SALVAGING THE ERODING POWER OF TRADE UNION AND RELEVANCE OF LABOUR LEADERS
The quest to creating opportunities for and having everyone get work that is productive and delivers fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for families, better prospects for personal development and social integration has been and must be at the heart of labour movement. The need to improving living conditions for the millions of women and men who are working, but not earning enough to lift themselves and their families out of poverty is and ought to be the cause most rigorously pursue by trade union using varying stratagems.
However, the very character of the new fragmented labour market has negatively affected the volume of trade union members, further weakened the financial muscle of the labour unions, and made organisation of workers more difficult. Thereto, government, at the behest of shrewd employers and corporate executives, is wont to using the employment laws, in their varying forms, to limit the scope of industrial action, halt widespread wildcat strikes, secondary picketing, and public mobilization for mass rallies and protests often deploy by labour union to force policy change and or bring down governments as seen during the last century across the globe.
In the light of this, it will be tantamount to feigned naivety, and one that discredits the very essence of labour movement, for the leadership of today’s trade union to seek to somewhat tend to solely derive it power from the numerical strength of its financial members – employees who voluntarily authorized the regular, automatic deduction of parts of their wages by their employers to pay off trade union’s dues. Such crassly oblivion is a costly inclination that gravely alludes to the fact that labour has and or may have lost touch with the realities of the time it now found itself, and no longer in tune with the rhythms of the season it now operate in.
Seeing the growing numbers of members are lacking job security and benefits, as they shift from one short-term position to another, often self-employed or working in gig economy that demeans workers and by extension, erodes the power of labour movement, it is incumbent on trade union to take course correction from its lethargic and oftentimes, entirely reactionary posturing, if not outright grandstanding, to the growing concerns of its established constituents and the genuine agitations of the entire populace. It is a matter of necessity that labour leadership transform and indeed constitute itself into a think tank, providing strategic inputs to all and offering practical solutions for all.
Suffice to therefore posit that the power of today’s labour union and its continued relevance within the scheme of things must be premised on a central theme that makes decent work and economic growth its core message whilst pursuing an ‘all-inclusive membership drive’ that not only sees those civil servants working in the public sector for government and or those employees working for blue chip companies within the private sector as regular members, but one that sees and seeks almost everyone in the larger economic space and the labour market as direct members and immediate constituents.
Trade Unions must tap into the ready pools of those in the labour market seeking to be reengaged into active service as well as those transiting from schools with the capacities to be absorbed as productive workforce. Focus must be on the informal sector such that it guarantees decent work for those engaged in that sector. Labour ought join effort in canvassing for job creation and tackle the drastic rise in unemployment and job loss under failed political leadership in developing countries. Those managing state resources in reckless manner, and the somewhat greedy but savvy corporate executives running aground business empires in emerging economies and advanced countries of the world need note that unabated loss of job and unemployment can lead to unrest, and disrupt peace if and when left unattended.
In countries with high poverty index, where the impact of labour movement is mostly needed in championing robust, yet, frontal engagements of the political class and corporate elites in addressing the issues of decent work and economic growth, it is sad to note that certain of the leadership of trade unions are often caught in the web of ineptitude and greed – occasioned by self-preservation, nay, aggrandizement at the expense of the workers and unemployed. Situations where labour leaders tend to augment the dwindling check-off dues of members with the bizarre proceeds and donations from government, and accepting gifts and grants from corporate elites in funding many of the union’s pecuniary projects, secretariat operations, payment of its employed staff, and gratifying personal profligacy of its executives raise huge questions.
The story of some labour leaders is rather akin to that of many politicians and political jobbers who before getting into public offices and civic duties can barely change their wardrobes, pay their house rent, settle their children school fees, maintain their cars – that is when and where there is any in the first instance -, keep up with social exigencies and meet personal pecuniary needs. But upon becoming elected officials and political aides, and whilst purporting to be serving the masses and representing the people, suddenly and overtly have their lives and status getting stupendously transformed financially, materially, socially and even politically.
