The aim of the research is to analyze the relationship between labour law and market rules. Labour Law and competition protection have kept, after a joint birth, a steadily conflictual liaison, either at EC and national level. The new significance of the conflict derives from the special relevance of European Law. The starting point is the United States experience, which is the most significant example of statutory exemption. After that introduction to the problem, the dissertation is divided in two parts. The first one is dedicated to the EC context, regarding the relationship between the development of the rights to free movement of goods and services within the European Community and EC Competition law and national labour law. The second Part is focused in the national level, especially in the French and Spanish experiences, where the contentious relationship reaches its apogee with collective bargaining.
