This study provides some basic facts and raises some of the central issues specifically aimed at two groups. The first group is practitioners, including managers in industry, commerce and public sectors, and union representatives. The second is those about to face up to employee relations in the UK, such as students and managers from abroad coming to the UK for the first time and people moving into jobs with greater industrial relations repsonsibilities. The first chapter examines the subject of employee relations in general, and the next three consider the main parties involved - management, unions and the state. Chapters 5 and 6 examine the legal framework, and the following three chapters examine employee relations practice in employing organizations.