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THE IMPACT OF TRADE UNIONISM ON THE GROWTH OF PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANIZATION IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF ASUP ABIA STATE POLYTECHNIC, ABA)

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Abstract

This subject of labour unrest has been a characteristic feature in Nigeria. “The question often asked is whether trade Unions are necessities of another colonial legacy which length to be retrained out of expediency. This research work therefore focused on the impact of trade Unionism and growth of public sector organizations in Nigeria. A case study ASUP, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba chapter. To justify the topic, the researcher consulted relevant textbooks on the topic as well as researches conducted by other researchers. Again, to be abreast of relevant event or development, the Internet was explored, and newspapers were consulted. The researcher found out that trade unions are necessary for harmonious working relationship and industrial peaces in organizations and the society at large. This is to say where industrial Union exists, it may not at all be possible for the employer to always turn down employers interest and request. Therefore, the researcher concluded tha

• BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Trade Union is an association formed to regulate the terms and conditions of employment of workers. Before 1938 when trade union ordinance ushered in formal trade union activities, what looked like trade unions were in Nigeria in form of trade associations, craft and professional trade association called  African  Guilds and Craft Association.

The major difference between the craft and professional trade association has what is today known as trade Union is that trade associations were formed for the benefit of workers inform of lending money to workers an dexchange of tools.  The association had welfare scheme of distressed members and attend social functions of members (Okenwa 2001:10)

 

Yesufu (1962:6) observed that group activities of the sort being deserved were  strongly rooted in the tribal structures and were widely spread. The main functions of the trade associations were  to organize  mutual aid to distressed members and  to regulate trade practices.

 

Some of the trade and professional associations that existed  before  formal trade  union Movement were: mechanic Mutual aid, Artisans and laborers in the public works department (PWD) 1887, the Nigeria civil service union 1912. Nigeria Native railway Native staff union. 1919, etc . Trade Union activities later  increased due to some reasons such as: The 1938 Trade Union ordinance. The General  Defense  Regulation, 1942, the General Strike of 1945  and other  factors  too numerous to mention.

 

Presently in Nigeria, we have industrial union  of teachers (NUT), Nigeria Bar  Association (NBA), Nigeria  Union of Journalist (NUJ) etc.

 

In the past  two decades, there have been incessant industrial action in Nigeria due to  agitations for better  conditions of services by   the trade unions. Most  at time, the Government does  not always reach  at agreement with them thereby leading to strike always. A strike can be devastating as it  could cripple  the nerve of the country’s economy. The increment  of fuel price from N45  to N52  by President Olusegun Obasanjo Administration let to four (4) day strike   that lasted between 11

th

-14

th

  October, 2004 which brought economic activities  to a stand   still.  But after much negotiation between  the Nigeria  Labour congress (NLC) President comrade Adams Oshomole and the federal Government of Nigeria  the price was  brought down  to N49 per liter.

 

Also presently the academic staff union of Universities  (ASSU) went on strike on the 22

nd

 oi June 2009 in line of the failure of the federal government to sign the agreement reached  with them on December 2008. Despite the influence of trade union in Nigeria,  there  have been  strike upon strike , why?

 

In an attempt to answer this question, this work is set out to find out if trade  unionism has really aided  the growth of public sector organizations in Nigeria Using the Academic staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), Abia  State Polytechnic, Aba as a case study.

STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

This project work dwells on Trade  Unionism and the growth of public sector  organizations in Nigeria. A case study of Abia State Polytechnic  (ASUP), Aba chapter. The study reviews and projects it looks  at attempts  by  trade unions to improved work performance.

 

Trade  Union focuses  on the quality of their employees work life, therefore will sought better ways to motivate employees, make decision, allocate power and promote team work all in attempt to enhance performance.

 

In many organizations, monetary and non-monetary motivational factors are applied on the employees to increased greater performance.

 

In consideration of this, the problem is to find out whether trade union in Abia State Polytechnic, Aba takes care of things like:

Measuring of standard of functionality and reliability covering the quality of work life of the staff. Revelation of better ways of doing things such as employee’s motivation welfare decision-making. To determine to what extent of which the activities of trade union are reliable ways through which an organization can grow. The reactions of trade unions in time of dispute.

