Very clear and detailed information are not available about the  formation of the first trade union in India. But there are some indications in the old records, papers etc. Accordingly the following information is given:

1. The Bombay Mill Hands Association formed in 1890.
2. The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants of India and Burmah formed in 1897.

This information was published in an article in Times of India (1958).

Indian Telegraph Association was formed in 1908 by Henry Barton, Postal Clubs which got converted in to All India Post and RMS Union(including Burmah) was formed by Babu Tarapada Mukherjee at the same time and All India Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union was formed in 1919 by V.G.Dalvi. Merging all these and other existing unions National Federation of P and T Employees was formed on 24th November 1954.

P and T Unions have been some of the first Unions formed in India. The first central trade union, AITUC was formed in 1920.