Globalisation and the Global Economic Meltdown; Prospects and Impediments for Trade Unionism in Nigeria

Abstract

Coming at the heels of the demise of the USSR, globalisation portends the unbridled spread of capitalist tendencies across geographic and ideological boundaries. In Nigeria, globalisation has translated into deregulation and privatisation of public corporations with the attendant lay off of workers. Increased unemployment, the contract staff syndrome and fear of loss of job have combined effectively to make collective efforts by trade unions in Nigeria to bring about transformative change appear impossible. This situation is exacerbated by the expectation of a backlash from the economic meltdown ravaging Europe and America presently. Employing the
political economy paradigm, this paper reappraises the prospects and impediments of this seemingly intractable global economic situation to the trade union movement in Nigeria.

Key words:Trade Union, Worker, Economic, Unemployment.