CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF STUDY

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM.  The issue arising is whether an implementation of collective bargaining will overtime permit well established public employee union to exercise equality in share of power in “the process of decision”. The deliberate refusal to honour collection bargaining at through the consensual process of collective bargaining is right among employees of some public sector. When processes like these are jettisoned, an atmosphere of conflict which collective bargaining ought to neutralize festers. Very little attention have been given in the past by the human oriented management system on the lasting solution on how collective bargaining could lead to dispute resolution in public enterprises, discussed solely on the telecommunication industry. Therefore, the important question should be how can dialogue and compromise improve industrial relation? How pluralism as a tool affect industrial harmony? Or how arbitration helps in labour relations? Etc. These questions have kept the public sector unproductive and stagnant. However, this study is taken to trace out the various tools in collective bargaining that can be used to resolve dispute in our various enterprises/companies. 1.3 OBJECTIVE OF STUDY. The general objective of this study is to assess the impact of collective bargaining on dispute resolution in public companies. The specific objectives are;

1. To examine the effect of dialogue and compromise on improving industrial relations.
2. To establish whether arbitration has a direct impact on labour relation.
3. To determine the role of pluralism on industrial harmony.
4. To ascertain if dispute resolution will lead to conciliation in the organization.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS The following research questions will be examined;

1. How does dialogue and compromise improve industrial relations?
2. To what extend does arbitration affect labour relation?
3. Is there a direct role played by pluralism on industrial harmony?
4. Does conflict resolution lead to conciliation in the organization?

1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES This study is based on the following hypotheses; HO1 Dialogue and compromise has no statistical    significant        relationship with         industrial relation. HO2 Arbitration has no statistical significant relationship       with labour relation. HO3   Pluralism has no statistical significant relationship with industrial harmony.  1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY.  The major significance of the study cannot be over emphasized. Collective bargaining has been seen as an important tool for social peace and unity among employers and its employees. To the trade union and shareholders, it will help them decide what proportion of decision power is to be given between employers and the union in areas regarded as management prerogatives e.g. promotion. To the employees, the study will help through institutionalization justify its own claim on its own merit when dialogue with skillful questioning. The study to a great extent will also benefit the organization by monitoring the company’s outcome to curtail with it through proper internal communication. To company’s management, collective bargaining will assist them in their formulation and implementation of strategic aimed at satisfying their employees and customers to gain its good faith.

1.7 SCOPE OF STUDY The research work is carried out within Asaba, Delta state with the focus on the Nigeria telecommunication industries (MTN Nigeria limited and Airtel Nigeria limited).  The sampling object used in the chapter is the employees, manager’s customers and shareholders. These categories are able to identify and ascertain the impact of collective bargaining on dispute resolution in public companies. The adopted indicators in the study include dialogue and compromise, arbitration, pluralism and so on. Other ones can be used in other studies but these would make for easy outcome. This study also outline the impact and benefit of collective bargaining as a strategic tool that will help public enterprises settle its dispute.

1.8 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY. The researcher is constrained in the following ways; First, this study is built on previous theoretical reflection and conceptual model and therefore is only as sound as the basic foundation it is built on. Second, inadequate materials and information at the researcher disposal due to some confidentiality of the sources. Third, there was little time for the researcher to actually carryout this work, as the researcher is also into other duties as at that time being. Fourth, correspondent not giving vital information and attention to questionnaire due to schedules and challenges within their ends. Such influence may discourage the truth from coming therefore generalization should be made with caution.