Participatory Democracy & Good Governance for Labor Leaders

Participatory Democracy & Good Governance for Labor Leaders Presentation at NANNM Orientation Program for Labor Leaders by E.O.ICHIMA,AMNIM,AMIMC,CMC L&D Consultant, Skillpath Consulting Abuja 09 780 32 86 :: 0803 339 8100 :: 0808 046 5510 skillpath@hotmail.com /www.scsnigeria.com ”the origin of the right to participation is labor” - ILO

Ground Rules • Switch Off Mobile Phones or Put Them on Meeting Mode • No Unnecessary Movements/ Distraction • Listen Carefully • Talk One Person at a Time • Contribute to Improve the Program • Share Ideas/Participate • Socialize to Dissipate Stress

Background This paper will be delivered in three sub-modular format broken into: • Participatory Democracy • Good Governance • Labor Leadership Then a Q&A segment to round out the presentation will follow

Your Expectations from this Paper Individually list one thing you expect to gain from this module and state why it is important to you! • ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Write your response down in the jotter provided

Goals of Management The Management Wants: • To survive and remain competitive • To grow and prosper • To achieve a favorable return on its investment • To effectively use human resources

Goals of Management The Management Wants 2: • To attract, retain, and motivate employees • To protect management’s rights to make decisions and retain flexibility • To obtain a commitment from the union that there will be no strike

Goals of the Union The Union Wants: • The union to survive and remain secure • The establishment to grow and prosper as well as the union • To obtain a commitment from the establishment that there will be no lockout • The establishment to achieve a favorable return on its investment and return “fair” wages to employees

Goals of the Union The Union Wants2: • The establishment to effectively use human resources within the rules and policies of the agreement and to achieve job security and employment opportunities for members • The establishment to attract, retain, and motivate employees within the rules and policies of the agreement • To protect union and employee rights that were negotiated and included in the labor agreement If these goals are at variance, the case for participatory democracy makes a lot of sense!

Sub Module 1 Participatory Democracy

Definition and Overview • Participatory Democracy aka representation of interest • To participate means to contribute, chip in, take part, play a part • Concept has been over flogged and understood • Our concern is translate talk to action – e.g. how can NANNM and government fashion out a better way of achieving MDGs related to health? • Where state or federal governments involve NANNM in participation, are these interactions open and predicated on transparency, full disclosure etc?

Definition and Overview 2 • What was/is NANNM’s input into the 2008 budget at states and federal levels? • Democracy- social equality or consensus • Democracy involves the process of power acquisition through popular mandate • Social dialogue among actors in the bipartite/tripartite process to reach a decision everyone is comfortable with

Definition and Overview 3 • Is NANNM or NLC prepared to re-engage governments to build capacity in areas of common good?

Participatory Democracy • Representation of interests • A process of working together to achieve mutual goals • Mobilization of constituencies to input into the decision making engine • Social dialogue among the social partners – government, labor and business See more on interest next slide

Interests UnionParticipationJob Security“Fair” WagesProtected RightsNo lockouts ManagementControlEfficiencyEffectivenessFlexibilityNo strikes Common InterestsSurvivalCompetitivenessProfitabilityEquity

Key Question • Can there be Democracy without Participation? • Democracy without Participation = Dictatorship • Dictatorship breeds corruption, see the corruption equation (M+D) – (A+I+T) = C

How is AIT Achieved? • Consultations • Media Publicity/Newsletters • Adherence to the principle of consent with consent • Holding regular meetings at which leaders account for their stewardship • Campaign against evil culture of nepotism, partiality, bias, discrimination within the trade union movement and government circles • Ensure that trade union and government programs are conducted in the open

Cont’d… • Ensure that both parties abide within the framework of union constitution and government democratic bylaws • Put aside/budget for enough resources for union activities during the budget • Provide education and value re-orientation • Increase active involvement of women and remove barriers

Why Participation? • When left to decide what a father would consider good for a child, the father is never entirely cooperative • Emerging pressures – downsizing, rightsizing etc • To include Unions in awareness-raising campaigns • To add voice, contribute to control of corruption, ensure accountability, governance effectiveness – GAIT • Nurses elsewhere vs. nurses here – are there gaps in IT skills, do they have standard CPD programs, special incentives?

Why Participation? 2 • Lobbying and when necessary compelling government to listen/change their policies by developing position papers – esp. when and where core labor standards are ignored • A forum to link the role of unions in collective bargaining to aims of sustainable development as a measure of policy coherence • Compare notes – state by state, nation A and B [globalised economy]

Why Participation? 3 • Make a case for ongoing research and learning as adopted by the global unions in year 2000 • When negotiations ends in 50/50 or Either/Or Situations • Privatization of social goods e.g. health and water

Aspects of Participation • Problem Solving • Awareness Raising • Shared sovereignty in decision making • Opportunities to participate in decision making • Access to complete information necessary to make a decision • Guaranteed equal rights and respect for dignity • The right to minimum economic, health and safety, and environment standards • The right to a share in the economic value created by one’s work

Factors Inhibiting the Flourishing of Trade Union Participation With Government/Employers • Dictatorial tendencies on the part of some labor leaders that angers government and its representatives • Resources constraints - lack of employee involvement • Corruption - • Abuse of power – tendency to become autocratic/act solely on the basis of self desire, self aspiration (climbers) • Pride and impunity

Some ILO conventions that relate to Participation • C.87 - freedom of association and protection of the right to organize • C.98 -the right to organize and to bargain collectively • C.100 - Equal Remuneration Convention • C.111 - discrimination in respect of employment and occupation • Others are Conventions 29,105,138 and 182

Tasks/Concerns for NANNM on Participation • When we participate, is there any written guarantee that this participation will not lead to lay offs? • Is there any written guarantee right of protection from reprisal for employees/labor leaders who voice criticism on government? • Are state government health institutions implementing policies in accordance with the Yaradua six point agenda? • Is there a balance between Union and Management Goals? • Is your state governed by a do-it-my –way or else man?

