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An Analysis of the Use of Union–Firm Bargaining in India’s Alternative Compensation Systems
Author(s): Abhay SinghAbstract
The landscape of industrial relations in India has undergone significant transformation driven by economic liberalisation demographic change structural shifts in employment patterns and evolving expectations around workplace equity. As organisations seek to adapt to competitive pressures productivity demands and globalisation compensation strategies have moved beyond traditional wage structures to incorporate flexible performance-based and participatory models. Within this context union–firm bargaining plays a central role in shaping alternative compensation systems influencing not only wage determination but also non-monetary benefits incentive structures job security guarantees dispute-resolution mechanisms and collaborative productivity agreements. This research paper examines the dynamics of union–firm bargaining in India and analyses its influence on the development and implementation of alternative compensation systems. The abstract highlights how collective bargaining has evolved from adversarial negotiation to collaborative problem-solving with unions increasingly taking part in productivity-linked pay agreements skill-development partnerships work-sharing models gain-sharing mechanisms and flexible benefit schemes.