Labour and Trade Unions: Meaning and of Labour and Trade Unions in Nigeria | Primary 6 (Basic 6) First Term Week 8 Social Studies

LABOUR AND TRADE UNIONS: CONCEPT AND EXAMPLES OF LABOUR AND TRADE

SOCIAL STUDIES

PRIMARY 6 – FIRST TERM – WEEK 8

THEME – NATIONAL VALUES EDUCATION 

PREVIOUS LESSON – Religious Intolerance in Nigeria: Meaning, Causes and Control of Religious Intolerance | Primary 6 (Basic 6) First Term Week 6 Social Studies

TOPIC – LABOUR AND TRADE UNIONS 

LEARNING AREA 

1. Introduction

2. Meaning and Types of Labour

3. Meaning and Examples of Trade Unions

4. Functions of Trade Unions

5. Importance of Labour and Trade Unions

7. Weekly Assessment: Test Questions and Answers/Assignment

8. Summary

LEARNING OBJECTIVES 

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

1. Define labour.

2. Explain the meaning of a trade union.

3. Identify the different types of labour.

4. Mention examples of skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled labour.

5. Mention at least five trade unions in Nigeria.

6, State the importance of labour and trade unions in Nigeria.

ENTRY BEHAVIOUR

Pupils have previously learned about family responsibilities, working parents, and the importance of work in generating income for the family.

This lesson builds on that knowledge by introducing pupils to the meaning of labour, different types of labour, and the role of trade unions in protecting the interests and welfare of workers.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

The teacher will teach the lesson with the aid of:

1. Pictures of different workers and occupations

2. Pictures of workers performing different types of jobs

3. Charts showing examples of trade unions in Nigeria

4. Flashcards

5. Social Studies textbook

METHOD OF TEACHING

Choose a suitable and appropriate methods for the lessons.

Note – Irrespective of choosing methods of teaching, always introduce an activities that will arouse pupil’s interest or lead them to the lessons. 

REFERENCE MATERIALS

1. Scheme of Work

2. 9 – Years Basic Education Curriculum

3. Course Book

4. All Relevant Material

5. Online Information

CONTENT OF THE LESSON

INTRODUCTION

People engage in different kinds of work to earn a living and provide goods and services needed in society. Farmers produce food, teachers educate pupils, doctors provide healthcare, builders construct houses, and drivers provide transportation services.

Workers may perform skilled, semi-skilled, or unskilled jobs. Workers in similar occupations may also come together to form organisations that represent their common interests and welfare. Such organisations are known as trade unions.

In this lesson, pupils will learn about the meaning of labour and trade unions, types of labour, examples of trade unions in Nigeria, and their importance to workers and society.

MEANING OF LABOUR

Labour refers to the physical or mental effort people use to produce goods, provide services, or carry out useful work.

Examples of labour include the work performed by teachers, farmers, doctors, nurses, drivers, traders, builders, artisans, and civil servants.

TYPES OF LABOUR

1. Skilled labour: Work that requires special training, knowledge, or skills.

Examples include doctors, engineers, teachers, and electricians.

2. Unskilled labour: Work that requires little or no specialised training.

Examples include cleaners, loaders, and some farm workers.

3. Semi-skilled labour: Work that requires some training and practical skills but does not require the level of specialised training associated with highly skilled professions.

Examples include machine operators and some technicians.

MEANING OF TRADE UNION

A trade union is an organised association of workers who come together to protect and promote their common interests and welfare at their workplace.

Trade unions may represent workers in discussions with employers about issues such as wages, working conditions, working hours, welfare, and other employment matters.

EXAMPLES OF TRADE UNIONS IN NIGERIA

1. Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) – represents teachers.

2. Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) – represents academic staff in Nigerian universities.

3. National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) – represents workers in the road transport sector.

4. Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) – represents journalists.

5. Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) – represent trade unions in Nigeria.

6. Other Nigerian labour organisations include unions representing workers in banking, health, manufacturing, aviation, and other sectors.

