The impact of current socio-economic transformations on industrial relations in Tanzania the changing role of trade unions

This study tries to delineate the impact of the current socio-economic and political transformations taking place in Tanzania on the workers, trade unions, and the country’s Industrial Relations System and Practices in general. Data was collected through personal guided interviews, questionnaires and surveys of existing literatures. Respondents from the PSRC, trade unions, the Industrial Court, the Ministry of Labour, the office of the Registrar of Trade unions and retrenches were interviewed. The questionnaires were administered to employees of the National Bank of Commerce (NBC), Tanzania Telecommunications Company Ltd (T.T.C.L), Tanzania Elimu Supplies Ltd (T.E.S) and Simba Plastics Co Ltd. The study involved 170 respondents, (50 respondents for personal guided interviews and 120 for filling in questionnaires). Data collected was analysed manually in part and with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer programme. Content analysis was used to analyse responses to the open-ended questions. Responses by the 50 interviews were subjected to matrix analysis. The results were presented quantitatively and qualitatively using tables, charts, profiles and explanations. The findings indicate that, the specific micro- economic policies and administrative measures undertaken by the government of the United Republic of Tanzania to ameliorate the country’s economic crisis in the last three decades have had impact on the working class, trade unions and Industrial Relations System and Practice in the country. The study recommends deliberate efforts to improve trade unions performance by training trade unionists in various fields/issues related to the management of trade union activities, the need for employers to recognize and work with trade unions, improvement of the terms and conditions of workers and the need for both trade unions and workers to equip themselves with all necessity tools to enable them cope with the rapid global socio-economic changes taking place in the country.