Causes of Industrial Disputes

Broad Areas of Disputes

Relating to Trade Union
Relating to Wages, Terms of employment and Service
Conditions
Relating to Non-employment and/or perceived threats
to employment/jobs
Arising out of mismanagement
Relating to Collective Bargaining and negotiation
Resulting from change of Methods , processes ,
Technology , Machinery Layout and Output norms
External causes

Trade Unions
Formation and Registration of Unions
Recognition of Trade Unions and ascertaining the strength of TU
membership
Inter Union and Intra Union rivalries and political causes /class
conflicts
Unfair labour practices both by Management and Trade Union
Victimization, interference, questionable practices and Managed
Trade Unionism
Breach of conditions of recognition
Withdrawal of Recognition
Denial of status of Protected Workmen or action against
Protected Workmen
Violence due to political and ideological rivalries.

Wages, Terms of Employment and

Service Conditions 1
Demand for wages and better service
conditions
Disputes arising out of and during the process
of Wage negotiations.
Non-implementation of Wage settlements and
abrogation of subsisting settlements
Change of service conditions , certification of
or amendments to standing orders.

.2
Denial or withdrawal of customary concessions
Denial of benefits or change of terms of
employment
Delayed or non payment or short payment of
wages and benefits
Denial of benefits under labour laws
Unsafe/unhygienic working conditions
New conditions of service or/and terms of
employments

3
Introduction of restrictive covenants
Insistence on execution of individual or
collective contracts that are intended to
contract out legitimate rights of the workforce
or that of the management
Disputes arising out of incentive schemes ,
overtime etc
Disputes arising out of payment of bonus, ex
gratia and productivity linked bonus

Relating to Non-employment and / or perceived

threats to employment/jobs
Disciplinary actions : Punishments ,dismissal,
termination and disciplinary process
Mass retrenchment/dismissals/terminations/
transfers / lay off / loss of jobs
Conferment of permanent status for temporary ,
casual and contract labour
Imminent threat of temporary or permanent closure
of establishment
Impact due to takeovers and mergers

2
Relocation of establishment
Intra site and inter site transfers of selective
members of the workforce
Deployment of and gradual increase in
temporary , casual and contract labour..

Arising out of mismanagement

Rude conduct, suppression and dictatorial
behaviour bad man management methods
Shop floor indiscipline and its misconduct
Fractional politics
Insensitive handling of grievances and problems
Bias, prejudice and partiality
Over reliance on temporary manpower
threatening the regular workforce
Unfair profiling of workers and unjust recognition

Relating to process of Collective

Bargaining and Negotiation
Refusal or abandonment of negotiation
Threats ,blackmail , instigation and
unreasonable demands
Illegal or unjustified direct action or disruption
of work or output
Direct action during the pendency of
conciliation or arbitration
Unfair methods of influencing

2
Illegal and unjustified methods of intimidation
, coercion and disruptions
Instigation by minority or unrecognized trade
union and influence groups
Deliberate delays in negotiation process

Resulting from change of

methods,process,technology,machinery,layout and
output norms

Rationalization of manpower and

restructuring .Early separation schemes and
down sizing
Changes in output / productivity norms
Changes in working conditions
Introduction of new technologies , processes
and procedures
Modernization that may be perceived to
increase the workload or affect job security

..2
Out sourcing or sub contracting jobs done by
workmen

External to the establishment

Political directive from political parties, apex
committees of Federation of Unions
Actions perceived to undermine the
membership and/or strength of trade unions
Protests against governments policies/moves
to amend labour laws
Strikes supporting and sympathizing with
other striking workers
National level bandhs and hartals..