Employment Grievances and Disputes Procedures in Britain

Employment Grievances and Disputes Procedures in Britain is part of a broader comparative labor law project initiated in 1965 by Professor Benjamin Aaron, focusing on disputes procedures across the United States and several European countries, including Britain. This study, spearheaded by Professor K. W. Wedderburn and P. L. Davies, investigates the dynamics of labor disputes in Britain, emphasizing the country's complex and varied mechanisms for resolving employment grievances. Unlike the U.S., where labor disputes are typically divided into grievances over violations of rights and interest disputes over new terms, Britain does not strictly maintain this distinction. The book challenges traditional American views, demonstrating how British practices often blend negotiation and adjudication, especially in cases involving both rights and interests. The authors argue that informal and flexible dispute resolution methods in Britain, such as those used by industrial relations specialist Jack Scamp, tend to be more effective than formal legalistic approaches.

This volume, which stands as a comprehensive analysis of British industrial relations, is significant not only for understanding the British system but also for its broader implications. The study raises critical questions about the role of law in resolving employment disputes, with insights relevant to labor relations worldwide. In particular, it provides valuable comparisons to the U.S. system, highlighting the benefits of more flexible dispute resolution procedures over rigid, formal structures. Wedderburn and Davies offer a thorough examination of the workings of industrial tribunals, public conciliation, and arbitration, particularly in light of the Redundancy Payments Act of 1965, and advocate for a system that favors conciliation and mediation. The book's findings are important for those examining the future of labor relations in both the U.S. and the U.K., suggesting that British informal methods could serve as a model for improving dispute resolution practices globally.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1969.