does a reduction in strikes always imply an improvement in industrial
relations? what addional indicatios of workplace relations might be
important to the study of industrial relations.

Dear lin1118:

A reduction in strikes does not always mean that labor relations are
improving.  The power to strike is used rarely.  "The time lost from
strikes today is less than 0.1% of working time," (Page 253). 
Although a strike can cause heavy financial losses to an employer,
workers also can suffer significant financial losses and can become
demoralized if a strike is prolonged.  For these reasons, particularly
if a union's strike fund is poorly funded, unions are increasingly
turning to other methods for putting pressure on employers.

Because strikes are usually rare, a reduction in their number may not
be a significant indicator of the State of a firm's industrial
relations.  Many other techniques can be employed by unions seeking
redress of grievances.  Traditionally, slowdowns and "work to rule"
techniques have been used to decreased production without going as far
as striking.  Employees may also call in sick en masse.

Increasingly common today are techniques to bring pressure upon the
employer through the use of the media and third parties.  Disgruntled
employees seek to expose their employer's "bad practices" to the
public through media reporting.  Unions may encourage boycotts of a
particular employer, suppliers to that employer, or customers of that
employer.  Protests may be held, frequently including third parties
sharing a common interest with the union, such as environmental or
human rights groups.

Because of the many tactics available to disgruntled employees, a
reduction in strikes does not necessarily represent an improvement in
labor relations.  Attempts to appeal to the public and to involve
other members of the supply chain in the dispute can allow a union to
achieve its goals without resorting to strikes.  As more and more
corporations become sensitive to their public image, and because such
tactics are much less directly financially damaging to employees,
public relations promises to become an ever larger battlefield in
industrial relations.

Sincerely,

Wonko

The page referenced above is found in "Economics" by Samuelson &
Nordhaus, McGraw-Hill Inc., 1992

The answer is good but incomplete, because I asked two parts for the
question, only answered one part.