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07030248044ABSTRACT
This study was intended to evaluate the role of labour unions in the welfare of their members. This study was guided by the following objectives; to examine the implications of treasury single account on the banking sector in Nigeria, to examine the need for an effective labour union in Nigeria; to study the origin of labour union in Nigeria; to examine the factors affecting labour union members in Nigeria;to determine the relationship between labour union growth and development and the welfare of their members. The study employed the descriptive and explanatory design; questionnaires in addition to library research were applied in order to collect data. Primary and secondary data sources were used and data was analyzed using the correlation statistical tool at 5% level of significance which was presented in frequency tables and percentage. The respondents under the study were 100 members of the Nigerian union of teachers, Enugu branch. The study majorly focuses on the role of labour unions in the welfare of their members. The study findings revealed that labour unions play a vital role in the welfare of their members in Nigeria; based on the findings from the study, efforts should be made in strengthening labour unions in Nigeria in other to further improve workers welfare in Nigeria.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Labour unionism is part of a wider concept – the labour movement – which consists of several more or less intimately related organizations such as labour parties, workers’ mutual insurance organization, producers’ and consumers’ cooperatives by way of improving the material, cultural and social status of their members. A trade or labour union, according to Webs (1920:1) “is a continuous association of wage – earners for the purpose of maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment”. Labour unions are permanent and continuing democratic organization voluntarily created by workers to protect themselves at their work place and to improve their working conditions through collective bargaining, membership and education, political lobbying and campaigning etc and to provide an effective means of „expressing workers’ views on societal problem (Odey and Young 2008). They negotiate wages and working conditions and settle disputes (Gregorio 2004). They also provide forum through which collective bargaining is used primarily to secure improvements in workers’ wages and conditions of service (Dalhatu 2007). As Dalhatus (2007) noted, the economic pace in Nigeria is dilated of government and the large corporations – and the terms and conditions of service set by them not only influence them mutually, but also determine the standard which the small enterprise and the single employer must conform to or at least aim to attain. Fajana (1995) aptly remarked that while the single employer has always been economically stronger than the workers in terms of bargaining the terms of employment, the portion of the modern corporation and the state is even more overwhelming. This has emphasized the need today, even more than in the past, for workers to organize as a means to effectively enhance their condition of employment.
The term labour union has a variety of meanings depending on the perception of workers and the definition imposed by the legal frameworks in many countries.
Some workers organizations call themselves staff or professional associations, or senior staff associations, but all these are valid examples of labour unions. Furthermore, labour union laws in the. UK and Nigeria defines a labour union as:
“Any combination whether temporary or permanent, the principal objectives of which under it’s constitution are………. the regulation of the relationship between workmen or between masters and masters, or the imposing of restrictive conditions on the conduct of any trade or business and also the provision of benefits to members”.
An alternative definition of the term Labour union is “…an association of wage/salary earners formed with the objective of safeguarding and improving the wage and employment conditions of it’s members and to raise members social status and standard of living in the community.
The above definition emphasizes the sale and purchase of labour power as a factor of production. The emphasis on the terms, conditions of service is perhaps the factor that distinguishes labour union from social clubs and other political organization.
For although all these social groups may show interest in workers’ welfare but only the labour union is accorded the legal recognition to negotiate terms and conditions of work on behalf of it’s members.
However, the law governing the labour union formation and organization is the Labour union Acts 1973 and the Labour union Amendment Act (Decree 22) of 1978 and the Amendment Act of 1979. The law., were further amended in 1990 and 1996. The Labour unions Act Cap 437 LFN, 1990 which makes provisions with respect to the formation and general organization of labour unions. In 1996 Labour unions (amendment) Decree 4 of 1996 restructured affiliates of the Nigerian Labour Congress to 29 Decree 22 restructured Labour unions primarily along industrial line.
For it to be recognized as a labour union it has to be registered which entails to:
1. Get an application form from the registrar of Labour union.
2. Fill the form and return with the signature of at least 50 members for workers and at least 2 members in the case of employers.
3. Every registration requires the approval of the Minister of Employment Labour and Productivity.
4. Issuance of certificate of registration under the present law, 3 types of unions are recognized.
(i) Those belonging to junior workers.
(ii) Those belonging to senior workers
(iii) Those belonging to employers.
