British wages councils

THIS study surveys the historical development of British Wages Councils and describes their operation. Since the Councils are
part of the wider system of wage determination the impact upon them of general developments in industrial relations is the central
issue in their history. In their working the most significant feature is the role of the independent members and the civil service.
Historically the Councils were designed to supplement the voluntary system of wage settlement. Their main function was to repair
the deficiencies in collective bargaining caused by trade union weakness. They were encouraged to be as much like voluntary
negotiating bodies as possible and the power of the State on which they depended was kept in the background. The effect on the
Councils of the changes of the past twenty years is seen at its clearest when the Minister of Labour signs Wages Regulation Orders which conflict with his Government's economic policy. Until recently the tradition that the Councils were almost as independent of the State as voluntary negotiating bodies has continued undisturbed. The fmal chapter attempts to forecast the changes which would make the Councils compatible with collective bargaining under full employment.