Course Description

Rationale:

Most trade unions in the world exist for historical and ideological reasons of advancing the cause of workers and the society at large. They engage the working social and economic order and may either accept the existing economic order or work within that order to achieve a favorable set of economic terms and employment conditions.

The recent decades have witnessed a massive expansion of global economic activity through the liberalization of trade (deregulation) and the growth in investment and production driven by transnational corporations. In many countries, a decline in trade union control over the national development has been one of the results of this development.

This has had a profound impact on the labour markets and has resulted in massive decline of the labour movement in terms of membership strength. Trade unions are thus facing a formidable challenge in organizing workers in these new forms of employment.

The retreat underscores the important fact that the realization of the trade union ideals can only be accomplished if they are able to organize their membership effectively and adapt to the current challenges. This entails the need to re-orient the operations so that workers can see the true benefits of labour collectivism and solidarity. Trade unions should thus stimulate and rekindle that spirit of union organization so as to bring workers together, modernize and provide services and benefits that reflect changing needs and times.

Why this course?

The need for more effective working relationships could not be more urgent than at the present time given the technological and market place challenges which are impacting on the business/organization.

The purpose of this event, is to begin the process of developing professional relationships which can withstand the challenging and turbulent times ahead.

Course objective:

At the end of the course, participants will be able to;

• Know the Inter-relationships between organized labour and nation building
• Recognize the mutual responsibilities of private owners and labour unions
• Know the role of the labour movement in development process and broad social transformation
• Know the techniques in creating a stable industrial relation based on mutual understanding and trust between labour and management
• Know the techniques to strengthen labour unions, and its relationship with successor companies (private owners) towards a stronger and most prosperous nation
• Assist management and union to make their relationship work effectively for the benefit of all stakeholders
• Enable each individual to identify his or her personal responsibility as a representative of others in the company/organization
• Identify models that can assist resolve differences and overcome breakdowns
• Identify the skills which need practice, day in and day out, to improve relationships at work
• Agree principles all parties will live, day to day, to make the relationship work
• Identify further areas of knowledge and skill requiring additional learning and development

Course Content:

• Overview of Organized Labour Relations
• The Social and Political Economy Context of Labour Relations Development
• Trade Union Participation in Economic Development
• Trade Unions in Developing countries
• Financing and Managing Investments of Trade Union
• Collective Bargaining and Negotiation Principles as Alternatives to Strikes and Lock-outs
• Trade Unions and national Economic Reconstruction
• Conflict Management and Resolutions
• Personality Test (Psychology)
• Team Building and Management
• Market Economies
• Transition Economies
• Industrial Relations Actors
• Collective Bargaining and Social Dialogue Mechanisms
• Wage Negotiations
• Organizing Challenges for Trade Unions
• Destabilization of Enterprise Bargaining Structures
• Towards better Industrial Relations in Support of Community Building
• Developing Good Industrial Relations Practices
• Deepening Social Dialogue in Challenging Times
• Building a Sound Industrial Relations Legal Framework
• Promoting Good Industrial Relations
• Gradual Changes in Enterprise Unionism

Target Audience:

Trade Union Leadership, Human resource Managers, Employee Relations Managers and Union Members in both Public and Private Sectors.

Delivery Method:

Lectures, discussions, syndicate work, case studies, role – play and group exercises. Audio – Visual aids will be used to reinforce these training and learning methods.

Course Venue:  

Course Fee: 

Course Duration: 2 Weeks

Course Date:  August 28th- September 1st, 2023