Union was formally organized in the public sector in 1912. It was the Civil Service Union (CSU) formed possibly because it was the vogue of the African Countries. In 1931, two other unions were formed: The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and The Railway Workers Union (RWU). The RWU was part of the CSU until it broke off because of dissatisfactical with the tempo with which the CSU was pursuing industrial relations activities. But the position of the CSU could be better understood if we consider the cultural environment at the time. Workers looked upon the colonial employer (largely government) as a kind of father figure. Such arbitrary paternalism connotes that the employer was revered over much with a lot of loyalty and this partly explain the slow tempo of industrial activates by the union of government workers. Besides, by definition, the civil service is supposed to be an institution of the state just like the judiciary, police or army. Clearly, it may amount to contradiction for the state to unionize against itself. This sort of sovereignty-induced arguments could have been used to brainwash civil servants and to discourage them from militant unionism. At any rate, the RWU broke off from the CSU.
Similarly, the NUT want a better forum where they could maintain good professionalism and forge a good standard of education in Nigeria. The NUT was also dissatisfied with the wide differential that existed in the wages of government teachers and their mission school counterparts, formal organization of workers into unions dated back to 1912. Yet no significant development in industrial relations took place until the late t930’s.
In 1938, the absence of legal backing for Nigeria Labour Unions was removed when the colonial administration passed the labour union ordinance into law and this facilitated the formation of new ones.
Specifically, the law allowed any group of five or more workers to form a labour union. Most of the unions that emerged were centered around one employer or one enterprise and comprised of few members indeed. The result was of course the growth of large number of ineffective labour unions, which continued until the 1970’s.
Other factor perhaps played equally important part in charting the nurse of development in Nigeria Labour union movement.
These factors are the 1939-45 world war, and the emerging nationalist movement. The war brought serious hardship both to workers and the general public in the form of acute shortages of essential commodities with the corresponding, rise in prices and stagnant money wage (Otobo, 1987). So when rationing was introduced in Lagos, workers joined labour unions in large number.
The central labour union the country is the NLC (Nigeria Labour Con tress) Labour unions to a large extent, has played a significant role in transformation witnessed in the condition of workers over time.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The poor welfare of members of labour unions in this era of economic recession has been unfortunate as it has geometrically increased poverty and lack of economic security of members of labour unions.
Analyzing the Nigerian Labour union so far, the researcher has been able to point to the fact that over the years, labour unions in Nigeria have evolved from informal to highly formal bureaucratic organizations in charge of pressing home the welfare of her members. In the process, an unstable, yet unique system of industrial relations seems to have emerged in Nigeria.
However, inspite of the apparent militancy and power of the unions, very little is known about the internal dynamics of the unions. The closest attempt (Owarieta 1997) merely addressed the general factors that lead to lack of adequate welfare for labour unions.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The major aim of the study is to examine the role of labour unions on the welfare of their members in Nigeria. Other specific objectives of the study include;
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
H0: Labour unions do not play a role in the welfare of their members in Nigeria
H0: Labour unions play a vital role in the welfare of their members in Nigeria
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study would be of immense benefit towards the improved welfare of workers in Nigeria in this time of recession as it would highlight the roles of labour unions in Nigeria with the aim of recommending ways of improving their activities as regards workers welfare in Nigeria. The study would also benefit students, researchers and scholars who are interested in developing a further study on ther subject matter by proving relevant literatures.
SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The study is restricted to the role of labour unions in the welfare of their members in Nigeria using the Nigerian union of teachers Enugu state chapter.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Labour union: An association of wage/salary earners former with the objective of safeguarding and improving the wage and employment conditions of its members and to raise members social status and standard of living in a society.
Workers’ Welfare: The general wellbeing of workers in terms of finance, status socially, economically, politically, psychologically etc.
Welfare Package: Some unions establish and operate some welfare packages like cooperative shops, award of scholarship to the children of the dependants etc.
Employer: An organization or person that pays people to work for him or her.
Employee: The receiver of employment. That is the individual being paid by the employer.
Provision of benefits to members: Early labour unions, like Friendly Societies, often provided a range of benefits to insure members against unemployment, ill health, old age and funeral expenses. In many developed countries, these functions have been assumed by the state; however, the provision of professional training, legal advice and representation for members if still an important benefit of labour union membership.
Industrial Action: Labour unions may enforce strikes or resistance to lockouts in furtherance of particular goals.
Political activity: Labour unions may promote legislation favour6ule to the interests of their members or worker, as a whole. To this end they may pursue campaigns, undertake lobbying, or financially support individual candidates or parties (such as the Labour Party in Britain) for public office.
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