Research Proposal

On

UNIONISM AT PTCL & SSGC

Quetta

Dated: 5th May, 2010

By:
Yasir Shahzad

Research Supervisor:
Miss Musarrat Karamat Ali
INTRODUCTION AND BACK GROUND

A trade union is an organized group of workers. Its main goal is to protect

and advance the interests of its members. A union often negotiates agreements
with employers on employment terms and conditions. It may also provide legal
and financial advice, sickness benefits and education facilities to its members.
Trade unions are the voluntary organizations that require a level of membership
participation in order to function. Without some level of membership participation
and solidarity, unions will be not only ineffective forms of representation but also
in many cases financially non-workable.

It is argued that individual decision to unionize arise with the level of

dissatisfaction and frustration to job1. Unionization is one way of responding to
job dissatisfaction2 .One of the other reasons of joining a union is collective
reasons3. Those who believe in worker’s solidarity join unions because they
perceive trade unions as a major instrument for collective action4.

Other factors which increase the union membership are the benefits
associated with unions5. There are many benefits which are associated with the
trade union and individual want to accomplish his/her needs through these
benefits6.Some researchers found significant relationship between trade union
membership and ideological and political attitudes7. According to this explanation
workers join unions as a result of their political beliefs8.

Participation in trade union is enhanced by those factors which are made

for greater identification with one’s occupational situation and occupational
community. Job situation leading to frequent and close association with many
fellow workers encourage union participation. A worker’s decision to join a union
is significantly influenced by their coworkers and immediate supervisors. The
likelihood of union participation is enhanced by personal contact with pro-union
work colleagues, union leaders, family members, ethnic associates.

Pakistan trade union membership is very weak at this time. Only 0.6% of
the total workers are organized in the trade unions. Total numbers of the work
force is as follow:

Where as the total number of trade unions and their membership are as
follow:

TABLE 2: Total number of trade unions and their membership

TOTAL
AREA REGISTERED TOTAL MEMBERSHIP
TRADE UNION
PAKISTAN 7392 255405
BALOCHISTAN 117 29235

Where as in Quetta city major trade unions are Pakistan

telecommunication employees union, Pakistan telecommunication line staff
union, Wapda hydro power union, PWD employees union, Agriculture employees
union, Public Health engineering union and Pak PWD employees union etc.
which have approximately total membership of 10, 000.

Objective of the study

The literature review indicates that employees’ decision of joining a trade

union depends upon many factors. This study attempts to explore the reasons of
unionization of employees of SSGC Quetta
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

As stated earlier the objective of this study is to determine that why

employees join trade unions in Quetta. Data was collected from predetermined
population using questionnaire technique.

A. The population

Population consists of following three unions:

• SSGC Quetta

B. The sample
We have fallowing sample size of the study:

Group Sample Size

SSGC QUETTA 30

Questions

Based on the above Operational definitions the following exploratory

questions emerged, and included in the questionnaire:

1. Why employees like unionism?

2. Is union Protects workers against unfair treatment of employer?
 3. Is unionism protects the job?
4. Are you work more than what you paid off?
5. Being a member of trade union you get better treatment if you have a
problem at work?
6. Is union involve in political?

Research Limitations

Following are the limitations of the research:

• Due to time constrain, convenience sampling use to select the sample of

50 members from the above mentioned trade unions.
• Availability and willingness of the respondents may alter the sample.
• Law and order situation in Balochistan.

Problem Statement

This paper will do a critical analysis related to the Unionism at SSGC in Quetta
that how unionism affects the internal affairs of both Organization. This analysis
will also illustrate that how unionism is effective or ineffective. We usually
observe that sometime participants of union play an important roll in all affairs,
dealings, and do supportive tasks. But in the case sometime there may be group
of people who are the members of union and do nothing, further they elect by
balloting illegally or without the consent of employees of the organization, and
that group of people who are members of the union create problem for the
management within the organization which agitate the main objective of the
organization. This study is based on sampling.

Benefits of the study

The study will be beneficial to know the Advantages and disadvantages about
Unionism in work place in Quetta, and it will also be helpful for people of other
cities for better understanding of the situation and point of view about that what
type of Unionism exist in Quetta.
Scope of Research

The scope of this research is limited to the Unionism at SSGC Quetta only.

Preliminary References

Dessler, Gary. Human Resource Management. 9thed. New Delhi: Prentice- Hall
of India, (2003).
2
Riley, Nicola-Maria. “Determinants of Union Membership: A review”. Labour, XI,
No. 2 (1997), 265-301.

3
Waddington, Jeremy., and whitston, Colin. “Why do people join union In a period
of membership decline?,” British Journal of industrial relation, XXXV, No. 4 (1997) ,
515-546.

4
Haberfeld, Yitchak. “Why do workers join unions? The case of Israel”. Industrial
and labor relation review, XLVIII, No. 4 (1995), 656-670.
5
J Pehkonen, Jaakko., and Tanninen, Jannu. “Institution, Incentives and trade
Union Membership,” Labor, XI, No. 3 (1997), 579-597.

6
Guest, David E., and Conway, Neil. “Exploring the paradox of unionized worker
dissatisfaction,” Industrial relations journal, XXXV, No. 9 (2004), 102-121.
7
Riley, Nicola-Maria. op. cit.
8
Haberfeld, Yitchak. op. cit.

http://www.pakistan.gov.pk/divisions/bstat.pdf
1
Dessler, Gary. Human Resource Management. 9thed. New Delhi: Prentice- Hall of India, (2003).
2
Riley, Nicola-Maria. “Determinants of Union Membership: A review”. Labour, XI, No. 2 (1997), 265-301.
3
Waddington, Jeremy., and whitston, Colin. “Why do people join union In a period of membership decline?,” British Journal
of industrial relation, XXXV, No. 4 (1997) ,515-546.
4
Haberfeld, Yitchak. “Why do workers join unions? The case of Israel”. Industrial and labor relation review, XLVIII, No. 4
(1995), 656-670.
5
J Pehkonen, Jaakko., and Tanninen, Jannu. “Institution, Incentives and trade Union Membership,” Labor, XI, No. 3
(1997), 579-597.

6
Guest, David E., and Conway, Neil. “Exploring the paradox of unionized worker dissatisfaction,” Industrial relations
journal, XXXV, No. 9 (2004), 102-121.
7
Riley, Nicola-Maria. op. cit.
8
Haberfeld, Yitchak. op. cit.