Trade unionism in the information technology (IT) industry: An employee's perspective

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Dhar, Rajib Lochan

Affiliations: Sector 4/F, Qtr no. 1112, Bokaro Steel City, Jharkhand 827004, India. Tel.: +91 06542 275236; E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

Abstract: Objectives: This research aimed to understand the information technology (IT) employees' perception and approach towards union formation in the Indian IT Industry. Participants: Fifty IT professionals from three different organizations participated in this study who were dispersed throughout the organizational hierarchy and were selected via randomized quota sampling to reflect a mix of age, experience, gender and position they held with the organization. Methods: Qualitative methods were used in order to collect the data, through phenomenological principles. Results: Discussion with the participants led to the emergence of four themes which influence the employees' perception of trade union formation the Indian IT industry. These were: (a) feeling of a blue collar, (b) collective to individual bargaining, (c) changing role of HR and (d) other reasons. Conclusions: This study provided a tentative starting point towards the greater understanding of the employee's perceived notion of organizational life that influences employee's outlook towards trade unionism. Based on the study findings, there is an imperative that the human resource department, organizational forerunners and trade union philosophers continue to use research findings to understand employees' views about union formation in the IT industry.

Keywords: Worker, factory, blue collar, bargaining, qualitative, India

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-1425

Journal: Work, vol. 42, no. 4, pp. 481-493, 2012