Contemporary Industrial Relations

Industrial relations has undergone significant and extensive change over the last fifteen years. The combined impact of government legislation, international competition, and organizational restructuring has affected union organization and membership; the scope and content of collective bargaining; and the organization, objectives, and nature of work.

The "New Industrial Relations" thesis maintains that fundamental change has occurred in British industrial relations sufficient to warrant a re-evaluation of the workplace relationship. In this book leading figures in the field review the assumptions of this argument and the evidence. Topics include the development of HRM policies; employment legislation; changes in union membership, structures and activity; Japanization; changes in the public sector.