Employer Vs Union Characteristics and Unions Organising Effectiveness in Nigeria

Abstract

The two broad classes of factors influencing unions organising effectiveness, are namely internal (controllable) and external (uncontrollable). However, it is not conclusively known how potential members’ characteristics, trade unions’ characteristics and employers’ characteristics interact with organising effectiveness (dependent variable) in Nigeria. Using questionnaire instrument, generated data were analyzed with simple percentages; and chi-square, regression and ANOVA were utilized to draw inferences. It was found that potential member’s age, gender, occupational type, educational status and employment type directly relate to unions organising effectiveness; unions’ characteristics including financial investment had an effect, however, both internal democracy and solidarity had no effect respectively, and uncooperative attitude of employers, employer’s sizes and ages positively related with organising effectiveness; while competitiveness level among employers had no effect. It was concluded that unions’ growth and relevance in Nigeria depend on channeling of unions’ capacity to leverage and boost internal and external effects that are essential to wade off negative forces working against their growth. It is recommended that unions be more attentive to effects on unions organising effectiveness in Nigeria to reverse the decline in union densities and loss of unions’ relevance to working people, their dependents, employers of labour and the broader society.