The nature of workplace Industrial Relations conflict : expression and impact in a healthcare setting

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to explore the nature of workplace Industrial Relations (IR) conflict. The inspiration for research was the dominant focus of previous inquiry on strike action. This has two key limitations. Firstly, strike activity has exhibited a marked decline since the 1970s in Ireland (Scheuer, 2006; Roche & Teague, 2010) and abroad (Gall, 2012; Godard, 2011, 2014). Despite this decline, it is thought that IR conflict - inherent in the employment relationship - remains (Drinkwater & Ingram, 2005; Gall & Hebdon, 2008, Hebdon & Noh, 2013). Therefore, focusing on the strike expression of IR conflict fails to reflect our contemporary context. Secondly, and more importantly, there is a longstanding view in literature that IR conflict is expressed in a variety of ways (Kerr, 1954). However, research has continued to focus on the strike expression. In this regard, the focus of previous research on one expression has limited our understanding of a central aspect in the employment relationship.