INDUSTRIAL ACTION AND WORKFORCE PRODUCTIVITY IN MANUFACTURING COMPANIES IN RIVERS STATE

Abstract

The variability and inevitability of dispute is a problem that must be faced by every manager, whether the organization is family unit, a business firm, or a nation. Dispute in organization, therefore, must be planned for and managed to achieve employee and organizational productivity. Several scholars Zeb-obipi,(2016) Solaja, (2015) Ilevbare, Ojeleye, & Ilevbare, (2012) Jaja, (2000) and Ahiauzu, (1999) among others have made their contributions on industrial disputes conflict resolution, conflict management and their relation to productivity, performance and growth of the organization respectively but none has related industrial conflicts (strike and lockout actions), to workforce productivity (creativity, output and quality service delivery) in manufacturing companies in Rivers State thus leaving a gap. The primary problem of this study therefore is to  examine the extent of relationship between industrial disputes and workforce productivity of manufacturing companies in Rivers State rather than the processes through which disagreement and disputes are generated. This is because managers and investors of manufacturing companies wouldn’t want to witness their investment and vision go down-the-drain, strategies must be put in place to set these anomaly straight in both the managerial and employee status which of course channels and encourages a deeper insight concerning this study.