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About AITUC
All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), the first Central Trade Union of India, completes 100 years of its glorious history on 31st October, 2020. AITUC was founded in an all India conference held in the city of Mumbai with unions of various sectors from all over India on 31st October, 1920. This national organization of Indian working class was born in the midst of the anti-colonial freedom struggle of the country taking a massive shape of resistance, when in the Jalianwala Bagh, the British Army General ordered indiscriminate firing on the people gathered on Baisakhi festival day, killing hundreds of people (13.04.1919). In the anguish that followed, the rural and urban working people along with the students, teachers and other sections of the society massively participated in the non-co-operation and civil-disobedience movement called by Mahatma Gandhi.
It will be useful to briefly narrate the background, the circumstances which led to the formation of this historic organization of workers.
The beginning of the labour upsurge against the oppression and exploitation goes back to the second half of nineteenth century, with emergence of class of casual general labour during the British Raj in India. The self sufficient village economy was shattered with no new structures in place, creating impoverished peasantry and landless labour force. The dumping of cheap industrial goods resulted in millions of artisans, spinners, weavers, craftsmen, smelters, smiths, and potters etc. losing their livelihood, who could no more live on agriculture, thus turned into landless labourers. This led to widespread famines in India through the period 1850 to 1890 resulting in deaths of several lakhs and millions reduced to penuary. The anguish of impoverished masses, ruined peasantry was up in revolt which resulted in several movements even though crushed by the rulers. This background did help the 1857 revolt by princely states against the disempowering policies of British rule.
This impoverishment of peasantry and the handicrafts men pushed them towards cities to supply cheap labour for the industries. What was unknown in the past, this general casual labour was created under most exploitative conditions.
History of AITUC
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Early Colonial Economic Transformation (1839–1854)
India was being converted into supplier of raw materials and buyer for foreign manufactured goods and hence the construction of railways, development of plantation industry, tea, coffee, jute etc. was brought about. The landless labourers were employed; long term contracts imposed, any breach resulting in arrests, and became the common scenario. It was this second half of 19th century when the era of capitalism was ushered in India by the British rule. Assam Tea Company was established in 1839, the first railway line laid in Thane on April 16, 1853 and Raniganj Railway line in 1854.
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Early Industrial Development in India (1854)
The first jute mill was set up in 1854 in Calcutta with British capital whereas in Tardeo, Bombay first textile mill was set up in 1854 with Indian capital. The development of Railway helped British in Coal mining and later in iron and steel industry in Bihar. Semi-serf conditions were prevalent with no regulation. Men, women, children were laboring 16 to 17 hours a day; wages were very low, inhuman working conditions prevailed. Therefore, in this background, labour unrest was inevitable.
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Initial Labour Strikes and Protests (1827–1873)
There is evidence of strikes taking place in 1827, palanquin bearers organized a month long strike in Calcutta, in May 1862, 1200 Howrah Railway workers went on strike demanding 8 hours working day. In 1862 June, railway clerks of Eastern Indian Railway went on strike. Between1862 to 1873, there were several strikes including those of Bullock Cart and Hackney drivers of Calcutta, Laundry workers of Bombay, milk sellers of Madras and the compositors of printing press in Bombay.
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Early Worker Actions without Formal Unions
It is to be noted that the organizations of workers were not formed, but the workers were going in action. In 1866, 60 trade unions came together in America, and adopted a programme of movement to be launched for eight hours working day. In several countries there were strikes between 1820 and 1840 for shorter working hours. In Chicago in 1886 the workers agitation for fixed working hours had been soaked in blood.
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International Labour Influence and Indian Movements
Yet in 1890, 1st May was observed as Demand day for eight hours working day in several parts of the Globe. These actions were also impacting the Indian labour movement. In 1877, there was a strike in Empress Mills in Nagpur demanding wage increase; this was joined later on by the workers of Railways, Cotton Mills of Bombay and Ahmedabad, then by jute mills etc.
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Growing Labour Unrest in India (1882–1901)
The revolts took place in plantations and work was struck in coal mines. There were about 25 strikes in a span of eight years from 1882 to 1890. In the period 1891 to 1901, spontaneous working class protest actions including strikes was the scenario reflecting emergence of the solidarity actions as well as some level of class consciousness of Industrial workers.
