ABSTRACT

Selected trade unions activities area is key in study and considerations are made for any unionized organization in Kenya especially the public sector. University education is centered on quality based on the participation of all the involved members and aiming at long term success through expansion. This eventually benefits all members of the unions and the organization at large. Public universities in Kenya have been growing significantly over the last few years due to increased education sensitization, technological growth, and the devolved system of government. Research on trade unions activities shows that organizational performance can be attained through solving Union matters fast and harmoniously. A better understating is required to investigate the current status of the selected trade unions activities. This study seeks to assess selected trade unions activities on performance of public universities in Kenya. The main objective of this study was to investigate on the influence of selected trade unions activities on performance of public universities in Kenya. The specific ones are to establish the role of collective bargaining, to assess the influence of employee welfare, to find out how the code of discipline and to establish the role of code of regulations on organizational performance in public universities in Kenya. The literature review identified what other researchers have done in the area of TUAs on performance of public universities globally and locally. The study determined the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. The public universities under study were ten (10) in Kenya and emphasis was placed on the unions’ officials in the universities. The officials comprised of the Chairmen and other unions representatives in the universities, with a total of 80 respondents. The study adopted a census procedure owing to the small number of respondents involved. Questionnaires were used as mode of data collection instruments. Data analysis entailed descriptive and inferential statistics. The results of the study indicated the collective bargaining had inverse and statistically significance effect on performance of public universities. Employee welfare and code of regulation had direct and statistically significance effect on performance of public universities. Code of discipline had inverse and statistically insignificance effect on performance of public universities. The study recommends that there should be a timeframe after specific collective bargaining agreement has been made from which the other process can be initiated to avoid frequency of such negotiation since they adversely affect performance. Public universities should put more emphasis on prioritizing activities focusing on employees welfare since they leads to improved performance. In addition, Universities’ Councils should work in harmony with the trade unions and strive to foster good relations. Future researchers may also adopt a case study research design for other public institutions such as health sector which would further add value in understanding the effect of trade union activities on performance in health sector.