There is something disquieting about seeing, for instance, an employed artisan in a construction company known for earning meager net income of less than three thousand USD per annum prior to contesting and becoming trade union executive, and during his tenure as workers’ representative suddenly have in his kitty: all-wheel SUV car, a private residential duplex in relatively highbrow area of the city, plots of land in choice locations of his home state and acres of farmland in his remote village – all pompously showcased with latest designers’ clothes, imported shoes, branded jewelries and sophisticated phones.
This scenario of a corporate peasant’s sudden rise to affluence as a result of occupying the privileged position of service as labour leader, and whilst serving as workers’ representative is curious and begged answers. Is it then succinct to aver that in some climes, there is an unspoken yet substantial notion that being in the ‘service of and for the people’ makes for stupendous socio-economic transformation from the previous humble background and of the prior modest status of the persona with the opportunity to occupy and hold positions of trust on behalf of others and for all?
The perceived double-standard as well as the real profligacy of trade union representatives who seat in negotiating workers’ wages and associated conditions of service are giving rise to resentment among members, as most workers see every move of labour leaders as compromised – even when and where leaders serve with dogged forthrightness. Such is the level of mistrust and disgust which lay the ground for aggrieved union members to seize the slightest opportunity to express their revulsion at union representatives at branch and higher levels, and stir revolt against those perceived and caught red-handed as enabling the labour leaders’ lackluster approach to workers’ welfare in many organizations and institutions.
That the potential rabble-rousers within the union’s leadership structure have not risen against the hierarchical incumbent – whose inaction is seen to be part of the alibi impoverishing the workers – should not be misconstrued as ‘all is well’. It may well be that these demagogues have been pacified by the main profiteers of the union’s dainties and or getting satisfied with the juicy crunch that falls from the leaders’ greasy palms. The conspiracy of silence by some radicals within the fold may rather be veiled docility by those adjudged as being disgruntled with the system thus lurking to oust the [in]effectual leaders – bad precedence and sad practices set and perpetrated under the guise of trade union activism and change mantra – which erode the power of the union, diminish the relevance of the leadership, and weaken the solidarity needed in labour movement.
Trade union must be steps ahead of government and employers of labour that are today bleating about how the system will fail and fall if new and improved (national) minimum (not living) wage is implemented and paid to the people, whereas these whiners draw fat remunerations and large perks from the public treasury and corporate earnings not minding if the commonwealth run dry and the entire nation collapse.
To sustain its power and maintain relevance, labour must start by ensuring transparency within its fold, rejigging its strategy for resource mobilization and financial independence, retooling its approach to membership drive, setting policy agenda and advocating workable alternatives, questioning and holding employers accountable, harnessing the capabilities of information and communication technology, whilst leveraging the power of the mass media in advancing its positions, and thus galvanizing the entire populace around a central theme that delivers on decent work and economic prosperity for all.
For a while, trade union has lacked a rallying message that can motive the masses and drive people’s movement at local and regional levels. However, and as the international Labour Organisation (ILO) marks its centenary this year, the celebration opens the window for labour union to harp more on the need to having productive employment and decent work – key element to achieving functionally sustainable society and poverty reduction – for the global working age population, as there is no arguing the fact that poverty eradication is possible through stable and well-paid jobs.
With the widening income gap between rich and poor, where eighty-two percent (82%) of the money generated last year (2018) went to the richest one percent (1%) of the global population while the poorest half saw no increase at all, the world is faced with unacceptable level of wealth inequality and burgeoning social discrimination that could threaten global peace and prosperity. It is thus incumbent upon the leadership of trade union to work with the high and the mighty in neoliberal regimes and of bourgeois capitalists such that local authorities and entrepreneurs articulate policies and drive projects that guarantee social inclusion and personal security, and stimulate innovation and employment in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 8.
Gbenga Taylor – an advocate of decent work and economic growth, public affairs commentator and former Branch Chairman of an affiliate Union of NLC.
Mobile: +234 807 998 4419, E-mail: olugbenga.taylor@gmail.com
