ABSTRACT
state intervention in industrial disputes which is now widely applied throughout the world, usually begins after a period of severe industrial unrest. The losses of the disputants themselves, those suffered by employers and workpeople in other undertakings and industries, and the inconvenience to the public, lead to strong demands for the State to intervene by providing a system for conciliation and arbitration. Members of the community are injured and yet their voice is not heard in disputes unless the State acts for them. In addition to responsibilities of the State to prevent or reduce these losses and inconveniences, the State has direct interests in maintaining industrial peace. For example, its rearmament programme may be delayed by stoppages in the engineering, transport, or coal-mining industries, and this may be dangerous in periods of international tension. Also, prolonged stoppages in big industries may cause loss of revenue to the State.
