Exploring the Importance of Power Relationship in Collective Bargaining Process: A Study in the Nigerian Context

• Main Author: Abigail, Dan-Mallam Yakubu
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English; English; English
• Published: UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK 2024
• Subjects: B Philosophy (General); BD Speculative Philosophy; BS The Bible; H Social Sciences (General); HB Economic Theory
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/44111/3/ABGAIL%20PHD%20THESIS.ftext.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/44111/4/ABGAIL%20PHD%20THESIS%20-24%20pages.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/44111/5/Abigail%20Yakubu_dsva.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/44111/
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

The purpose of this study was to explore the importance of power relationship in the process of collective bargaining. The key issue of interest in this study was unsuccessful negotiation process and outcome between the representatives of Nigeria Federal Government (FGN) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). To accomplish the objectives of this thesis, the researcher adopted a qualitative approach. A total number of 55 participants were involved in this research project. 25 participants from the representatives of Nigeria Federal Government (FGN) and 30 participants from the representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). Empirical findings based on the data gathered from Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) uncovered that they have not bee able to settle their differences because the representatives of Nigeria Federal Government (FGN) are more powerful coercing the representatives of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to accept poor negotiation offer on the bargaining table. On the other hand, findings from the representatives of Nigeria Federal Government (FGN) shows that lack of prioritization of demands and compromise from the representatives of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) are common responsible factors affecting the success of labour negotiation between both parties. This study concluded that, negotiation cannot be successful if there is power imbalance between the negotiators on the bargaining table. This is because negotiators with higher power may display an unethical bargaining behaviour towards negotiators with low power. This study has contributed to the existing body of literature by identifying how high power and low power negotiators behaves on the bargaining table.