ABSTRACT

The general purpose of the study was to establish the effects of trade union activities on organizational performance: A case study of the University of Benin. A descriptive research was used to investigate variables without manipulating. The target population was 5194 non-academic staffs of the University of Benin.Simple random sampling method was used to select a sample of 100 employees. Reliability and validity analysis was conducted to establish whether the research instrument meets the threshold. Correlation analysis was adopted to establish the relationship between the independent and dependence variables. SPSS was used to aid in data analysis. Results were presented using figures and charts.

It was revealed that respondents could not reach an agreement on trade union use collective bargaining agreement to negotiate for better pay and workplace protection. However, respondents agreed that working conditions in the organization are poor, trade union has a significant influence on terms and conditions, and occupational health and safety programmer has an impact on organizational performance, reduction in accident and injuries influences performance the organization has adequate occupational health and safety procedures. Also, the findings showed that respondents strongly agreed that strike has an effect on organizational performance, strike has a negative influence on quality of service offered, strike occurs due to poor working conditions and excessive working hours, strongly agreed that employees use strikes to express themselves when negotiations fail, the organization has to implement the minimum wage set and there is lack of additional benefits and irregularities in payment of overtime. Moreover, it was also established that respondents agreed that the organization offers unfair remuneration, agreed that the organization has lack of minimum facility and safety. The findings also revealed that respondents disagreed that the organization has policies in place to deal with strikes. Furthermore, the study revealed that respondents agreed that trade unions represent workers at disciplinary and grievance hearing, conflict management had a significant effect on organizational performance, that mediation is used to solve conflict rising from personal differences and trade union negotiation influences organizational performance. However, respondents could not reach an agreement on unfair termination of employment contract and under payment of wages influenced labor dispute and the organization has conflict management strategies in place.

The study recommends that the use of collective bargaining strategy will enable trade union negotiate for better pay and workplace protection, it will also help trade union determine employment terms and condition and clear job description. Furthermore, the study recommends that management of University of Benin should offer employees better facility and safety at work, benefits and pay them overtime, implement minimum wage set and develop conflict management strategies to deal with dispute.