An Assessment Of Role Of Managers For The Effective And Efficient Management In An Organisation

ABSTRACT

Trade union  play  great role  in safeguarding employees  from any form  of discrimination or  harassment  in organisations. Employees need to work in good environment. Many researches have been done in this area but there is limited research in developing countries specifically in Botswana. Therefore, to fill this gap, this study will  find out the role played by trade unions in solving labour related disputes, with specific reference to   working conditions, salaries  and ‘fair treatment’. In addition, the study will also focus on how members perceive  their work and non-work experiences and belief with  their trade unions and weather the unions performed their  duties in line with their expectations.  The study used cross-sectional survey.  The data was collected  by  the  questionnaire.  The  major  finding  demonstrated  that  economic  factors  like  changes  in government policies are taken into consideration in the operations of the union. In addition, the unions also stick to their traditional view that was founded. Thus, working for the interest of its members rather than of the society it operates in, otherwise it would not serving according to the expectations of their members and this may results in decline in membership as it happened within some African countries. Keywords: Trade union, labour and organizations.

  INTRODUCTION

A trade union is defined  in as  any “organisation of workers”  whose  principal  purposes  include  the regulation of relations between workers “of  one or more  descriptions”  and  employers  or  employers’ associations  (Trade  Union  and  Labour  Relations (Consolidation)  Act  1992).    It  gives  a  broad definition  which  incorporates  a  wide  variety  of organizations,  each  with  their  differing commitments to the general principles and ideology of  “trade  unionism.  The  formation  of  trade  union structure  began  as  discussion  groups  formed  into professional organizations which had  the following functions,-negotiating  for  better  wages,  -working hours,  and  working  conditions  (Ananaba,  1979; Allen,  1960  and  Glennis,  2005).  The  labour movement arose  as  an  outgrowth of  the disparity between  the  power  of  employers  and  the powerlessness  of  individual  employees  (Fraser, 1999). There are several trade unions in Botswana. For  instance,  Botswana  Bank  Employees  Union, Botswana Commercial and General Workers Union, Botswana Constructions Workers Union, Botswana Federation  of  Trade  union,  Botswana  Mining workers  Union,  Botswana  power  cooperation workers  Union  and  Botswana  public  employees Union.  All  these  trade  unions  are  promoting employees relations in organisations.  The Botswana  Teachers Union  was inaugurated in 1937  as  the  Bechuanaland  Protectorate  African Teachers  Association;  and  later  in  1966, transformed into  Botswana Teachers Union (BTU). It  currently  boasts  a  membership  of  11000 professional  teachers.  Its  primary  concern  was  to act  as  a  pressure  group  to  bargain  for  improved conditions of  service of  their  members.  According to  World  Configuration  of  Organisations  of  the Teaching  Professions    (1989)  BTU  advocates  for promoting education and culture, accord assistance to  teachers  on  legal  and  professional  matters, educate  the  public  on  the  value  of  education,  to raise the level of qualifications and the standards of performance of teachers,- and to bargain for better conditions  of  work.    BTU  has  achieved  the followings;  equal  pay  for  men  and  women, improving  leadership  skills  of  teachers  through sponsorship  and  personnel  from  -teachers  of Nordic  countries,  abolition  of  the  Provident  Fund and opting to Pension on  retirement and initiating and  assisting  in  launching  the  Southern  African Teachers  Organisation  (Freeman  and  Medoff., 1984).  Therefore,  the  self-organisation  of  labour into trade unions was a result of a mass movement of  the  oppressed  against  colonialism.  The  trade unions  were established  mainly  to  put  into effect multiple  models,  for  preventing  workers  tailored needs  and  concerns  of  different  groups  (BTU, 2009). The purpose of the study was to explore and evaluate  the  members’  views  about  their  trade unions  in Botswana.  In  addition,  the  study  would examine the role of government in promoting trade union in Botswana.  Problem  Statement:  Recently,  there  has  been  a resurgence of  interest  in the  relationship between change in the work  environment and the  activities of  the trade unions.  Therefore, due  to these  rapid innovations  the  trade  unions  are taking  part  in  a national debate about the uses and consequences of this  innovation.  Therefore,  the important question is what kind of  relationship unions have with their government  in  addressing  the  issues  concerning employees.  For  instance,  in  Botswana  labour disputes mainly in the public sector have become a  Global Journal  of Arts and Management – ISSN 2249-2658 (Online): 2249-264X (Print) – Rising Research Journal Publication  58 worrisome  phenomenon.  Year  2002  in  particular was  characterised  by  a  number  on  strikes  and demonstrations.  Both  secondary  and  primary school  teachers  waged  a  five-day  national  strike demanding  better  wages  and  working  conditions (Gabathuse and Setsiba,,2002).  