Role of State in British Industrial Relations

Running head: ROLE OF STATE IN BRITISH INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
ROLE OF STATE IN BRITISH INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ROLE OF STATE IN BRITISH INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
The essay is concerned with the effective analysis and evaluation of the changing roles of
the state concerning British industrial relations from 1979. Industrial or employment relations are
referred to as the various interrelations that exist between the employers, employees, unions,
organizations of employers and also the government. Industrial relationship has close connection
with human resource management. However, it is concerned more with the relationships of the
labour workforce with the other stakeholders that are concerned with the management. In the
year 1979 the Conservative Party came to the power in Britain. The party focused on reducing
the power of trade unions. In view of the same around eight major legislations were passed.
Some important things like membership of unions, right to strike and union ballots were greatly
restricted. The study focuses on finding the changing roles of the government from this year and
how it impacted the industry relations throughout the time. Understanding the importance of the
role of the state towards determining industrial relations is the focus of the essay. Moreover,
developing deeper understanding of the impact of government rules and regulations on industrial
relations is an important factor that guides the study. The discussion is focused on effective
evaluation of the most important aspects related to industrial relations.
The contemporary industrial relations have been shaped by the economic, industrial and
political conflicts that have marked the 1980s in Britain. These conflicts existed at the same time
as similar conflicts that were taking place across the world at the same time. Conflicts mainly
arose as the then Conservative government had tried to greatly limit the operations of the trade
unions. Moreover, trade unions’ to engagement in collective conflicts were also strongly resisted
by the government at the time. This led to events throughout the 1980s that greatly impacted the
formation of industry relations that is present today. As a result of the conservative legislations

2ROLE OF STATE IN BRITISH INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
of 1979 trade unions across Britain were much agitated. The laws not only limited the power of
the trade unions but also gave more power to the management of the organizations.
Some of the most important issues that came up with the new legislations of this time
were related to the legal liability of the trade unions, withdrawal of the wage councils and right
to dismiss of the employers. The legal immunity of the trade unions was withdrawn. Meaning,
the trade unions became more prone to being profiled illegally by the authorities. The dismissal
of the wage council meant that the employees had much lesser power in determining the wages
that were to be fixed. Additionally, the organizational managements were given the rights to
dismiss their striking workers. This meant that workers had much lesser ability to go on strikes in
protest for any inconvenience that were caused to them. Another important limitation that was
created for the employees was the reduction of legal rights of individuals. In order to challenge
or claim for unfair dismissal of service the employees needed to qualify with two years of
minimum service. Without working for a minimum duration of two years, employees were
unable to claim for their unfair dismissal. Along with these changes the welfare benefits also
received cuts. The same coincided with rising unemployment in the country and the privatization
of companies and utilities that were state owned.
These government decisions made way for protests and conflicts that took place
throughout the 1980s. In 1980, there were many major disputes in the industrial sector of Britain.
Moving forward there were the messenger dispute of 1982, the Miners’ strike from 1984-1985,
the P&O shipping worker’s strike in 1988-1989 and the strikes at the docks in 1995 (Grimshaw
2015). It is important to understand that unemployment also increased at the same time along
with the fall in Union density. Trade Union Congress density felt from more than 13.5 million
members in 1980 to just over 10 million people in 1984. In 2000, the membership further