| dc.description.abstract | The study has attempted to establish the effect of trade unions on organizational productivity
in cement manufacturing companies in Nairobi. This interest was stirred by the deficiency of
literature on the relationship between the activities of trade unions and their impact on
employees' productivity. The researcher, thus mapped out the structure of the study to address
a number of objectives: establishing the various activities of trade unions in cement
manufacturing industry within Nairobi; establishing the challenges of trade union activities in
cement manufacturing industry; and determining the effect of trade unions on organizational
productivity in cement manufacturing industry in Nairobi. Research questions were used to
guide the researcher in her endeavor to achieve these objectives. A review of the existing
literature has revealed that trade unions have many activities that they exercise on behalf of
their members. For instance, they bargain for wages and good working condition terms; lead
strikes if negotiations fail; represent workers in disciplinary case hearings; among other
activities. Similarly, the literature contains the benefits of trade unions to members. These
include: better remuneration negotiation; protection from exploitation by employer; access to
educational facilities; among others. Using a sample of three unionized cement companies,
the study choose questionnaire as the suitable research instrument to be filled out by three
respondents, each from one company. The results obtained indicated that trade unions play an
important role in the work-life of their members. The activities discharged such as collective
bargaining, striking actions, employee representation, embolden workers and eventually
make them confident and productive thus spurring organizational productivity. Accordingly,
there were recommendations to the effect of allowing workers to form trade. Finally, the
study identifies a need for a comparative study on unionized and non-unionized workers in
the fast moving consumer goods sector to be further pursued to establish whether similar
results can be obtained. | en_US |
