Trade Union Activities and Worker Welfare in the Nigerian Textile Industry: A Study of Kaduna State

This research examines the influence of trade union activities on worker welfare in the textile industry in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. The textile industry, once a major employer in Kaduna, has experienced severe contraction over the past two decades, raising critical questions about the capacity of trade unions to protect remaining workers. The study adopts a descriptive research approach, with primary data gathered through questionnaires and focus group discussions involving 140 textile workers, union officials, and management representatives. The Conflict Theory of Industrial Relations and the concept of social unionism underpin the theoretical framework. Findings indicate that active trade union engagement, including grievance arbitration, wage negotiation, and advocacy for safe working conditions, is positively associated with improved welfare outcomes such as timely wage payment, access to health benefits, and job security. Nevertheless, the study identifies internal union challenges including factionalism, poor leadership accountability, and financial mismanagement as key constraints that diminish union effectiveness in the state. The study also notes that management hostility toward union activities in certain firms erodes worker confidence in collective representation. Recommendations include democratic internal union restructuring, labour education programs, and stronger government oversight of union-management interactions. The research contributes to the discourse on labour relations in Nigeria's deindustrialized zones and provides actionable insights for union leaders, policymakers, and corporate HR departments. Keywords: trade union, worker welfare, textile industry, Kaduna State, industrial relations