Information in industrial relations

Abstract

Everyone understands what is meant by the term ‘industrial relations’ in a generalized way, but it seems that there is no formal definition which can be said to be universally agreed. Several alternative definitions are analyzed in A. I. March's Dictionary of industrial relations: Bain & Woolven in their Bibliography of British industrial relations say ‘the subject of industrial relations is defined as the study of all aspects of job regulation—the process of making and administering the rules which regulate or control employment relationships’. Perhaps a simpler definition which appears in an older work may be preferred: J. H. Richardson in his Introduction to the study of industrial relations says ‘it is concerned with relations between the parties in industry, particularly with the determination of working conditions. No advantage would be gained in attempting a more precise definition of the boundaries, as there are considerable areas of “no man's land” with other subjects’.