An Assessment of Strategic Capabilities of the Lesotho Higher Education Sector Unions
Abstract
Incidences of industrial actions, which have frequently paralysed learning at most of the educational institutions, are frequent in Lesotho. Despite the safeguards for collective bargaining in Lesotho, the incidences of industrial actions at higher institutions of learning in Lesotho are still common. This brings into focus, the ability of the unions to effectively represent workers at the negotiations with the management. While several negative impacts of strikes in several countries have been observed in the literature, the same has not been determined in the case of Lesotho. It is argued in the literature that, in countries where wages are largely determined by collective bargaining, the quality of union representation has significant effects on unemployment. Research also shows that effective union representation leads to improved performance through lower turnover and enhanced investment in worker human capital. However, little research has been devoted to study the effectiveness of union representatives on settling industrial disputes and unemployment at the micro-level especially in Lesotho. This brings into question, the capability and the strategy of negotiation that is employed by the unions representing workers at the institutions of higher learning in Lesotho. Using a combination of content analysis and a qualitative survey, this study reveals that lack of transparency, inconsistent application of policies, as well as poor working conditions are some of the factors that cause strikes at the institutions of higher learning in Lesotho. The study also shows that unions at the higher institutions of learning consult with other unions in the sector and, where other strategies have failed, they resort to either industrial action or legal process to resolve conflicts at the workplace. The findings further show that unions employ widespread communication between them and the members to share new development in the negotiation process. On the capability of the union leaders to participate effectively in the negotiation process, the study notes that education and training of the members is key. This is an aspect of union activities that had never been researched before in Lesotho and, hence, is a significant contribution of this study to the development of a new line of literature on the subject. Moreover, the finding that the narrative resources or the repertoires of
action of the unionists could be improved to further enhance their strategic capabilities makes an important contribution towards strong unionism in Lesotho.