International and Comparative Industrial Relations (2 ed)

In these studies, experts from a range of countries describe and analyze the factors which have shaped industrial relations in their own countries - UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Sweden and Japan.

Characteristics of major groups and parties are examined, together with the nature and types of bargaining and power relationships which have evolved.

Two substantial comparative chapters examine theories and trends within market economies as a whole, and a statistical appendix provides comparative economic and labour market data.

Each country is analyzed according to a similar format, with an examination of the environment of industrial relations - economic, historical, legal, social and political - and the major "players" - employers, unions and governments.

There follow descriptions of the main processes of industrial relations, such as local and centralized collective bargaining, arbitration and mediation, joint consultation and employee participation.

Important and topical issues are discussed, such as novel forms of human resource management, labour law reform, technological change, labour market flexibility and incomes policy. This new edition has been completely revised. It should be suitable for students of industrial relations and human resource management at graduate and undergraduate level, and for specialists in international business and economics in unions, employers and governments.