UNDERSTANDING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IN THE NIGERIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM: THE RELEVANCE OF DUNLOP / FLANDERS’ MODEL

The basic thrust of this paper is that the “Industrial Relation System Model” as propounded by Professor John T. Dunlop (1958) and Allan Flanders (1968) with subsequent contributions by other writers (mentioned in the paper) is applicable to collective bargaining in the local government councils and in the Nigerian industrial relations system in general. Indeed, the nature of salary administration since 1941 through several wage review panels bear eloquent testimony to the fact that the “output” of one collective bargaining exercise is “reprocessed” as “input” and through the “feedback” mechanism and interactions with the environment, the industrial relations system continues in its cyclic character. The environment and precipitating conditions include economic, political and social factors. The paper comprises of: abstract; methodology; conceptual discourse; theoretical framework / features of the industrial relations system model; application of the theory; findings / discussion of findings; Conclusion and recommendations. The paper concluded that the objective application of collective bargaining and the sanctity of its process can enhance peace and working harmony in public sector organizations, especially the local government system. The recommendations canvassed can effectively strengthen the use of collective bargaining in the local government syste