TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Approval page ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Table of content vii Abstract viii
Chapter One: Introduction
Background of the study 1
Statement of the problem 2
Objective of the study 3
Research questions 4
Research hypothesis 4
Significance of the study 5
Scope of the Study 6
Limitation of study 7
Definition of term 7
Chapter Two: Review of Related Literature
The history and development of trade unionism in Nigeria 9
Functions and objectives of trade union 12
Legal provisions of unions vs. employers 13
Evaluation of strike as one of the test of trade union 16
Settlement of strike and legal provisions 18
The political, social and economic implication of strike 19
Strikes embarked upon by Nigerian union of teachers 21
Chapter Three : Research Methodology
3.1 Design of the study 23
3.2 Area of the study 23
3.3 Population of the study 24
3.4 Sample and sampling technique 24
3.5 Instrument for data collection 25
3.6 Validation of the instrument 25
3.7 Method of Data Collection 25
3.8 Method of data analysis 26
Chapter Four: Presentation and Analysis of Data
4.1 Presentation and analysis of data 27
4.2 Testing of hypothesis 40
CHAPTER FIVE: Summary, conclusion and recommendations
5.1 Summary of findings 45
Implication of the research finding 46
Recommendations 47
References
Appendix
ABSTRACT
This project work deals with strike action and its effectiveness in achieving union aims (A case study of Nigerian Union of Teachers). The unsuited in an all times record of cost working hours, unprecedented spate of strike. The study is focused on the following issues;(i) to identify the causes of trade dispute (ii) to find out if strike is the major tools for achieving union aims and (iii) and the effectiveness of strike action in achieving unions aims. This project also discussed the early stages and development of trade unions, legal provisions on union versus employers and the evaluation of strike as one of the tools of trade union in achieving their aims from management. Furthermore, the political, social and economic implications of strike and the various strikes embarked upon by NUT were also discussed. The third chapter covers the design of the study, population selection and sample size determination. Also are the questionnaires design, research procedure and the method of treatment of data. The data collected were presented and analyzed in chapter four in analysis, the secondary data were analyzed first using the chi-square method. Finally, based on the finding, the following conclusions, and recommendations were made. The management should try to reduce the air of dispute arising in the form by trying to avert the caused of dispute which are likely to occur. More effort should be made to integrate the whole members of the plant into the union and make them recognize the need of collective bargaining. Joint consultation should be reasserted to when disputed arises and where a strike is inevitable, the necessary steps of resolving it must be met.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Trade disputes (emergency provisions) decree, 1968 defined strike as meaning the cessation of work by a body of persons employed action in combination, or a concerted refusal or a refusal under a common understanding of any number of persons employed to continue to work for an employer in consequence of a dispute, done as a means of compelling their employer to accept or not to accept term of employment and physical conditions of work.
Therefore, strike is one word that is thorn in the flesh of management. Each time the organized labour embarked on any strike, substantial output is lost. For instance, during the first general strike of 1949 and 1993 (Asu strike) when the government disagreed with civil servants on wags and allowance, about 30 working days were lost. Output dropped substantially as a result government had to increase or enhanced their welfare packages in a bid to resolve the crisis.
Notably between 1980, 1982, 1993 and 2000 general strike respectively there was a spate of industrial and disputes and work stoppage in the country resulting in a large loss in man-hours and productivity. This spate of industrial unrest was evidently a result of lack of adequate attention to the human factor in the running of the business organization. This relegation of the human factor to the background by the management has been a serious but a latent cause of increased strike action with its resultant consequences. It is therefore the purpose of this work to probe into this and acquaint the management with tools for combating this hydra-headed monster.
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
The unstable industrial relation climate in Nigeria, within the last decade has resulted in an all time record of lost working hours, unprecedented spate of disputes and an unmatched number of work stoppages as a result of strike.
In the 1945 general strike action, Nigerian lost 45 working days, similarly, in the first six months of 1982, it was also a total of 4,598,855 man hours because of strike actions embarked upon by the workers.
This represented a 42% increase in the earlier ones during the first half of 1981 one is even more than 100% higher than the 2,244,984 man-hours. Besides these alarming strike occurrences, there are many others in the hundred not officially reported. It is against this background that this research effort is consummated with the definite mission of providing answers to the following questions.
Is strike the only effective means of achieving union aims?
If strike occurs, what are the procedures for setting them?
Are such trade disputes and industrial unrest as a result of unsettled grievance?
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of the study is to probe into the effectiveness of strike action as a means of achieving union aims from management. The study is based on a case study of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Delta State.
Specifically, the study is focused on the following issues.
To identify the causes of trade disputes
To find out the tools for achieving union demand from government
To identify the effectiveness of strike action in achieving union aims measured against the regular occurrence of strike actions.