FUNCTIONS OF TRADE UNIONS

Trade unions help workers by:

1, Representing workers’ interests.

2. Negotiating with employers on wages and working conditions.

3. Promoting workers’ welfare.

4. Helping to resolve workplace disputes.

5. Protecting workers from unfair treatment.

6. Educating members about their rights and responsibilities.

7. Promoting safe and healthy working conditions.

8. Supporting members during legitimate industrial negotiations and actions.

IMPORTANCE OF LABOUR AND TRADE UNIONS

Labour is important because it helps to:

1. Produce goods and services.

2. Develop the economy.

3. Provide essential services.

4. Generate income for individuals and families.

5. Contribute to national development.

6. Trade unions are important because they help workers organise, communicate their concerns, protect their legitimate interests, and improve workplace conditions.

ON A FINAL NOTE 

• Labour is the physical or mental effort used to perform useful work, while a trade union is an organised association of workers formed to protect and promote their common interests and welfare.

• Labour contributes to production and national development, while trade unions help promote workers’ welfare and fair working conditions.

WEEKLY ASSESSMENT: TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS/ASSIGNMENT 

A. Multiple Choice Questions

1. Labour refers to the _______ people use to perform useful work.

A. building

B. money

C. machines only

D. physical or mental effort

2. Which of the following is an example of skilled labour?

A. Doctor

B. Cleaner

C. Loader

D. Porter

3. A trade union is an organised association of _______.

A. farmers only

B. workers

C. children

D. consumers

4. Which of the following is an example of a trade union in Nigeria?

A. Nigerian Red Cross

B. Nigerian Football Federation

C. Nigeria Union of Teachers

D. Federal Road Safety Corps

5. One important function of a trade union is to _______.

A. provide school uniforms

B. employ all workers

C. represent workers’ interests

D. build family houses

B. Fill in the Gaps

6. Labour involves the _______ or mental effort used to perform useful work.

7. Work that requires special training and knowledge is called _______ labour.

8. Work that requires little or no specialised training is called _______ labour.

9. An organised association of workers formed to protect their common interests is called a _______.

10. The _______ represents teachers in Nigeria.

C. True or False

11. Labour contributes to the economic development of a country. _______

12. Doctors and engineers are examples of skilled workers. _______

13. Trade unions are formed to represent and protect workers’ interests. _______

14. Unskilled labour always requires many years of specialised professional training. _______

15. Trade unions can help resolve disputes between workers and employers. _______

D. Matching

16. Labour – A. Represents teachers in Nigeria

17. Trade union – B. Physical or mental effort used to perform work

18. Skilled labour – C. Organised association of workers

19. Nigeria Union of Teachers – D. Work requiring special training and skills

20. Unskilled labour – E. Work requiring little or no specialised training

ANSWER KEY

1. D 2. A 3. B 4. C 5. C

6. Physical

7. Skilled

8. Unskilled

9. Trade union

10. Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT)

11. True

12. True

13. True

14. False

15. True

16. Labour — B. Physical or mental effort used to perform work

17. Trade Union — C. Organised association of workers

18. Skilled Labour — D. Work requiring special training and skills

19. Nigeria Union of Teachers — A. Represents teachers in Nigeria

20. Unskilled Labour — E. Work requiring little or no specialised training

SUMMARY

In this lesson, pupils learned that labour is the physical or mental effort people use to produce goods, provide services, or perform useful work.

They learned the three main types of labour:

• Skilled labour: Work that requires special training, knowledge, or skills.

• Semi-skilled labour: Work that requires some training and practical skills.

• Unskilled labour: Work that requires little or no specialised training.

Pupils also learned that a trade union is an organised association of workers formed to protect and promote their common interests and welfare.

Examples of trade unions in Nigeria include the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

Trade unions help workers by representing their interests, negotiating better working conditions, promoting workers’ welfare, resolving workplace disputes, and protecting workers from unfair treatment.

PRESENTATION

To deliver the lesson, the teacher adopts the following steps:

Step 1: Introduction

The teacher asks pupils:

• What is work?

• Why do people work?

