Introduction

Abstract

This is a study in the politics of public policy-making in the field of industrial relations. As a result certain matters are stressed: the links between the political ideas of the main groups involved and their proposals for the reform of industrial relations; the methods used by the relevant interest groups in arriving at and promoting their policies; and the wider constitutional questions raised by the attempted implementation of the Industrial Relations Act. Conversely, other matters are neglected. In particular, though there is some discussion of the problems involved in working the Act, there is no detailed study of its effect on industrial relations; that task has already been carried out by those better qualified to do so.