Over the years, trade unions in India have been taken for a ride by outside, political leaders. In the process, the interests of workers and their aspirations have been totally neglected. The Trade Unions Act, 1926, did not go for recognizing a representative union. As a result multiple unions have cropped up, often with blessings from management and outsiders. The union finances have not been very sound in the beginning. The average membership figures for each union remain poor and have not improved. The forces of liberalization unleashed in early 90s have strengthened the hands of employers in closing down unviable units. The new corporate ‘mantras’ productivity, performance, efficiency, survival of the fittest have virtually pushed them to the wall-where their very survival looks uncertain.