| dc.description.abstract | This research project was conducted with the understanding that the Trade Union
movement in developing countries particularly in Africa is weak. There was
therefore need to re-evaluate the role and challenges of the movement if there was
to be improvement of vulnerable workers in the social process of production. The
movement is viewed to be particularly susceptible to social, economic and political
trends at the worldwide level, and more particularly, in developing countries.
Initially as per their origin and formation, Trade Unions started as democratic and
free organizations. They started as institutions for workers through which
members articulated their needs. This was to jointly face the interests of capital as
represented by strong employers who own the means of production. The Trade
Union movement also ensured social political stability not only by facilitating social
production but as a stakeholder in the industrial relations system.
The Trade Union movement was introduced in Africa by the Western capitalist
nations as a way of ensuring a constant supply of labour for the European
plantation Agriculture and other business ventures. With time, the movement
became an important agent for social change in Africa and particularly in Kenya.
During the struggle for political independence, the Trade Union movement
provided a stepping-stone for leaders of workers, as they defended their rights.
After independence, the same leaders and officials acquired political power and
became political leaders. They therefore found themselves in a compromised
position in handling workers' demands. This led to erosion of the quality of
leadership in the Trade Union movement. In the years that followed political
independence period the Trade Union movement is viewed to have declined until
the introduction of multiparty democracy. This was a period when the developing
world had to deal totalitalian leadership not only in Africa but in other developing
countries. The Global trends of the 1990s transformed the world into a global
village resulting to reduced formal employment and a rapid growth of an unstable
informal sector.
Arising from the economic crises in the 1980's in developing countries and
particularly in Africa, many states solicited financial assistance from International
Lending and Financial Institutions, like the International Monetary Fund (IMF)and
the World Bank (IBRD -International Bank for Reconstruction and Development).
These were capitalist institutions created by Western Nations for purposes of
financing and furthering the interests of capital. Leaders of the Third World
countries particularly Kenya found themselves at the crossroads of an escalating
economic stagnation, and with a deficit in the balance of payments. This was
resultant from diminishing investments from the capitalist Nations who had
diverted their financial interests to the countries of Eastern Europe after the
collapse of the Berlin wall in the mid 1980s. The study was therefore to analyze
and evaluate the role and challenges of the Trade Union movement in Kenya in the
context of macro-economic reforms.
Chapter One deals with identification of the purpose and the gap to be filled by the
study. This is realized by the formulation of the research questions and objectives
of the study. Efforts have been made to study and analyze the origin and
development of the Trade Union movement and the introduction and adoption of
the structural adjustment programmes in Africa. In the chapter the Statement Of
The Problem, The Objectives Of The Study, and the Justification/Rationale Of The
Study are enumerated. In the chapter also the Scope and Limitation of the
research study are analyzed.
Chapter Two reviews the ideals of the Trade Union movement. Existing studies on
Trade Unionism are reviewed both in pre-colonial and post colonial Africa.
Important selected themes are identified and discussed acknowledging the fact
that Trade Unionism is not a personal but a social community action. Two
theories; The Social Movement Theory and Resource Mobilization Theory have been
related to the Trade Union movement and the study themes. A theoretical
framework is derived in relation to the three hypothesis of the study. In Chapter
Three, the research design of the project study is discussed. An Interview Guide
and Checklist for Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) was used. The unstructured
interviews and qualitative research was conducted at Nairobi, the capital city of
Kenya. The key informant interviews were conducted on the General Secretaries of
thirteen purposively selected Trade Unions which had their head offices in Nairobi.
The focus group discussions were conducted in five groups of 10-15 purposively
selected Trade Union members. The sample comprised 13 Trade Unions out of a
population of 32 Trade Unions in Kenya.
The sample of population was purposively selected inline with the study's focus on
policy and Trade Union nature of the institutions management issues that required
to be analyzed. The information was collected, summarized and analyzed and
thereafter interpreted for presentation of the results.
Chapter Four enumerates the Four major findings. The relationship of the Trade
Unions to the Government is crucial to the success of the Trade Union movement.
Social political and economic trends are significant in determining the growth,
effectiveness and efficiency of the Trade Union movement. The Trade Union
movement has had its period of glory. During the structural adjustment period the
study reveals a significant decline in the strength of the Trade Union movement.
This was happening at a time when mere was need to deal with the challenges of
globalization. Chapter five deals with the"surnmary and recommendations of the
study. The Trade Union movement is an important institution for the defending
and articulating the rights of workers as well as a significant stakeholder in the
industrial relations system.
The need for the Trade Union movement to play a central role in the social
relations of production cannot be overemphasized. The need for review of labour
legislation, strengthening of the union leadership, and financial management of the
organizations is paramount to ensure that the Trade Union movement reverts to
the original ideals for which it developed. This is a pre-condition for the workers
movement to effectively face the challenges of the 21st century. | en |