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Rise of Working-Class Actions (1905)
This trend grew steadily in the years preceding the First World War. From 1905 onwards, there was a notable advance in the working class actions and it was more and more closing its ranks with the advance of freedom struggle in the country. A strike took place in Bombay against extension of working hours. The workers in Calcutta of printing press also struck work.
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Historic Bombay Workers Strike (1908)
Another great event of the period was the strike by industrial workers of Bombay from July 24th to 28th 1908, in protest against the pronouncement of the judgment, sentencing the popular freedom fighter Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak to six years imprisonment. There were street fights between workers and police and military of British rulers.
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International Recognition of Indian Labour Struggle
Lenin wrote about this strike, “The Indian proletariat has already matured sufficiently to wage a class conscious and political mass struggle, and that being the case, Anglo-Russian methods in India are played out”. The working class was on its onwards march to get organised in many more sectors from 1914 onwards.
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Impact of the Russian Revolution (1917)
The October Revolution in 1917 in Russia during First World War was a great impetus for Indian labour movement as the working class along with peasantry captured power for the first time in the history of mankind.
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Formation of Early Trade Unions (1917–1918)
In 1917 weavers also formed unions in Ahmadabad. In 1918 seamen organised as union and on April 27, 1918 Madras Labour Union was formed. Several other unions were formed in 1918 such as Bombay Presidency Postmen‟s Union, the Clerks Union (Bombay), Port Trust Employees Association Calcutta, Asiatic Saloon Crew Union (Bombay) etc.
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Expansion of Labour Organisations (1919)
In 1919, we find Press Employees Association Calcutta, Calcutta Tramway Employees Association, the Employees Association-Calcutta, Mechanical Workers Union, Punjab Press Association etc being formed.
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Major Cotton Mill Strike in Bombay (1918–1919)
In 1918 great strike in cotton mills of Bombay started and soon it spread to other areas with 1,25,000 workers participating by January 1919. The strike against Rowlatt Act of March, 1919 (Similar to UAPA at present) had great impact on the national struggle itself.
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Mass Labour Strikes across India (1920)
In the first half of 1920, there were 200 strikes involving 15 lakh workers. The demands were for 10 hrs working and dearness allowance. Out of 97 strikes during July to December 1920, only 31 ended in failure. In all other cases there were successes to some extent.
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Formation of Multiple Labour Unions (1920)
Similarly in 1920, another set of unions came into being such as Jamshedpur Labour Association, Ahmadabad Workers Union. Indian Colliery Employees Association, Bengal Nagpur Railway Indian Labour Union, All India Postal RMS Union, Imperial Bank Staff Association, Burma Labour Association, Howrah Labour Union, Oriya Labour Union, Bengal & North Western Railway Men‟s Association, BBC & I Railway Employees Union, Eastern Bengal Railway Indian Employees Association, Bombay Port Trust Employees Union, Bengal Miners Union.
The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) was founded on 31 October 1920 in Bombay (Mumbai). It became the first national trade union federation in India representing workers across industries.
Renowned freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai became the first President of AITUC and helped organize the early labour movement in India.
AITUC began organizing workers from major industries such as textile mills, railways, plantations, and ports, strengthening the labour movement across India.
AITUC actively supported the Indian freedom movement, mobilizing workers against colonial exploitation and unfair labour practices.
Trade unions affiliated with AITUC grew rapidly across the country, bringing together workers from multiple sectors.
After India gained independence, AITUC focused on strengthening labour laws, workers’ rights, and social justice policies in the new democratic nation.
AITUC played an important role in organizing workers in steel plants, coal mines, manufacturing industries, and public sector enterprises.
The organization actively campaigned for minimum wages, job security, social security benefits, and workers’ welfare schemes.
During economic liberalization, AITUC raised concerns about privatization, contract labour, and job insecurity, advocating protection for workers.
AITUC participated in many national strikes and labour movements, highlighting issues like employment rights, fair wages, and workers’ safety.
AITUC strengthened its presence among unorganized sector workers, including construction workers, transport workers, and agricultural labourers.
AITUC celebrated 100 years of its historic journey, marking a century of struggle and achievements in protecting workers’ rights.
Today, AITUC continues to represent millions of workers across India, working to ensure dignity, equality, and justice for the working class.
