In the quest to secure an enhanced labour-management relationship in organisations, labour unions and professional bodies have been charged to adopt Appropriate Dispute Resolution (ADR) promote peace at the workplace.
With the adoption of ADR, most of the grievances and disputes that end up either in strikes, the courts or National Labour Commission, can be settled amicably without any disruption in productivity.
Mr. Austin Gamey, a renowned labour expert and ADR Practitioner, in an interview with ADR Daily, regarding the frequent labour unrest in organisations in the country recently, said the leaders of trade unions urgently need training and skills in the use of ADR, particularly mediation.
ADR offers all the techniques needed to resolve disputes in organisations.
“In Ghana, most people rely on an adversarial court system in trying to resolve disputes but it is time that we put aside the adversarial system and focus on a quicker, simpler and more effective method of dispute resolution.
“Professionals in the labour market should not think that ADR plays no role in their lives, but it is essential they acquire skills in ADR because in this era although you may not be directly involved with ADR, they need aspects of ADR to manage workers and workplace relationships,” he said.
According to him “professionals, CEOs, trade unionists and managers must do well to train themselves in ADR to improve upon the relationship they have with their management and workers, through which the workplace disputes would be minimized and amicably resolved.
Mr. Gamey observed that most of the disputes that have occurred in and between organisations could have been avoided through ADR, citing recent disputes such as the Goldfields and Ghana Mine Workers Union case, the strike actions of UTAG, staff of La Palm Royal Beach Resort, and Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, as well as the Menzgold and Bank of Ghana saga, among others, which could have been settled through mediation.
By: Fred Gadese-Mensah/adrdaily.com
