International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Index Copernicus Value (2013): 6.14 | Impact Factor (2013): 4.438 Volume 4 Issue 9, September 2015 www.ijsr.net Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY Role of Trade Unions in the Enhancement of Peaceful Work Relations for Efficient Conflict Management in Public Universities in Kenya James Muya 1 , Patricia Chemutai Simotwo 2 1, 2 Kisii University Abstract: Disagreements are always an inevitable part of organizational life. Labour conflicts can be regarded as disputes that occur when interests, goals or values of different individuals or groups within a workplace are unharmonious with each other. The institutions of higher learning in Kenya are experiencing a lot of conflicts which are mostly left unresolved. Conflicts between individual workers/employees and also between workers and management have escalated. Labour conflicts leads to cases of frequent strikes, lock ups and any other forms of unrest as seen in our Universities. Proper management of conflicts however deserves special and adequate consideration in harmonizing workplace relations. This study aimed to establish the role of trade unions in managing conflicts in institutions of higher learning by enhancing of peaceful work relations. The study was based in Moi University since it one of the oldest and largest universities in Kenya. The target population of the study encompassed all the 683 employees in the university who were registered members of different trade unions. Stratified sampling was used to divide the population into three categories thus Lecturers, Middle grade staff and junior staff. 205 respondents were selected purposively for the study. Secondary data was obtained from existing literature and university documents while primary data was collected from the respondents using questionnaires. According to the results, 80% of the respondents confirmed that trade unions in their workplace use the role of labour relations in conflict management. In relation to whether job specification is clearly drawn to ensure peaceful work relations, 64.8% of the respondents agreed while 17.1% disagreed. The respondents were additionally asked whether existence of harmonious work relations leads to high productivity among workers. 94.2% of the respondents agreed that high productivity is achieved when harmonious relations exist among the workers. In regard to whether trade unions encourage consultations among their members as a way of creating harmonious work relations, 82.5% of the respondents agreed while only 0.5% disagreed. The study recommends that trade unions jointly with management should maintain continual negotiations with the employers to avoid employee-employer conflicts. Collective bargaining should be promoted as a tool with which employers and employees are able to negotiate on matters affecting the work place. Keywords: Trade Unions, Peaceful Work Relations, Conflict Management, Public Universities 1. Introduction Trade unions are a major constituentof the modern industrial system in anycountry, each having their own set of goals to achieve according to their constitution and each having its own stratagemto reach those goals (Cohen, 2004). A trade union commonly known as a labour union is an organization of workers who have come together to achieve common goals such as protecting the integrity of its trade, improving safety standards, achieving higher pay and benefits such as health care and retirement, increasing the number of employees an employer assigns to complete the work, and better working conditions (Meardi, 2000). It is a continuous association of wage earners for the purpose of sustainingand enhancing conditions in the workplace (Hyman, 2001). Basically, a trade union fights for better working conditions and remuneration for its members (Taylor & Bain, 2001). They advocate for sound relations between employers and employees through the promotion and protection of freedom of association, collective bargaining agreements and dispute resolution (Gallin, 2001). More specifically, trade unions negotiate for wages, work rules, complaint procedures, rules governing hiring, firing and promotion of workers, benefits, workplace safety and policies (Deakin & Morris, 2012). In developing countries, the right to form a union and bargain collectively protects workers from exploitative and abusive conditions at work and puts pressure on employers to share productivity gains with their employees. The recent upsurge in trade union action has been encouraging. This surge has essentially been instigated by the contemporary changes in the political, social and educational environs regarding awareness of rights of employees – such as the right to organize, the right to negotiate, and the right to settle terms and conditions of employment (Phelan, 2007; Fairbrother, 2008). This understanding of rights has caused worker unions to spring up to protect, guard and foster workers' interests. The outcomes have been evinced some which include with the establishment of minimum wages, norms for mandatory work hours, provisions for health and safety, and overall improvements in working conditions. It’s evident that unionization has become instrumental in improving the quality of life of workers (Singh& Kulkarni, 2013; Barrientos Smith, 2007). The upsurge of trade unionism hasn’t come without its fair share of negativity. Most governments and employees associate trade unions with workers strikes, slow-downs, or work stoppages especially in developing countries (Hyman, 2007). Though in trade unions protects workers from exploitative and abusive conditions at work, in most of these developing countries employers to view trade unionism as an undesirable intervention in the smooth functioning of organizations without realizing the positive contribution it could make towards industrial peace, harmony and progress (Levinson, 2013). Employers often allege that labor unions, only talk about workers’ rights and ignore their obligations (Compa, 2004). They believe that unions are largely Paper ID: SUB156314 610