Sub Module 2 Good Governance

Good Governance • Public good and the promotion of overall welfare of society • How will people respond when your name is mentioned after your tenure? • As a leader, are you democratic, do you allow true participation • In the Union circle for example, it includes • does the state chairman carry his other officers along? • Does he/she seek the blessing of the national secretariat before taking certain actions?

Good Governance • Are state or national officers accountable or can be held accountable? • Is there a measureable level of trust ? • Are these leaders competent, men of character and integrity? • At or during meetings, are they in charge? • announce the intended duration • Set up ground rules • Allow all to speak • Sum up and leave the issue

Good Governance • Are you in constant touch with what is happening in every level of the Union/Association? • Do you think win – win? • Can you apply/integrate BATNA and WATNA to achieve ZOPA?

Good Governance Fundamentals According to Bello –Imam (2004)good governance includes: • Accountability of Leadership • Transparency in Decision Making • Openness in transaction • Observance of the rule of law • Popular participation in decision making - vibrancy of trade unions/third alternative

Bad Governance Indicators • I know it all – don’t dare to question me or my judgment • Arrogance and constant self defense • People don’t believe what you say • No open discussion or involvement • People will not tell you truth or provide you with vital information that might help you make better decisions • People will avoid implementing your ideas and subvert you authority

Sub Module 3 Labor Leadership

Sound Labor Leadership • What is sound labor leadership? • What kind of leaders is NANNM looking for? • Is it those that collect union dues and pocket it • Is it those that collect check off dues and refuse to send what belongs to the National Secretariat/National Labor Centre? • Is it a cabal that are not Gender sensitive?

Sound Labor Leadership 2 • Did you study the contract or negotiation clause very well: : ask yourself, ask: what does this phrase really mean? Only lawyers benefit from vague wording • Avoid lies and half-truths among your members – remember, credibility once lost, can be impossible to repair

Sound Labor Leadership 3 • At meetings, emphasize the things you agreed – these are the points of common ground – remember you need these agreements to solve disagreements • Control emotion when provoked – anger kills • Avoid apologizing and adding a “but… qualifier • Accept apologies by others… resist the urge to score points

Enemies of Union Leadership • Listening without hearing • Holding back – not willing to commit yourself • Being locked in a box • Use of killer phrases – “we’ve already tried that” • Showing off –what do you know in this matter… • Lack of appreciation – know that appreciation is a wonderful thing:: it makes what is excellent in others to belong to us as well – it enables us to know how long the rainbow will last

Exercise Rearrange the following in order of priority during labor election: • Education level of the contestant • Physique of the contestant • Relationship of the contestant with government/management • Tribe • Experience in Leading people • Age of the contestant • Recommendation from management • Sex – male or female

Duties of Labor Leaders at Work As leaders representing a large number of people you have a duty of care for your members. These include: • To accept responsibility for member’s compliance with laid down rules and regulations • To advance, promote and defend the interest of members • To regulate terms and conditions of employment with employers • To cooperate with management to create industrial harmony at work • Handling of demands to educate command group

Duties of Labor Leaders at Work 2 • To keep its members in check from going on illegal strikes • Continued duty to bargain • Educate members to obey every lawful order and ethics of the nursing profession • Ensure that members use due care and skill commensurate with the standard they claim to possess and not to engage in anything that conflict with employer’s business

Loyalty to Your Union • In your own words, what does loyalty really mean? • Are you loyal/seen as loyal by your career and association bosses? • Do you discuss with the national office problems as they arise? • Are you managing the branch resources profitably? One common example: telephone

Phrases that Make/Mar Leadership • The six most important words: “I admit I made a mistake” • The five most important words: “You did a good job” • The four most important words: “What is your opinion?” • The three most important words: “If you please” • The two most important words: “Thank you” • The one most important word: “We” • The least important word: “I”

Summary • For participatory democracy to take root at national and branch levels, elected persons must display elements of Good Governance through open and honest Leadership • Labor leadership = character, competence and trust • The origin of the right to participate is labor • Democracy without participation = Dictatorship

“The future depends on what we do in the present.” -- Mahatma Ghandi Final Word

Any Questions?

About Presenter • Since 1991, E.O. ICHIMA has been in the training and career development sector providing structured hands-on programs, packaging, developing and involved in the delivery of learning documentations. • He works as the Chief Executive Officer of Skillpath Consulting Service Inc: an independent management consulting company based in Abuja – Nigeria

Participatory Democracy & Good Governance for Labor Leaders