This book uses the testimony given before the Commission on the Future of Worker-Management Relations to gain insight into the state of industrial relations and labor law in the United States. The book is organized in five chapters. The first chapter looks at the history of labor movements and labor legislation in the United States. Chapter 2 explores the evolution of labor law since 1935, changes in industrial relations practice associated with that evolution, and changes in the economic environment. Both the unionized and the emergent nonunion systems are analyzed, resulting in the conclusion that the essence of the National Labor Relations Act is employee choice in the matter of union representation. That ideal, however, is not always met. Chapter 3 provides examples of firms that respect the right of employees choice. Unionized firms profiled in the chapter engage in extensive cooperation and innovative relationships with the unions representing their employees, often bringing in the union as a partner in making important decisions. Chapter 4 illustrates how the National Labor Relations Act, which was enacted to protect employee choice in representation, can be used to impair employee choice. The chapter provides synopses of employee testimony that shows who employers have used the provisions of the legislation to harass, punish, and prevent employees from forming unions, or to neutralize the effects of unions' bargaining power. The final chapter summarizes the earlier part of the book. Contains 72 references. (KC)