Course Description

Rationale:

The Trade Union Movement the world over has recently more than at any other time in its history come under severe stress and threats as a result of internal and external pressures that have arisen out of the changing global socio-economic relations and weakening internal capacities and capabilities to respond adequately and creatively to the challenges. Collective bargaining has come under serious survival tests undermining the capacity of the Unions as platforms for articulating, negotiating and projecting the interests and expectations of workers the world over. Terms and Conditions of employment have all worsened with dire consequences for Industrial Relations and the Socio-economic framework.

Industrial harmony has come under severe pressure thus heavily compromised in the workplace and where there is a semblance of peace, the balance is on the edge. This situation has heavy implications for the bottom line thus corporate survival especially in the long run as the prognosis is definitely not looking good. Unfortunately, the platform which workers have; the Trade Unions have also become weakened as a result of these same challenges but have paradoxically found it not too urgent to respond appropriately and adequately to these new threats. Unions being mass based organizations have its strength in its ability through its wide membership to muster both organic and wide but inclusive solidarities. With the present realities these have come under onslaught by sociological forces that have made it difficult for it to increase, maintain or renew their membership base. This fact means that the trade union movement is experiencing a continued reduction in membership with dire implications for funding thus other union operations including organizing which is at the heart of its survival.

Ideas remain the basis for future successful engagement with other partners especially as the world becomes increasingly knowledge – driven. Without adequate knowledge base, the Union will begin to operate from a weak position leaving it at the mercy of its social partners. The probability of the existence of this scenario should worry every worker and trade union activist as that would sound a death knell on the movement in Nigeria. This should also worry the discerning and proactive Management that understands the consequences of a workplace without capable and motivated leaders and workers. It should worry the employer that wants to grow the bottom line and build a sustainable corporate organization.

This therefore forms the basis for this course which is designed to address most of these capability deficits discussed earlier and to rebuild the Union by strengthening its structures through the empowering of the most critical resource of the Association and Organization – its human capital.

Course Objective:

The aims of this course shall amongst others be;

• To equip Trade Union leadership at all levels with new leadership strategies
• To build increasing working-class consciousness in the leadership
• To inculcate in the leadership at all levels new tools and skills for engaging the social partners
• To expose the leadership of the union to some of the emerging challenges to trade unions globally & in Nigeria
• To build in trade union leaders especially the new comers the principles of Union rights and limitations
• To ensure that the Union is capable of providing benefits to its membership in the future
• Finally, to equip the leadership with necessary skills to ensure the continuous survival of the union in a constantly changing world.
• To keep the Unions strategically evolving and relevant to the Management and the workplace.

Course Content:

• The History and Principles of trade unionism
• Negotiation techniques in a changing society
• Workers’ Rights and Employers’ prerogatives in the workplace
• Democratic Dissent and trade Union Activism
• Rights abuses and violations in the workplace: Role of Union activists
• Leadership issues and challenges within the trade unions in Nigeria
• Tripartism in the context of global pressures and internal vicissitudes
• Survival/relevance of trade unions in Nigeria – tools for engagement
• Creating a symbiosis between Management objectives and Trade Union Objectives
• Obstacles to effective organizing in trade unions
• Workplace harmony and responsive trade union actions
• Management – Trade union partnership for organizational survival: Issues and challenges
• Industrial Harmony: issues and challenges
• The structure, Functions and Objectives of Trade Unions

Who Should Attend:

The programme is designed for Managers and Union Members, Trade Union Leadership, Human resource Managers, Employee Relations

Delivery Method:

The programme will be delivered using the following methodologies: Lectures, discussions, syndicate work, case studies and exercises.

Course Venue:  

Course Fee:  

Course Duration: 2 Weeks

Course Date:  November 7th-11th, 2022