THE INFLUENCE OF STRIKE ACTION ON EMPLOYEES PERFORMANCE AND PRODUCTIVITY

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY 

Strikes became necessarythroughout the commercial revolution especially in organizations and public employment where labour was sought after in masses. Industrial action is mostly unlawful and prohibited unless it’s protected industrial action. Staff/employees who engage in industrial action which is not protected under the Fair Work Act can be exposed to penalties and disciplinary action (Hardy & Howe, 2009).Strike actions are gaining recognition within the educational sector of this country more and more; and this development has attracted the eye of well-meaning Nigerians and stakeholders.The term ‘strike’ has been delineated in numerous forms. Strike is a period of time when an organized group of employees of any organization stops operating because of a disagreement over payment or bound conditions according to Hornby (2012). People who are usually concerned in these strike actions are delineated as strikers. Disagreement or conflict is a common phenomenon in any organizations owing to the diversity of workforce in an organization; and the difference between individual and organizational goals. The country has been experiencing strike actions since twentieth century. Wogu (2009) documented notable strike actions that took place in the country amongst which are: Aba women riot, 1929; Railway workers’ strike, 1938; Nigerian union of railway men strike, 1941; General strike, 1945; UAC employees strike, 1947; Coal miners’ strike, 1949; Mercantile workers’ strike, 1950 and Airways workers’ union strike, 1959. All these strike actions was before independence and ever since independence, strike actions have continuing to exist. Strike actions might persist for a few times as a result of the points highlighted above.When a strike action continues to persist without ending, it is described as incessant strike actions. Recently Nigerian educational system has been characterized by incessant strike actions across the tiers of the educational system. In 1945 the first most notable strike in Nigeria was held and ever since, different teams and unions have been embarking on strike actions across all sectors of the economy.The educational establishments have received the greatest hit among all sectors from observations (Olakunle, 2011). There have been series of strike actions in the Nigerian educational sector and especially in tertiary institutionssection. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) recent incessant strike actions have led to school disruption and stress among all concerned stakeholders. This often causes a big setback in educational industry in Nigeria and calls worries that necessitate drastic action by the nation. In some cases, union leaders have been attacked and some of them have sustained serious injuries; and some have paid with their lives due to its prolonged nature. These developments have in no small measure had negative impact and also affected education programme in Nigeria.Most Western countries partially legalized striking in the 19th or 20th centuries.Strikes are sometimes used to put pressure on government to change policies. It will also be noted that strike is not peculiar to universities alone but to other organizations or pressure groups such as:

1. Nigeria labour Congress (NLC)
2. Nigeria Bar Association (NBA)
3. Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ)
4. Nigeria Medical Association (NMA)

Higher Institutions that are liable to embark on strike actions include:-

1. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUNU)
2. The National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS)
3. The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP)
4. The Academic Staff Union of College of Education etc

