Abstract: British industrial relations changed very markedly during the 20th century. The ‘frontier of control’ between managements and workforces oscillated greatly. The lines of demarcation lay were often affected by the changing role of the state, as during the two world wars, and by major changes in international and national economies. There were often notably different conditions between the private and the public sectors, between large and small workplaces, between predominantly male and predominantly female workforces, as well as a myriad of variations between different industries and services.

Keywords: Britain, industrial relations, management, labour force,