Emerging Collective Bargaining Processes & Negotiation Skills for Managers & Trade Union Officials

INTRODUCTION

Intrinsic in this course is a basic assumption and that is that a new labour movement is emerging or has emerged. Impliedly, there is an old which is giving way to the new. A perception of change within the movement which has generated new structures and the subsequent impact of these nascent pillars on the operational dynamics of the trade unions become central. When these other two challenges are mixed with the character and nature of the present and emerging leadership within the movement, every labour activists begins to ponder what the future of the movement holds not only for the workers, the society and other stakeholders but to the movement as a social platform.

There is no doubt that the Labour movement has always come under pressure by the exploitative and oppressive forces of the society especially Capital and its supporters however recently, the movement has begun to experience increasing and overwhelming pressures from all manners of forces both within and without the movement. The severity of these pressures having burgeoned crystalized into what every keen observer and activist within the movement have come to identify as the continuous and consistent reduction in the various spaces upon which the movement had hitherto held sway.

The course is designed to look at some of the key concepts, look at the implications of these prevailing style of leadership on the labour movement, outline some of the emerging structures and their impact on the movement and then look at the nature and character of prevailing leadership within the labour movement as it is presently constituted within the trade union space.

Course Objective:

At the end of the course, participants will be able to;

Develop a self-awareness of their natural negotiation and conflict management style
Have the skill to think analytically and strategically about the negotiation process
Enhance their own personal negotiation and conflict management skills
Be able to use a three strep model to prepare effectively for all negotiations
Have enhanced vital leadership, management and personal skills that will impact on their performance across all aspects of their professional lives
Create an understanding of the need for trade union leaders to evolve strategies that will assist them strike a balance in the workplace
Deepen the understanding of trade union leaders on the forces that shape their actions in the workplace
Inculcate in the participants a better understanding of their respective roles in repositioning their organization
Create strategic thinking amongst trade union leadership
Map out effective strategies for re-organizing their approach to Industrial relations in their respective workplaces
Equip the leadership with certain practical skills for successful leadership

Course Outline

Module 1: Trade Unionism: challenges and prospects

Trade Union Development, functions and structure
Modern trade unions, current challenges and strategies for survival
A world without trade unions: issues and deficits to social partners and global economy

Module 2: The Economic Environment of Trade Union