When strike happens in an organization, employees suffer most and in this way, the Nigeria working system has been thoroughly destroyed.To remedy this situation, the individual employees concerned to stand up and demand for their right.Although, strike may create temporary difficulties for workers,this situation will make the country not to be fully developed because they will be back of or less production because the strike action management has not put its priorities right. It is in protest of these misplaced priorities and inadequacies that these management and Nigeria union of worker which is the Nigeria labour congress (NLC).In most cases, the employers and also the staff would have explored all avenues for dialogue and strike becomes the last choice for the settlement of disputes. Before the introduction of strike among African country employee within the years 1963 the authorities have perpetually worked in peace associated harmony with their privilege to figure as an worker in any organization as a result of the perpetually had nice expectations each the senior and also the junior employees worked merrily along as members of identical community and guided by a way of mission to push and preserve their operating performance. Today, the problem of strike in our country has been therefore rampant that the govt can need to do one thing desperately therefore as to not Jeopardize the interest of the workers on a way to improve their performance and productivity in their place of labour. However before the emergence of union, there had been spontaneous strike and protests against poor conditions of labour in many African countries.It has been difficult to separate strike from other forms of expression of industrial dispute as employers lock out workers and workers them-selves embank on strike action. Rarely does a strike occur over a single issue for an obvious cause may be linked with several others issues that are not immediately apparent to the observation that have caused dissatisfaction because solutions to them have been long in coming. The actual occurrence of a strike depends on several factors including prevailing circumstance. Apart from the negative tendency and implications strike has on the employees in the field of education, it also has adverse effects on the non-human resources (equipment and facilities) used in the teaching and learning. It is based on the forgoing that this research is positioned to examine the implications of incessant strike actions on employee performance and productivity in Nigeria.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The Influence of strike action on employee`s performance and productivity poses serious problems both on management and lecturer and those problems sought to be solved by the end of this research study and they include, the causes of strike action, how employee performance and productivity could be increased, ways in which strike actions could be eradicated and dose strike action demoralize workers or motivate them.For peace and harmony to reign supreme in any organization, it is very important that employers and employee give their best in employment matter. The employer should be able to provide job for the employees provide safe and good working tools pay the wages of workers. On the other hand employee must be loyal and faithful, obey reasonable instruction and be ready to do the job for which he is employed. When both parties play their roles perfectly, their relationship will be very cordial, but where one party fails in his duty there would be crisis in the work environment. This cordial and mutual respect sometimes suffer breakdown. It is not unusual to learn that a particular union called out its members on a strike action as a result of failure on the part of the management of an organization to fulfil its obligation either by non-payment of salary or non-provision of working tools. This is for the purpose of ascertaining the relevance and benefit of well manage conflict in an organization in consideration for the provision of good working tools. As such the problem of the study is to find out what is the industrial relationship practice in the organization and factors responsible for strike action in the organization?The cause of strike action and the necessary measure to reduce or avoid strike action. The research should be able to find out how strike action influences the performance and productivity of workers in university of Benin.Against this backdrop, the study intended to find out the influence of strike action on employee performance and productivity.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY 

The major aim of the study is to examine the influence of strike action on employee’s performance and productivity. Other specific objectives are as follows;

1. To examine the factors that are responsible for industrial conflict in an organisation
2. To find out whether delay in payment employees salaries is the major cause of strike in an organization.
3. To examine the influence of strike action on employee performance and productivity in an organization.
4. To examine the relationship between strike action and employee performance and productivity
5. To examine the role of labour union in strike action and its resolution process in an organisation
6. To suggest ways of resolving strike action in an organisation

1.4 REASEACH QUESTIONS

1. What are the factors that are responsible for industrial conflict in an organisation?
2. Does delay in paying employees salaries the major cause of strike in an organization?
3. What is the influence of strike action on employee performance and productivity in an organization?
4. What is the relationship between strike action and employee performance and productivity?
5. What are the roles of labour union in strike action and its resolution process in an organisation?
6. What are the ways of resolving strike action in an organisation?

1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES 

Hypothesis 1

H0:There is no significant influence of strike action on employee performance and productivity in an organization

H1:There is a significant influence of strike action on employee performance and productivity in an organization

Hypothesis 2

H0:There is no significant relationship between strike action and employee performance and productivity.

H1:There is a significant relationship between strike action and employee performance and productivity.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 

It will also be beneficial to other universities within Nigeria and potential and future researchers on the issue of strike action in employee`s productivity and performance.

The study will identify how to make management have a re-think or reconsider their plea. How strike action is carried out so as to increase the welfare or pay of workers and how employed embark on strike so as to gain grounds in the organization.

1.7. SCOPE OF THE STUDY 

The study is restricted to the influence of strike action on employee’s performance and productivity, case study of University of Benin, Benin.

1.8LIMITATION OF STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS 

Strike: An organized refusal to work by employees of a company.

Influence: The power to produce effects, especially Indirectly or through an intermediary, the condition of being affected power to change a person`s way of life.

Job Satisfaction: Remuneration is a reward. It is better payment and fringe benefits. The chief characteristics of workers were that economic self interest. Michael white (2013) discovered that remuneration (money) is a good and an incentive. Remuneration is a source of satisfaction, is a standard companion. So remuneration is a source of material goods stimulus to greater production.