Influence of Trade Unions Strategies on Teachers’ Welfare in Public Secondary Schools in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Abstract

The study sought to establish the influence of trade unions strategies on teachers’ welfare in public secondary schools in Nairobi County, Kenya. The researcher based the study on the following objectives; To assess the influence of securing teachers’ benefits by trade Unions on teachers’ welfare; the extent to which trade unions involvement in teacher professional development influence teachers’ welfare; the influence of advocacy by teachers’ trade union on teachers’ welfare, and the extent to which Trade Unions involvement in management of teacher discipline influences teachers’ welfare in public secondary schools in Nairobi County. The study employed a descriptive survey design. The target population of the study was 2236 secondary school teachers and a total of 87 public secondary schools, eleven KNUT and seven KUPPET officials. Thirty percent target population for both teachers and schools were sampled giving a sample size of 671 teachers and 26 secondary schools. The teachers and the schools were stratified per sub-County and selected by simple random sampling method to participate in the study. Both KNUT and KUPPET officials were purposively sampled. A total of three KNUT officials and two KUPPET official were purposively sampled. Data was collected by interview guide for the KNUT and KUPPET officials. Quantitative data was analyzed descriptively and presented using tables, bar graphs and pie charts. For interviews, audio recorded responses were transcribed and presented as direct quotations, verbatim and discussions. Content validity of the questionnaires was ascertained by a team of experts in the field of Educational administration and through piloting of questionnaires. Reliability of the instruments was ascertained by a test-re test technique and a coefficient of stability for teachers’ questionnaire found to be 0.785. Permission to collect data in Nairobi County was granted by the National Council of Science and Technology. A letter of introduction was given in every school visited before data was collected. Pearson correlation matrix and regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between teachers’ trade unions initiatives and teachers’ welfare. Interview responses were presented as direct quotations and discussions. The study findings revealed that trade unions were instrumental in fighting teachers’ welfare benefits. The study established that teachers trade unions advocacy had strong positive significance on the welfare of teachers. The findings also noted that trade unions were also involved in disciplinary issues involving teachers. However, the finding noted that the unions are not doing enough with the legal representation of teachers in judiciary. Unions should encourage teachers’ professional development. Teachers unions should intensify capacity-building programs to train teachers on emerging trends, new policies and education reforms. Teachers unions should fully take the lead in addressing discipline issues by regularly sensitizing their members. The study concluded that trade unions strategy of securing teachers’ benefits, had a positive influence on teachers’ welfare (Pearson Chi-Square=376.771a, df=399, p=0.002<0.05). Secondly, the study showed that there was a positive significant relationship (Pearson Chi-Square=332.770a, df=361, p=0.004<0.05) between trade unions involvement in teacher professional development and teachers’ welfare. There was also a positive significant relationship (Pearson Chi-Square=475.168a, df =456, p=0.008<0.05) between advocacy by teachers’ trade union and teachers’ welfare. The study also revealed that there was a positive significant relationship (Pearson Chi-Square =443.883a, df=399, p=0.010<0.05) between trade Unions involvement in management of teacher discipline and teachers’ welfare.