Indian National Trade Union Congress - Birth and Growth of INTUC

Birth and Growth of INTUC

The foundation of INTUC on 3rd May 1947-just 3 months before India attained independence. The premier trade union centre-leading the trade union movement of the country.


Acharya JB Kripalani, who was then President of the Indian National Congress inaugurated the Founding conference which was presided over by Sardar Vallabhai Patel. Among the distinguished leaders who attended the opening session were Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Shankaraaro Deo, Jagjivan Ram, BG Kher, OP Mehtab, Aruna Asaf Ali, Ram Manohar Lohia etc. and prominent trade unionists. Under the guidance of Mahatma Gandhi, the founding fathers in their wisdom preferred to let the INTUC have an independent identity with its own constitution, while at the same time functioning as an arm of the Congress. INTUC is the only one trade union centre stressing the need for a new work culture. Gandhi Ji believed that employees and employers were partners; they owned industry jointly. Capital has its power. So did labour. Both labour and capital had therefore to act as trustees of their power, holding it in trust and using it for the welfare of the society. The philosophy, thus being that of promoting labor interests as well as interests of industry that employed them. While INTUC aimed at autonomy of the labor-industry set up, the leftist and rightist trade union organizations used and exploited labor as well as industry as pawns in a political game.

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