ROLE OF LABOUR UNIONS IN THE WELFARE OF THEIR MEMBERS CASE STUDY OF NIGERIAN UNION OF TEACHERS, ENUGU STATE
ABSTRACT
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
