Abstract

The paper adopts an historical perspective, in the belief that this is necessary to an understanding of the complex relationship between labour law and constitutional law in Britain. Sections 2 and 3 below outline, respectively, the role of labour law in the Diceyan conception of the constitution, and within the value-system of collective laissez-faire. Sections 4-6 bring the discussion up to date by examining the influence of European Community law and European human rights law on domestic law and on the practice of the courts. Section 7 concludes with an assessment of the possible impact of the Human Rights Act on domestic labour law, and of the future of human rights at the level of employment relations in Britain.