Working Class and Trade Union Studies Association of Nigeria

Working Class And Trade Union Studies Association Of Nigeria

C/o department of business administration and management studies, the polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State

Communiqué issued at the end of the 1st annual conference and formal inauguration of working class & trade union studies association of Nigeria held at the institute of African studies, University of Ibadan 30 - 31st may 2008

Introduction
The 1st Annual Conference of the Working Class and Trade Union Studies Association of Nigeria (WCTUSAN) was convened and held at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan on 30 - 31st May 2008. Participants were drawn from the trade unions, academics, labour NGO’s, youths and students from different geo-political zones of Nigeria. The Key- note Address on the theme: ‘Towards A Liberating Self-understanding of The Working Class By The Working Class: The Case of Industrial Relations’ was delivered by the socialist former National President of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Festus Iyayi while goodwill messages were received from the main Central Labour Organizations in the country, namely the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

In all, thirteen papers were presented for deliberation at the Conference. The Conference formally inaugurated the Working Class and Trade Unions Studies Association of Nigeria and elected a 6-person Steering Committee.

Observations
In its discussions and deliberations, the Conference noted as follows:

(1) The theoretical foundation of Industrial Relations Practice in Nigeria has for too long rested on unscientific appreciation of the place of the country in the world capitalist system, thereby leading to distorted pictures of relations between workers, employers and the state.
(2) The trade unions are relevant vehicles to fight, not only against class oppression in the industry but also against economic, social and political exclusion in the larger society.
(3) The factors of male domination, gender discrimination, unequal opportunities, backward socio-cultural practices and societal mores, among others, undermine women participation in trade union activities and general public life.
(4) The existing Labour Laws in the country are predominantly pro-capitalist and focused on protecting the unequal relations of exploitation and oppression.
(5) The repeated efforts to further integrate Nigeria as an inferior partner into the global capitalist economy through neo-liberal reforms, particularly in the banking industry, oil and gas, public services, etc, have further impoverished the working people, thereby posing critical and urgent challenges before the trade unions and other organizations of the poor strata.

Recommendations
Based on the foregoing observations, the Conference made the following recommendations:

1. That the inauguration of Working Class and Trade Union Studies Association of Nigeria (WCTUSAN) is long overdue. Those who subscribe to the idea of a liberating social science school of thought should embrace and support the WCTUSAN in order to provide non-capitalist oriented versions of the essence, concerns, interests and prospects of the working class and trade unions in Nigeria.
2. That there is a need for trade unions to intensify and deepen mass workers education at all levels. In this regard, a labour college independently owned and controlled by trade unions and pro-labour organizations is an imperative.
3. That to strengthen trade unions, internal trade union democracy should be promoted.
4. While striving for promulgation of more favourable legislation, the trade unions should carry out mass struggles to ensure compliance and enforcement of existing pro-labour laws.
5. In particular, the labour movement should fight against the inadequacies of the existing Pension Act.
6. Trade unions should take advantage of advances in information technology such as mobile phones, Internet, etc, to strengthen trade union communication and struggles.
7. While commending the trade union movement in resisting labour casualisation, the Conference called on labour to challenge the neo-liberal policies which are responsible for the widespread practices of casualisation in both the private and public sectors of the economy.
8. In order to ameliorate the conditions of the working class, the conference called on trade unions to struggle for increased union representation in national labour institutions such as the Industrial Courts, Health & Safety, and Productivity and Incomes Boards.

Femi Aborisade
For and on Behalf of WCTUSAN