• Can you mention some occupations you know?

• What kind of work do teachers, farmers, doctors, and drivers do?

• Have you heard of an organisation that represents workers?

The teacher explains that people perform different kinds of work to earn a living and provide goods and services. Workers may also form organisations to protect their common interests and welfare. These organisations are known as trade unions.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils answer the questions and mention different occupations they know.

Step 2: Meaning of Labour

The teacher explains that labour is the physical or mental effort people use to produce goods, provide services, or perform useful work.

• Examples include the work performed by teachers, farmers, doctors, nurses, drivers, traders, builders, artisans, and civil servants.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils explain the meaning of labour and mention examples of people who provide labour.

Step 3: Types of Labour

The teacher explains the three main types of labour:

• Skilled labour: Work that requires special training, knowledge, or skills. Examples include doctors, engineers, teachers, and electricians.

• Semi-skilled labour: Work that requires some training and practical skills. Examples include machine operators and some technicians.

• Unskilled labour: Work that requires little or no specialised training. Examples include cleaners, loaders, and some farm workers.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils identify the type of labour performed by different workers and give examples of each type.

Step 4: Meaning of Trade Union

The teacher explains that a trade union is an organised association of workers who come together to protect and promote their common interests and welfare.

• Trade unions may represent workers in discussions with employers about wages, working conditions, working hours, welfare, and other employment matters.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils explain the meaning of a trade union in their own words.

Step 5: Examples of Trade Unions in Nigeria

The teacher explains that examples of trade unions in Nigeria include:

• Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) – represents teachers.

• Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) – represents academic staff in universities.

• Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) – represents journalists.

• National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) – represents workers in the road transport sector.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils mention the examples of trade unions and identify the workers represented by them.

Step 6: Functions of Trade Unions

The teacher explains that trade unions:

• Represent workers’ interests.

• Negotiate wages and working conditions.

• Promote workers’ welfare.

• Help resolve workplace disputes.

• Protect workers from unfair treatment.

• Educate workers about their rights and responsibilities.

• Promote safe and healthy working conditions.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils mention the functions of trade unions and explain how they help workers.

Step 7: Importance of Labour and Trade Unions

The teacher explains that labour is important because it:

• Produces goods and services.

• Provides income for individuals and families.

• Provides essential services.

• Supports economic growth.

• Contributes to national development.

The teacher explains that trade unions help workers organise, communicate their concerns, and protect their legitimate interests.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils state the importance of labour and trade unions to workers and society.

Step 8: Group Activity

The teacher divides pupils into four groups.

• Group 1: Define labour and mention five examples of labour.

• Group 2: Name and explain the three types of labour.

• Group 3: Define trade union and mention four examples of trade unions in Nigeria.

• Group 4: State five functions and four importance of trade unions.

Each group presents its answers to the class.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils discuss, write, and present their answers.

Step 9: Lesson Summary

The teacher reviews the meaning and types of labour, the meaning and examples of trade unions, and the functions and importance of trade unions.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils answer oral questions and summarise what they have learned.

Step 10: Evaluation

The teacher gives pupils a different set of 20 questions as oral questions, a quiz, take-home work, or a quick test to assess their understanding of labour, types of labour, trade unions, their functions, and their importance.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils answer the questions individually or in groups.

CONCLUSION

To conclude the lesson for the week, the teacher revises the entire lesson and links it to the following week’s lesson.

NEXT LESSON

Wages and Income Distribution: Concept of Wages and Income Distribution, Relationship Between Income and Standard of Living, Factors Determining Wages and Income, Causes of Wage Increase, and Aspects of Income Management | Primary 6 (Basic 6) First Term Week 9 Social Studies

LESSON EVALUATION 

Teacher asks pupils,

1. What is labour?

2. What is a trade union?

3. Mention the three types of labour.

4. Give two examples of skilled labour.

5. Mention four trade unions in Nigeria.

6. State four functions of trade unions.

7. How does labour contribute to national development?

8. Explain the difference between skilled and unskilled labour.