Reasons for Unionization and Politicization of Trade Unions in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Observations indicate that, the majority of both private and public sector organizations in Sri Lanka have trade unions and a higher percentage of the workforce has some form of trade union membership. Majority of the trade unions in these organizations are branches of main trade unions affiliated to leading political parties. As it is found in this study on reasons for unionization and impact of their politicalization, a multiplicity of trade unions is in operation in the selected state organizations. This has been mainly due to people having various motives to fulfil through trade unions and in addition due to their affiliation to achieve objectives of political parties. Situations prevailing in the selected organizations are not for the wider interests of the workers and are also harmful in considering the objectives of the trade union movement in general. This has created a negative feeling among the workers about the trade unions and it is implied when looking at their reasons for unionization. As such it has become necessary to pioneer efforts in bringing the trade union activities to the right track especially in the South Asian context, for the trade unions to be contributory to the employee welfare and national development. The study proposes certain measures based on the observations in bringing the country’s trade union movement to the right path.