Union suppression and union substitution strategies of multinational enterprises in Ghana

Ayentimi, Desmond Tutu; Burgess, John; Dayaram, Kantha

doi:10.1111/irj.12264

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…In these cases, some employers have caused doubt and confusion among workers by arguing that staff employed on casual contracts do not have the right to join a union. This is one of a number of union suppression tactics used by management teams to deter the collective representation of workers in the oil industry (see Ayentimi, Burgess and Bayaram, 2019, for an overview).…”

Section: Structural Powermentioning

confidence: 99%

Oil in Ghana: The Work of the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers' Union (GTPCWU)

McQuinn

Sallah²

2022

GLJ

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Utilising elements of Coordination and Context-Appropriate Power Theory (CCAP) as a framework, this article assesses the efforts of the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers’ Union (GTPCWU) in Ghana to defend the rights of workers in the oil industry. Whether the GTPCWU has been able to effectively employ structural, institutional and conditional forms of power is examined within the CCAP framework. The analysis is informed by first-hand knowledge of trade union policies and practices, as one of the authors is a GTPCWU official. The research also draws on interviews and email communications with other Ghanaian trade unionists and an academic specialising in labour issues. The findings indicate that the structured labour regime, in which the GTPCWU is embedded, makes it hard for the union to employ structural, institutional and conditional forms of power fruitfully. Nevertheless, agency on the part of union officials and members is significant. This is evidenced by the success of individual union actions, indicating that the GTPCWU possesses a degree of structural power. Utilising institutional power effectively is difficult for the union, as enforcement of labour legislation is weak, and lengthy legal processes ensue when cases do reach court. It is also burdensome for the GTPCWU to exercise conditional power, based on obtaining support from non-union individuals and groups, since its members are widely perceived to have well-paid employment in the formal sector. The GTPCWU’s need for assistance in supporting its members through the transition away from fossil-based systems of energy production is outlined. Capacity-building initiatives, including the construction of a training and conference facility, and recruitment campaigns, focusing on attracting more women and youth members, are discussed. KEYWORDS: Ghana; trade unions; oil industry; Coordination and Context-Appropriate Power Theory (CCAP); structural, institutional and conditional forms of power

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Section: Structural Powermentioning

confidence: 99%

Oil in Ghana: The Work of the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers' Union (GTPCWU)

McQuinn

Sallah²

2022

GLJ

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“…Kelly, 2004) highlight pessimism concerning partnership as it compromised the autonomy and effectiveness of unions in responding assertively to change. A partnership can be conceived as a facet of managerial strategies of control, for example in their use of co‐option and coercion with regard to unions, and such dynamics have been highlighted in other research concerned with Ghana (Ayentimi et al., 2019; Akorsu & Cooke, 2011; Cooke, 2014).…”

Section: Ipr Worker and Union Participation And The Importance Of Loc...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Contrasting union orientations and engagement with international private regulation: The agency and role of labour in MNC subsidiaries in Ghana

Tetteh

Mustchin

2022

Brit J Industrial Rel

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This article focuses on multinational company subsidiaries in Ghana with contrasting approaches to international private regulation. The findings explore the nature and outcomes of international private regulation but also the agency of unions and their orientations in terms of whether they valued and engaged with international private regulation or otherwise. Local union orientations and industrial relations dynamics are key influences on whether international private regulation is meaningfully applied or perceived as useful, and these contrasted notably within the research underpinning this article.

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Green People Management, Internal Communications and Employee Engagement

Kuuyelleh¹,

Ayentimi

Abadi

2021

Palgrave Studies of Marketing in Emerging Economies

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Union suppression and union substitution strategies of multinational enterprises in Ghana

Cited by 5 publications

References 44 publications

Oil in Ghana: The Work of the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers' Union (GTPCWU)

Oil in Ghana: The Work of the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers' Union (GTPCWU)

Contrasting union orientations and engagement with international private regulation: The agency and role of labour in MNC subsidiaries in Ghana

Green People Management, Internal Communications and Employee Engagement

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