Aspects of Industrial relations

To an ever increasing extent the general public is becoming exasperated at the apparent inability of those directly concerned to deal effectively with the industrial relations problems which beset our advancing technological society. More clearly than ever is it becoming recognized that matters relating to trade union structure and attitudes and those relating to management philosophy and training have to be seen as much more than domestic issues, of concern only to those working within the industrial spectrum. It is not only that there is alarm about the impact of strikes and go‐slow policies on the national economy, but there is concern too about the increased incidence of industrial accidents, neurosis and delinquency (a good deal of which, in the view of many authorities, can be attributed to unsatisfactory employment conditions). It is, after all (as those concerned with industry are reminded), the public agencies outside the sphere of industry which have to cope with the consequences of these social ills. Despite the shortening of hours, man's preoccupation within his working enviroment still comprises a sizeable proportion of the total span of life. Society has a right to demand that working conditions shall be so organized as to permit those occupied within it to derive the maximum of satisfaction for both mind and body. It can indeed be argued that the stable development of our social democracy, the maintenance of human health and well being, and the control of crime, depends very much on the success of such efforts. It therefore is much to be regretted that so little has been done in the way of intensive research with a view to discovering the extent of and the real nature, of the impact which industrial involvement has on human beings. Those advanced in years are, of course, fully conscious of the fact that much of the drudgery and hard physical effort which was a feature of industrial employment in earlier years, has been swept away. Yet few would claim that as a consequence of this, the working population as a whole is more contented than it was say fifty years ago. Other industrial ills — anxieties, frustrations and boredom have increased in their severity.