Examining the role of trade unions in restoring and improving workers’ rights and conditions after the economic meltdown in Zimbabwe:aA case of newuz in ZESA Holdings 2009 – 2013.

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to examine the role played by National Energy Workers Union of Zimbabwe (NEWUZ) which is a Trade Union, in Restoring and Improving the Workers Rights and Conditions which had been eroded during the economic meltdown that ravaged the country between 2007 and 2008. The objectives of the study were to establish what rights and conditions existed before the economic meltdown , how the economic meltdown affected the workers rights and conditions and the initiatives that the Trade Union put in place after 2009 to restore and improve the eroded workers rights and conditions. The study used a longitudinal design method and a Case study design as the study was focusing on NEWUZ as the case study but using longitudinal design to access the effects to variable of rights and conditions the 3 periods before, during and after the economic meltdown. The members of NEWUZ who work in ZESA Holdings were used as the population. The study was a qualitative research hence it used a non-probability sampling technique to come up with the sample. Convenient sampling was used and the sample size was 100. Semi structured questionnaires and open ended interviews were used as data collections tools and the presentation of data was done through descriptive texts and formation of categories and themes from the data collected. The major findings of the study were that before the economic meltdown the Trade Union bargained, lobbied and advocated for competitive and favorable rights and conditions for ZESA workers. The study also found out that the economic meltdown eroded all the benefits and in the conditions of workers and the rights of workers were totally disregarded which amounted to erosion. The period of the meltdown also grounded the trade unions as they could not function as no subscriptions were remitted to them due the non-viability of the company. The other major finding was that the Trade Union initiatives put in place after the end of the economic meltdown managed to restore the majority of the conditions and rights of workers that had been eroded , however it was generally agreed by the respondents that the Trade Union initiatives did not manage to restore all the conditions which reasons were suggested in access but the generally agreed reason was that the economy as much as it stabilised it did not completely recover from the slump it suffered in 2008 and also that the union were not putting enough pressure to compel he employer to restore the remaining rights and condition. The major recommendation was that the Trade Union should come up with more robust initiative to protect and safe guard workers rights and Conditions.