Comments on: Trade Unions as Business Partners – The Emerging Trend? https://vivekvsp.com/2014/09/trade-unions-as-business-partners-the-emerging-trend/ The Events in Human Resources and Employee Relations space, and in My World through my eyes. Fri, 08 May 2026 11:26:15 +0000 hourly 1 By: Mugdha https://vivekvsp.com/2014/09/trade-unions-as-business-partners-the-emerging-trend/#comment-67348 Fri, 08 May 2026 11:26:15 +0000 https://vivekvsp.com/2014/09/trade-unions-as-business-partners-the-emerging-trend/#comment-67348 I am coming back to your writing post 5 years of working. I have now come to the realisation that it takes great mettle to proactively partner with unions, to actual listen to the voice on the floor amidst all management expectations. Glad I had the opportunity to read this early on

]]> By: Let's Think for India https://vivekvsp.com/2014/09/trade-unions-as-business-partners-the-emerging-trend/#comment-3540 Sun, 19 Oct 2014 09:10:46 +0000 https://vivekvsp.com/2014/09/trade-unions-as-business-partners-the-emerging-trend/#comment-3540 A role model, to be benchmarked by the interested! Worthy of projecting at the national level. Revolution of sorts!

]]> By: Abhijit https://vivekvsp.com/2014/09/trade-unions-as-business-partners-the-emerging-trend/#comment-3541 Thu, 09 Oct 2014 11:26:35 +0000 https://vivekvsp.com/2014/09/trade-unions-as-business-partners-the-emerging-trend/#comment-3541 Thank you Vivek dada for sharing this wonderful initiative of VKKS. Introspection is the first step towards progress and the Union has shown tremendous humility, pragmatism and progressive attitude. Intelligence, skills and experience reside at all levels of the organization and the true potential of employees often is not brought to the fore. This new initiative of VKKS will create a new paradigm in management's view of the blue collar workers ..

]]> By: arvind chittewale https://vivekvsp.com/2014/09/trade-unions-as-business-partners-the-emerging-trend/#comment-3546 Sat, 04 Oct 2014 17:25:39 +0000 https://vivekvsp.com/2014/09/trade-unions-as-business-partners-the-emerging-trend/#comment-3546 Thanks Vivekji for this sharing
Constructive union leadership is indeed welcome. Partnering is a must for synergy.
I particularly like the visioning at VKSS. I have always seen a sea change in union leaders attitude whenever i have goaded on vision in my training programs with union committee s.

In this case I agree with Dilip Gadekar that this is not really business partnering but a strategy in disguise.

I strongly feel that the women empowerment tag needs a serious questioning. Training women for income generation when husbands job are at stake is exploitation. It is a convenient shift of burden in the name of empowerment.
Is VKSS ensuring control of decision making of the women?
All in all the change is welcome and hope union management partnership s mature soon.

]]> By: Salil Chinchore https://vivekvsp.com/2014/09/trade-unions-as-business-partners-the-emerging-trend/#comment-3547 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 09:30:06 +0000 https://vivekvsp.com/2014/09/trade-unions-as-business-partners-the-emerging-trend/#comment-3547 Normally one experiences union as an institution of opposition rather than as an institution of governance. Most likely, the union also succumbs to this stereo type throughout its life. So, it is interesting that VKKS is operating out of the box rather than in the box (as described in Leadership & Self Deception) and trying to think differently. It is thinking like an employer, acting on 'employee welfare'. VKSS should take the management and fellow employees along in this en-devour, because this is not a path to be traveled alone. Equally, management has an opportunity and challenge like never before. Opportunity is to groom VKSS and guide them towards their vision. Challenge is to figure out what is management role in the new world!! But I must say, it is a good problem to have.

]]> By: Vivek Patwardhan https://vivekvsp.com/2014/09/trade-unions-as-business-partners-the-emerging-trend/#comment-3548 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 09:15:09 +0000 https://vivekvsp.com/2014/09/trade-unions-as-business-partners-the-emerging-trend/#comment-3548 Sumit Neogi [RIL]
As ever great insights sir. Wonder how we can communicate this to our unions. They may end up asking a Marathi version. :))

Sonali Sarma [ACC]
Good article…VVKS changed .. in the way they did things …do managements learn and change too? What changes in thinking/values do managements undergo ..what are the typical conversations that happen in boardrooms when managements also decide to be "different" " inclusive" or "progressive". What kind of HR leaders are the ones who might be catalysing these changes….all these thoughts came to my mind…when I read through.A penny for my thoughts would be welcome…or you could direct me to read something else which will help !! Good way for me to begin my day 🙂

Dipak Gadekar [Voltas]
Nice piece. But I see this more as a Contingency Management plan through self-help and self-reliance, rather than business partnering.
Hope more Unions and their leaders learn from them and prepare themselves to mitigate the fall outs of an unforeseen contingency and in the process also strengthen their bargaining capability by having a fall back plan.
Off course above all, what is of prime importance is to have a positive / constructive approach which calls for a good understanding of business economics ! Whew….

]]> By: Anonymous https://vivekvsp.com/2014/09/trade-unions-as-business-partners-the-emerging-trend/#comment-3549 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 09:10:07 +0000 https://vivekvsp.com/2014/09/trade-unions-as-business-partners-the-emerging-trend/#comment-3549 Very positive approach from the Union. We, as HR | IR managers, must try and facilitate Union leadership to think on these lines. It will surely change the dimensions of IR. – Amit Karandikar, ATUL Ltd.

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