It was felt by Many trade union leaders that the division in their ranks was creating problems for their political and economic struggles. Therefore, there were attempts for unity immediately after the splits. As the beginning, the Railway Unions and some unaffiliated unions united with the International Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) to form the National Federation of Trade Unions (NFTU) in 1933. At another level also there was a move towards unity. The Red Trade Union Congress led by the communists and the AITUC led by radical nationalists were coming closer. They united in 1935 and the name AITUC was retained for the unified organisation. There was a strong desire for unity among the ranks of the trade unions. It was due to the intensified nationalist and anti-imperialist consciousness.
To achieve unity among the anti-imperialist forces, both the AITUC and NFTU were making intense efforts. The unity was achieved in 1940, when the NFTU merged with the AITUC and Narayan Malhar Joshi of the NFTU became its General Secretary.
In 1925, the Labour Swaraj Party of the Congress was founded in Bengal by Muzaffar Ahmed, Qazi Nazrul Islam and Hemant Kumar Sarkar. In 1926, Congress Labour Party was founded in Bombay. In 1926, the Kirti Kisan Party of Hindustan was founded in Madras.
In 1928, the Workers and Peasants Party was founded. In July 1931, Bihar Socialist Party was founded by Jai Prakash Narayana, Phulan Prasad Verma etc.
In September 1933, Punjab Socialist Party was founded. In October 1934, the All India Congress Socialist Party was founded.
DIVISION IN TRADE UNIONS
As soon as unity was achieved, division resurfaced in the organisation owing to the varying politics of the trade union leaders. World War II created this rift. Some of the trade union leaders led by Manabendra Nath Roy believed that the fascist countries were the main enemies and that the democratic countries should be supported against them.
But the majority of the trade union leaders comprising the nationalists and communists in the initial stages, while agreeing with this opinion in principle, decided to remain neutral because Britain, which had control over India, was not willing to promise independence to this country. The Roy group broke from the AITUC in July 1941 and decided to support the British Indian Government in its war efforts by not sponsoring strikes and by trying to convince the workers to raise productivity. The group set up the Indian Federation of Labour (IFL) and continued its active support to Government’s war efforts, while the AITUC maintained the stance of neutrality.