GLU is a women-led trade union based in Bangalore, engaged in organizing garment workers and protecting their rights. Leaders of GLU have themselves worked for many years in garment factories in the city. This experience has made them knowledgeable about the industry and sensitive to the issues of women workers. GLU aims to build the collective strength of workers in the sector and to ensure for them a life with dignity and security. It collaborates with other trade unions, civil society organisations and campaigns to improve the working conditions in the garment sector which is beset with problems. GLU engages with the government to influence labour policies and practices in favor of workers. It is currently active in Bengaluru urban and rural, Mysuru, Ramanagara, Tumakuru and Mandya districts of Karnataka state.

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Objectives

  • Organize workers in the readymade garment industry in Bangalore and other production centers in Karnataka.
  • Build the collective bargaining power of garment workers to claim their rights and entitlements.
  • Engage with the government to influence labour policies and practices in favor of workers.
  • Create a healthy industrial relations environment and promote better relationship between management and workers through dialogue and participation.
  • Ensure living wage, social security and other benefits accorded to workers by national labour laws and international labour standards.
  • Provide legal advice to workers and facilitate litigation wherever necessary.
  • Support workers to avail services of the Employee State Insurance (ESI) and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
  • Support workers to resolve domestic discord, access civic amenities and other services like child care, scholarships and career training for children of workers.

Membership

GLU membership is close to Ten thousand as of February 2024. Most members are women working in factories of various companies. There is a onetime registration fee of Rs.60 and annual membership fee of Rs.240. The executive committee consists of 19 GLU members, who are all women. The committee meets at least once in a month to discuss matters related to workers issues, activities, action plans, documentation and income/expenditure of the union.