This dissertation is a comprehensive study of an important chapter of the labour history ofrnEthiopia. It examines the history of labour relations in Ethiopia, particularly the relationrnbetween trade unions and the state from 1946 to 1991. Based primarily on the CETU, MoLSArnand IES archives, union publications (Voice of Labour), magazines, student papers and otherrnpublications of the period and pertinent oral informants, it traces the genesis and evolution ofrnincipient capitalism, wage labour, working class, workers' organization and labour relations inrnEthiopia. It also attempts to investigate the changes and continuities in the relation betweenrnCELU and AETU/ ETU on the one hand and the imperial regime and the military regime on thernother respectively. This dissertation argues that even though labour relation is a tripartiternrelation involving workers and their confederation, employers and their federation and the state,rnthe Ethiopian case was quite different in that it took place only between workers and theirrnconfederation on the one hand and and the state on the other. Since the state was the largestrnemployer in the country, it dominated the employers' federation during the imperial regime andrnvirtually over took it during the military regime. The dissertation shows that the relation betweenrntrade unions and the state in Ethiopia was full of conflict and hostility as the former oftenrnresisted the intervention of the latter and sought to establish an independent labour movement inrnthe country and as the latter often tried to control the former and enhance economicrndevelopment at the expense of it. Though the study of labour relations in general and labourrnhistory in particular is showing significant progress in the rest of the world, it is not yet givenrndue attention in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study may benefit historians and scholars from variousrndisciplines and future researchers on the subject as a starting point. Statesmen, social workers,rnlabour policy makers may also utilize the findings for public benefit.