Justice at Work and the Work of Law: The Plea for a Differential Sociology of Law and Justice

The sociological study of labor disputes derives from three different strands of research: the analysis of collective action, the study of trade unionism and industrial relations and the sociology of law. However, even when studies attempt to combine all three perspectives, they still entail a general approach to law and justice. They do not take into account the specific nature of labor law and its application to the regulation and resolution of disputes. Beyond the case of labor law, this article advocates the need for a differential analysis of law and justice which makes it possible to understand the rationale underlying different types of action, whether collective or individual, and to appreciate the consequences of legal work on different social and economic sectors.