Labour-management relations in the University of Cape Coast

Abstract

The study examined Labour-Management relations in the University of Cape Coast by looking at how labour represented by the Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) and Management relate at the University of Cape Coast. The study investigated how the activities of TEWU compared with the vision and mission of the University. Moreover, the study examined factors that account for industrial disputes between Management and the union and how these disputes were managed. The study was descriptive. Purposive, stratified and simple random sampling methods were used to select the 337 respondents comprising four Management Personnel who were involved in Labour-Management negotiations, one Deputy Registrar in charge of Division of Human Resource, five TEWU executive members and 327 junior staff. Two sets of questionnaire were used to gather data for the study, one set for the Management Personnel and the Deputy Registrar and the other for the TEWU executive members and the sampled junior staff. In all 315 (93%) respondents out of 337 responded to the instrument. A Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of 0.78 was obtained for the closed-ended items. The results showed that there was a strong and productive relationship between TEWU and Management in the University because Management involved TEWU executive when taking decisions which impacted on the lives of the junior staff. The study also revealed that both Management and the TEWU executive communicated effectively with each other. Moreover, the study showed that employees were committed to the University. However, the study revealed that the junior staff were not aware of the vision and mission of the University. The study therefore recommended, among other things, that the existing strategies for enhancing Labour-Management relations be sustained and improved upon by Management. In addition, the junior staff should be educated on the vision and mission of the University.