When we all clap together: Labour unions as agents of development for informal cremation workers in Tamil Nadu

<p>While labour unions have a history of helping lift working people out of poverty in Western countries, their place in development is unclear. Mainstream development literature typically sees their potential contribution to development to be limited and waning as they are replaced by new, more dynamic actors. This dismissal of labour unions from the development sphere appears to stem largely from their inability to effectively support workers in the informal economy of developing countries, whom are the most likely to face injustice and poverty. In order to address the question of whether labour unions can be agents for development of informal workers this thesis examines a case study of the Mayana Vettiyangal Sangam, a labour union of informal cremation workers in Tamil Nadu, India. Through semi-structured interviews with 39 members and supporters of the labour union, this thesis explores both the mechanics of the Mayana Vettiyangal Sangam and what it has achieved for its cremation worker members. It sets out to understand what strategies can be employed for informal workers to undertake collective bargaining and how effective these have been at delivering livelihood improvements for the cremation workers in Tamil Nadu. It also assesses both the functions of the Sangam and what it has achieved, against three principles of ‘good development’ – participation, sustainability and equity. The findings show that through a mixture of innovative strategies the cremation workers in Tamil Nadu have been able to achieve some livelihood improvements and do so in a manner which is both participatory and equitable. It suggests that despite challenges, labour unions can be agents of development for informal workers and their potential contribution to development should not be overlooked.</p>

When we all clap together: Labour unions as agents of development for informal cremation workers in Tamil Nadu

<p>While labour unions have a history of helping lift working people out of poverty in Western countries, their place in development is unclear. Mainstream development literature typically sees their potential contribution to development to be limited and waning as they are replaced by new, more dynamic actors. This dismissal of labour unions from the development sphere appears to stem largely from their inability to effectively support workers in the informal economy of developing countries, whom are the most likely to face injustice and poverty. In order to address the question of whether labour unions can be agents for development of informal workers this thesis examines a case study of the Mayana Vettiyangal Sangam, a labour union of informal cremation workers in Tamil Nadu, India. Through semi-structured interviews with 39 members and supporters of the labour union, this thesis explores both the mechanics of the Mayana Vettiyangal Sangam and what it has achieved for its cremation worker members. It sets out to understand what strategies can be employed for informal workers to undertake collective bargaining and how effective these have been at delivering livelihood improvements for the cremation workers in Tamil Nadu. It also assesses both the functions of the Sangam and what it has achieved, against three principles of ‘good development’ – participation, sustainability and equity. The findings show that through a mixture of innovative strategies the cremation workers in Tamil Nadu have been able to achieve some livelihood improvements and do so in a manner which is both participatory and equitable. It suggests that despite challenges, labour unions can be agents of development for informal workers and their potential contribution to development should not be overlooked.</p>

Ethical evaluation of Labour Union strikes in Nigeria and the religious value of the dignity of labour

Agitations by labour unions in the country have become a recurring decimal and this has led to a series of arrests and death of members in the course of fighting for their legitimate rights of improved welfare packages. In this incessant face- off between government and labour unions in the country, many scholars have written voicing the opinions. While some blamed successive government on their insensitivity to the plight of Nigerian workers, others condemned the actions of workers as falling below expectation as many are inefficient and incompetent. But, an area where attention has not been focused on, has to do with the value of dignity of labour among the Nigerian workforce. It is therefore pertinent to take a critical look at the religious value of the dignity of labour vis - a - vis the attitudes of those in the corridors of power and the plight of workers who are the fulcrum on which the economy upon which any nation stands. It is in light of this that this paper will examine among other things, strike actions in Nigeria, and the meaning of ‘dignity of labour’ from a religious perspective. Lastly, a clarion call will be made on stakeholders in labour matters on the need toaddress the lingering gridlock between government and labour unions in the country in order for the efforts of the present administration at revamping the economy not to be a mere waste of time .

Trade union community membership: exploring what people who are not in paid employment could contribute to union activism

The industrial relations literature tends to argue that workers join trade unions primarily for instrumental reasons, for example, to obtain assistance if there is a problem at work. But this clearly does not apply to people who are not in work. It is in many ways counterintuitive to join a trade union when one is not an employee or in paid employment, looking for a job, or retired. Generally, there is little material benefit in doing so. Others have noted, however, that personal values, particularly associated with the ideological left, can cultivate a predisposition toward joining a union that is not based on a purely material calculus. Nevertheless, this analysis is usually applied to workers. The research reflected in this article aims to understand the motivation of people who are not in paid employment, such as jobseekers/unemployed, students and retirees, to join labour unions and become active within them. It does so through a case study of the United Kingdom’s largest private sector union, Unite, and considers the contribution to, or rationale for, union activism within community membership and the possibilities for rethinking trade unionism beyond its traditional workplace base.