OBJECTIONS  OF THE STUDY

The  roles  of trade  unions cannot  be over emphasized in any organization. The main purpose of this research work is to analyze and evaluate if there is actually any relationship  between  trade   unionism and the growth if public sector organization in Nigeria with special references to Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics. Based on this main purpose of the study, the following objective  are drawn:

1. To identify how the activities of Trade Union affects the performance of employees in Abia State Polytechnic, Aba.
2. To expose how much the management of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba could use trade Union as a tool for enhancing organization growth.
3. To determine to what extent trade union enhances the job security of its members in Abia State Polytechnic, Aba.
4. To evaluation how trade union has been  able to settle dispute in the organization .
5. to make relevant recommendations on the improvement of organizational growth in Abia State Polytechnic, Aba.
6. To determine to what extent non-monetary motivation like education has enhanced organizational growth.
7. To determine the extent the trade Union has inputs capacity development programmes to improve organizational growth in the school

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

In the last two decades, there has been incessant industrial action in Nigeria even now due to agitations for better condition of services since the possibility of adopting the condition of employment have need consistently high as a result of rising prices  on consumers commodities in Nigeria. It is not surprising therefore that prices have tended to rise at  an over increasing rate and in a climate of trade  union militancy.

 

At the end of research work, one will find out that the trade   union plays an important role in organizational growth and development especially in Nigeria where protection is given to the members against the social economic (i.e the government) who would have been treating their member as slaves and denying them of their rights.

 

Also, this research work  is significant for corporate bodies  like Abia  State Polytechnic, Aba in  that the subject  matter  trade Union and the growth of public sector in Nigeria and across both service rendering and profit oriented organization.. Knowing the impact of trade union will help in formulation polices that will  keep workers motivated  and bring out the best in them. With such focus , corporate bodies will be more  result oriented.

 

Finally  it is believed  that the  result of this  research work and it’s relevance  to societal needs will be of immense help to other research on such related  subject matter.

THEORETICAL  FRAMEWORK

Every good research work must be founded  on one or two theories as the case may be. This particular research is built on the group Theory.  This is the Frame work adopted in the generation and analysis of data.

 

The adoption of Group Frame work of analysis draws from the appreciation that trade union is the society constitute the focus of research represent a social group other groups in the Nigerian society.

Trade Unionism effort towards participating in the improvement and development of both workers and organizations thus, we  could talk of trade union when discussing organizational growth in the public sectors in Nigeria. The application of Group theory exposes the basis of the state polytechnic in the pursuit of public sector organizational growth.

 

It also lays bare the reason why the union is a not willing to sit by and allow the institution (school) to carry out all activities without putting the staffers perspectives into consideration.

ESSENTIAL HYPOTHESIS

H

o

: Education of Union members has no significant positive impact on the performance of staff as well as organizational growth.

 

H

i

: Education of union members has significant positive impact on the performance of staff as well as organization growth.

 

H

o:

  Strike activity of the Union has no significant positive impact on the prompt payment of staff salaries as well as their performance creative impact on the prompt payment of staff salaries as well as their performance.H

i

:  Strike  activities of the union has significant  positive   impact on the prompt payment of staff salaries as well as their performance creative   impact  on the prompt payment of staff salaries as well as their performance.H

o

: Grievance Procedure is not an effective tool for settlement of trade dispute in the organization.H

i:

      Grievance procedure is an effective tool for settlement of trade dispute in the organization.

LIMITATION AND SCOPE OF THE STUDY

Many difficulties were encountered in the course of carrying out this research. Among these are the following:

1. TIME: Time constraints was a limitation considering other things, which were competing with the researchers. As a result, the investigation were limited to when reported in this work.
2. UNEASY ACCESS TO AVAILABLE DATA: The research had a lot of problems collecting data from ASUP, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba. The reason being that some of the available documents needed for the research study were not easily released. This made things difficult a little for the researcher.

• FINACE: Money was also a hindrance  in carrying  out the research work to the desired extent. As a result of this constraint a lot of things were abridge. With sufficient money, the dept of this  study could probably have been

CLARIFICATION OF  CONCEPTS

In this study, the following terms were defined for the purpose of  clarity.

1. TRADE UNION: It is an association of wage earners for  the purposes of maintaining or improving the conditions of their workers lives.
2. STRIKE: A strike can be seen as temporary stoppage of work or services.
3. ORGANIZATION: A group of people who are united for business or commercial purposes.
4. MOTIVATION: This  is a term  employed generally for the phenomenon  involved in the  operations of incentives and drives that motivates.
5. PERFORMANCE: This is a process of carrying out work and the ability to operate.
6. GROWTH: The process for development or increasing in economic activity like profitability etc.
7. PROCESSES: A series of steps (usually prescribed learned from experience or adopted for activity) used in understanding an action.
8. EDUCATION: This is a  system  of  training and instruction designed to give knowledge  and development skills.
9. JOB SATISFACTION: It is a general level; of contentment, affection and Positive thinking or feelings employees derives from performing a task.

• GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE: this is internal or voluntary marching, which is used for dispute settlement in an organization.