During the 1980s, unions experienced significant challenges and losses, against a backdrop of rapid expansion and influence. Before the Conservative victory in the 1979 election, it was clearly proactive, with minor legislative intervention. (Gallie et al, 1996). Two strikes in particular, the miners' strike and the News International industrial dispute changed the face of industrial relations in the UK. The conduct and outcome of conflicts have led to significant changes with respect to the role of the state, the role of employers and the power of trade unions in contemporary industrial relations. This essay will critically evaluate the conduct of the unions, the state, the miners and the police, it will consider the changing role of the state and the police in industrial action and the effect that conduct and outcome of the strike took place today. industrial relations. Before the 1984 miners' strike, the NUM was in a very strong position of power, having beaten the government in 1972 and 1974 on wage levels. However, unlike in 1984, miners voted overwhelmingly in favor of the union and strike action, causing serious disruption as the UK was then heavily dependent on coal. Certainly, these defeats were thought to have contributed to the fall of the previous Conservative government in 1974. (Richards, 1996), since the government had to declare a state of emergency, the strikers remained united and no miner broke either strike. Therefore, in 1974 the government called a general election and asked: "Who governs Britain?" The government or the miners? (Beynon) The 1984 strike, in comparison, was a fight to save mining jobs and communities, the Conservative government had regained power... middle of paper ...... popular tactic is to threaten to harm the reputation of an employer. (Staff Today, 2012). ACAS, in contrast, highlights the positive role played by unions in resolving workplace disputes and that union officials were more likely to adopt a conciliatory rather than antagonistic approach when negotiating with employers . (ACAS, 2011)In conclusion, labor relations have evolved considerably since the 1980s. The decline in unionization rates initially triggered by the defeats of the miners' and press unions, as well as the legal constraints surrounding the unions which been introduced by the Conservative government and mainly retained by the Labor Party, have all combined to reduce the impact of unions on current employment. reports. However, unions and employers are adapting to these changes and taking different approaches to managing industrial relations..