Question

Give an account of Labour Movements in Tamil Nadu.

Answer 1

1. The first World War (1914-18) provided a stimulus to industrial growth in India.
2. These industries catering to wartime needs had employed a huge number of workers.
3. At the end of the War, there were retrenchments across the industries as the Wartime requirements receded.
4. Combined with high prices, this gave momentum to the labour movement.
5. The nationalist realising the value of organised labour power began to support the cause of labour.
6. B. P. Wadia, M. Singaravelar, Thiru. Vi. Ka and others initiated the formation of labour unions in the Madras presidency.
7. In 1918 India’s first organised trade union the Madras Labour Union was formed.
8. The first All India Trade Union Conference (AITUC) was held on 31st October 1920 in Bombay.
9. These included a demand for protection from police interference in labour disputes, the maintenance of an unemployment register restriction on exporting foodstuffs, compensation for injuries and health Insurance.
10. In addition, the delegates demanded that Indian workers be given some representation in the Government, just as employers, had representatives on legislative councils.
11. M. Singaravelar (1860-1946) was a pioneer in the Labour Movement activities in the Madras Presidency.
12. He organised the first over the celebration of May Day in 1923.
13. He published a Tamil newspaper Thozhilalan (workers) to address the problem of the working class.