SETTLEMENT OF INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES IN NIGERIAN TEACHING HOSPITALS: A STUDY OF THE DISPUTE BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RESIDENT DOCTORS (NARD)

Abstract

Conflict is an inescapable part of our daily lives, a result of our highly complex and I competitive society and the organizations are not exceptional. The research investigates the settlement of industrial dispute in Nigerian Teaching Hospitals with particular focus on the Resident Doctors of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH‘). To carry out the research, statement of problem was designed; what are the causes of industrial dispute in the organization? On this premise, the following objectives were stated: to find out the inherent causes of dispute in the organization, to examine the effect of dispute on morale, to examine the style of conflict management system in the organization, to examine the various approaches and machineries adopted by the parties and its effectiveness in' resolving dispute and to examine the far fetched effect of dispute on the organization and the society in general. Five research questions and five hypotheses were formulated from the objectives of the study stated, which guided the researcher. The sample survey research design was adopted and the structured questionnaire was developed and administered to the managers and the resident doctors of the organization. Tabular and percentage method was used to present and analyse the bio - data of respondents, while a non parametric chi - square test statistics was used to test the hypotheses formulated. The findings of the study revealed that issues relating to wages and allowances, deteriorating nature of facilities, poor working environment and non adherence to collective bargaining agreement were factors responsible for the incessant industrial action in the organization. The findings of the study also showed that industrial dispute had a debilitating effect on the morale of resident doctors, which invariably had a negative effect on output in terms delivering efficient medical services to their patients. The findings also revealed that dispute had effect on their studies, which had led to the prolongation of their residency training. The findings also showed that the style of conflict management system adopted in the settlement of dispute by management was at variances with the employees. The results also showed that the various approaches and machineries adopted in the settlement of dispute were factors responsible for industrial dispute in the organization. The findings of the study also revealed that the loss in productivity and loss in revenue constitutes the most significant quantitative cost to management, while high mortality rate and high cost of living constitutes the most significant lost to the society. The study provided empirical evidence that the adoption of a well designed conflict management system that will involve all the parties of industrial relations system that is geared towards improving the lives of persons in the work place, improve productivity and lessen unnecessary litigation and grievances. The study concluded that for an industrial peace to be achieved in our organizations, all parties to the industrial relations must be involved in policy making and implementation processes.