Socialism and industrial organisation in Tanzania an analysis of the present industrial relations pattern in a parastatal organisation

Socialism and Industrial Organisation in Tanzania is a study intended to contribute to the understanding of the problems of industrial relations in parastatals. The basic characteristic feature of industrial organisation in Tanzanian, as in all other Third world countries is that it has its roots in the system of colonialism. In 1967, Tanzania nationalised industrial enterprises run under capitalist organisation and characterised by fundamental opposition between the interaction of purposes and activities of workers on the one hand and the management on the other. Whereas the Arusha Declaration laid down the main principles and the future path of Tanzanian development other policy papers the presidential Circular No.1 of 1970 and the Mwongozo, added to strengthen the socialist initiative in industrial relations. Yet, studies undertaken to as late as 1980, indicate that there is still existing in our industrial enterprises the Master-servant Subordination. This raise the difficult and important question undertaken by this study to analyse the inhibiting features to our socialist goals. The investigation was carried out under three basic assumptions, First, that, Managerial organisation all structures in our industrial enterprises inhibits successful adoption of our socialist goals. Second that industry technology under capitalism is a product of deliberate research guided by s set of objectives, one of which is to control the porkers. Thus, the technology embody work structures which give power function to the management. Thirdly, that our labour legislation is not compatible with our socialist policy aspirations. The study yield four important conclusions. First that our industries are governed by a system of organisation more readily understood as bureaucratic which is characterised by hierarchical relations of subordination with concentration of authority with a few individuals at the top. Such a relationship of subordination is normally resistant to change. Secondly that the technology we have, reflect the intentions of the designers in its mode of operation. Such intentions also reflect the ideology of subordination characteristic of capitalist society. Thirdly that the resultant industrial relations pattern together with the labour laws which govern it would seem to preserve the status quo. The major source of conflict prevailing in industrial relations then, was seen to be the Nations Socialist goal and the Western Managerial values and technology which we Nationalized in 1967 and continue to procure to date. The study concludes that, in as much as, the contradictions between our National Economy and monopoly capitalism is not resolved capitalist manifestations will continue to inhibit our socialist development.