believes

in settlement of disputes through negotiations and other

legitimate means.

The Rajya Parivahan Castribe Karmachari Sanghathana

works for the backward-class employees. The predominant objective

of this Union is to emphasize the MSRTC for filling up the

reservation vacancies as well as clear the backlog of the

backward class employees.

/In short, the aims and objectives of all the Unions

are almost the same. Usual demands of all the Unions are thesame. For example, there should be improvement in the working

conditions and improvement in the living standard. There should

be adequate wages, bonus for all the employees. In this

connection, there are provisions in the constitution of all

the Unions

(35)

2. Managements:

The machinery for the management of all the Unions

is the same. The main organization works through regional and

divisional branches. The central organization is generally

composed of delegates council and a central executive committee.

With a division of responsibilities among them, which is more

or less in the case of all organizations. There is negligible

difference in details regarding the number of office-bearers

or the number of members to be elected on each body.

3. Political Affiliations:Maharashtra S.T.Employees Union (INTUC) is affiliated

to the Indian National Congress.

Maharashtra S.T.Kamgar Sanghathana is not directly

affiliated to any political party but is influenced by socialism.

Chalak-Wahak Sanghathana and Castribe Sanghathana

both are not directly or indirectly affiliated to any political

parties.

4. Membership:

\s regards the membership, the Maharashtra S.T. Employees' Union (INTUC) ranks first in Sangli Division, having

about 2340 members.

Maharashtra S.T.Kamgar Sanghathana, with about 1945 members, ranks second in Sangli Division.

(36)

Chalak-Wahak Sanghathana is having about 195 members

and ranks third in Sangli Division.

Castribe Sanghathana is having about 152 members

and stands fourth in the ranking in Sangli Division.

5. Membership Fees:

Membership fees charged by Maharashtra S.T.Employees

Union (INTUC) and Maharashtra S.T.Kamgar Sanghathana are Rs.2.00

per month (Rs.24 per annum). But in case of Chalak-Wahak

Sanghathana and Castribe Sanghathana are charging Re.l per month

(Rs.12 per annum) as the membership fees.

6. Eligibility for Membership:

Any person employed in the MSRTC can become a member

of any trade union by paying the membership fees. It is observed

that the members of Maharashtra S.T. Employees Union and

Maharahtra S.T.Kamgar Sanghathana are belonging to all

designations and classes. But in case of Chalak-Wahak Sanghathana

the Drivers and Conductors are only the members of this Union.

In case of Castribe Sanghathana, members of this Union are only

backward class employees,

REFERENCES1. Mane, Kumar, Divisional Controller, Sangli Division, Mahara­

shtra State Road Transport Corporation, Interview, Sangli, dated 26.8.1989.

2. Sangle, S.T. : "Role of Trade Unions in MSRTC - A Case Studyof Kolhapur Division", (Source material), M.Phil.Dissertation submitted to Shivaji University, Kolhapur, 1988.

3. Ibid.4. Ibid.

t ii