Laws  Govern  Trade  Unions  in  Botswana:  The principal  legislation  governing  trade  unions  in Botswana  is  the  Trade  Unions  and  Employers’ Organizations Act  [Cap.  48:01], as  amended by the Trade  Unions  and  Employers’  Organizations (Amendment)  Act  [No.  24  of  1992],  and supplemented by the Trade Unions and Employers’ Organizations  Regulations  [S.I.  105  of  1984].  The following is a list of the  most important sections of the  amended  Act:  Section  2  (1)  is  a  definition section. It is significant for two reasons: It defines a trade union  as  ‘an organization  consisting,  wholly or in part, of more than 30 employees the principal objects of  which include the regulation of  relations between  employees  and  employers  or  employer’s organizations  or  between  employees  and employees’. The members of a  trade union must be employees as  defined in  the section:  persons  who have entered contracts of  employment for  the hire of their labour, but not including a public officer or any person  employed by  a local authority  (except for  industrial  class  workers).  The  Constitution provides  for  collective  bargaining  for  unions  that have  enrolled  25  percent  of  a  labour  force.  In reality,  only  the  mineworker  unions  have  the organizational  strength  to  engage  in  collective bargaining,  and  collective  bargaining  is  virtually nonexistent in most other sectors.  Types  of  Trade Unions: Trade unions  are of  two principal types: craft  unions composed of  all those performing  a  specific  kind  of  work,  such  as electricians, carpenters,  or printers;  and industrial unions comprising all those in a given industry, such as  automobile  workers or  steelworkers (Flanders, 1970;  Fraser,  1999,  Freeman  et  al.,  1984).Unions also  exist  among  government  employees  and  for such professional occupations as nurses, engineers, and  teachers.  In  some  countries,  large  general workers’  unions  include  all  semiskilled  and unskilled workers in one organization.  Functions  of  Trade Unions:  A union’s purpose is to  represent  worker’s  interest,  hence,  union involvement  consists  of  a  collective  bargaining process  in  order  for  awards  and  agreements  to provide  protection  around  the  application performance appraisal  of and  performance related pay  (WCOTP,  1989;  BTU,  2009  and  Swarnalatha and  Sureshkrishna.  2011).  The  union  also  is involved through consultation in  the development, implementation, the review, and the modification in anything  that  concerns  its  members.  Protecting employees from  unfair labour practices, encourage training of employees, offer incentives to member’s e.g. medical insurance, legal advice and reduction in working hours.  Growth  of  Trade  Unions:  The  growth  of  trade unions  from  the  collective  bargaining  function towards  a  role  dominated  by  voice  and representation  of  workers  seems  to  have  taken place  against  the  background  of  high  density unionism,  which  gained  ground  mainly  in continental  Europe  and  in  Japan,  (Inoue,  1999, Glennis, 2005). The broad membership base which unions commanded and the  equitable distribution, which  they  promoted  in  major  sectors  and enterprises,  strengthened  the  position  of  unions, giving them  more power  to bargain or  collaborate and  to  derive  successful  outcomes  BOPA  (2002) also  argues  that  the  commission  fundamentally ignored  the  dictates  of  Vision  2016  on  income distribution,  which  calls  for  a  “more  equitable income distribution  that ensures  the  participation of  as  many  people  as  possible  in  the  economic success”.  The  Union  called for  the implementation of  the  Vision’s  ideals  instead  of  accepting  the recommendations  of  the  commission  that  would exacerbate  inequality  in  Botswana.  Among  the cases  cited  by  trade  unions  was  the  pre-employment,  mandatory  testing  of  crew members by the South African Airways. An opposite example was however given to the conference by the Human Resources Manager of Ford Motor Company, Johan Strijdom, who  described  the plan  implemented  by the  company  in  partnership  with  South  African trade unions  and aimed  at  combating  AIDS at  the workplace.  “Confidentiality  is  a rule,  and  workers can  freely  be  tested  at  the  company’s  clinic  in confidence”,  Mr  Strijdom  told  the  audience,  (ILO, 2001).  Training  is  one  of  the  major  functions  of trade  unions all  over  the  world. Training  of  their members and officials is essential to strengthen the organization  and  improve  its  various  functions. Particularly  in  view  of  the  involvement  of  trade unions  in  an  increasing  number  of  social  and economic issues in the  recent years, it has become even  more  vital  for  the  unions  to  continue  and expand  their  training  activities  for  both  their leaders and members.  The Workers’ Education Programs of the Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) of the ILO is aimed at assisting  trade  unions in  promoting  their training programs  to  expand  their  activities  and membership  and  to  improve  their  capacity  to represent  and  defend  the  interests  of  their members.  According  to  the  president  of  BTU,  the union plays  an important role,  by encouraging the employer  to  discharge  this  responsibility.  Union defense of high salaries and job security has a  part to  play  in  this  process  because  it  provides  an incentive  to  the  employer  to  invest  in  skills  to