Politicising digital labour through the politics of body

By analysing the recent emerging labour movement of Korean digital game workers, this article seeks to explore a relatively novel issue – the importance of a politics of body in digital labour. By employing Elaine Scarry’s concept of ‘language of agency’ and ‘analogical substantiation’, the article first investigates how digital game workers express their work experiences and their embodied pain by analysing the mechanism of ‘crunch’ practice. Second, by examining ‘karoshi (overwork to death)’ and a series of suicides of digital game workers in Korea, it seeks to explore the problem of death as the final form of bodily pain – focusing on how these death events led workers to develop new forms of politics and solidarity by organising labour unions. Finally, by analysing the newly established digital game worker unions’ opposition to the violation of worktime regulation as a ‘struggle for recognition’, this research illuminates how digital game workers not only acquire self-respect but also achieve social recognition for their bodies as working labour. By examining this labour union organisation practice in Korea, the study ultimately argues that recognising the politics of body in digital labour offers the possibility that an emerging social category of precariat can actually co-exist and connect with the existing social class of proletariat. JEL Codes: J50, J81, L86

Income Inequality in the United States and Europe

This paper concentrates on comparing the policies implemented in the United States of America and European Union after the 1960s which led to the inequality tends among the respective populations. Data comparison between the top 1% and bottom 50% households show significant increase in inequality in US whereas Europe has been successful in stabilizing these trends. Various factors such as role of European Union, role of Labour unions, Education, tax, and transfer policies are thoroughly explained with relevant data from various sources.

Critical Review of Recruitment and Selection Methods: Understanding the Current Practices

The current paper is a critical review of the literature on the various recruitment and selection techniques that are actively used for staffing purposes. Different studies on the topic have highlighted the important role of recruitment and selection techniques in improving organisational performance. Critical review of the literature has outlined that advertisement, contracting agencies, employee referrals, labour unions and electronic recruitment approaches are some of the commonly and actively used sources for attracting candidates at present. For selection process, interviews, supervisors` approvals, reference checks, physical examination and online interview procedures are commonly used practices. The review has also discussed that the ongoing COVI-19 Pandemic has pushed many small, medium and large businesses to used electronic platforms for recruitment and selection. The review also discussed that social media platforms have become a much common facility for staffing activities and are increasingly becoming popular for all sorts of workforce sourcing needs for businesses globally.

The Nigerian Declaration Project and Actors’ Commitment to Industrial Peace in Nigeria

This article examines the linkage between the Nigerian Declaration Project and the levels of commitment to industrial peace among the employers’ associations, labour unions and government agencies in Nigeria, through a systematic review of the relevant literature and four key informant interviews among the representatives of prominent stakeholders in the Nigerian industrial relations system. The study adopted the open-systems theory of industrial relations to provide a basis for an understanding of the circumstances that led to the implementation of the Nigerian Declaration Project and the extent of actors’ participation in its implementation as well as the outcomes of the Project at workplaces in Nigeria. Findings from the study revealed that the Nigerian Declaration Project has enhanced the levels of commitment to the pursuit of industrial peace in Nigeria, although efforts made by the Nigerian government to achieve a peaceful coexistence between labour and management at workplaces remain inadequate in Nigeria. The findings also revealed the harrowing experience of unfair labour practices and the escalation of industrial actions, including strikes and other industrial actions in Nigeria, despite the existence of the relatively new laws such as the Trade Disputes Act 2004, the Trade Union Amendment Act 2005, the National Industrial Court Act 2006, the Employees’ Compensation Act 2010, and the Pension Reform Act 2014. The article therefore recommends that the collective interests in the pursuit of justice at workplaces be intensified until a lasting peace is achieved for sustainable development of industrial relations practices in Nigeria.

Tunisian politics may grow more confrontational

Significance The country’s largest political party, Muslim democrat Ennahda, flexed its muscles with a large demonstration in the capital in late February. Concurrent protests by leftist and liberal activists have been met with harsh responses by the security services. Impacts If the political crisis deepens, the main labour unions may again take centre stage to force a resolution. Counter-revolutionary forces will look to exploit the turmoil to push for a rolling-back of civil liberties. Amid constant divisions, leaders will fail to address the main socio-economic drivers of unrest.

Holiday legislation as remedy

The chapter analyses parliamentary papers, documents from labour unions, moralist writings, and publications in the press in order to enquire into how political and legislative actors in late-nineteenth-century Britain sought to legitimize workers’ holidays. It gives special attention to the ways in which medical knowledge—with its newly gained authority—and the shift in interest from physical to emotional conditions influenced approaches to working hours, leisure time, and holiday legislation. The chapter details the ways in which shifting perceptions of health, class, gender, and emotions influenced legislation; this stands in contrast to previous research, which focused on the effect of economic interests and conditions. Similarly, it discusses how the pathologization of ‘the worker’ by the medical community helped make legislation more egalitarian and how it ultimately facilitated the inclusion of the working classes into the established middle-class holiday culture. The chapter asserts that holiday legislation gave concrete expression to a new understanding of emotions and work that ultimately took the form of particular rights. In this sense, it analyses the overlap between the emotional economy and the moral economy, revealing the relation between contested views on the significance of emotions and the legitimation of certain social practices. Furthermore, the chapter addresses a question that has been overlooked in extant research: ‘Why were watering places considered the ideal destination for workers’ holidays?’ It elucidates the influential role played by the traditional therapeutic view of watering places in converting spa and seaside resorts into major holiday destinations for all social classes.