Deck 15: Union-Management Relations

Question 1

Union membership of employed individuals in the United States _____.

A) has remained constant over the years
B) has decreased over the years
C) has mostly remained steady with slight increases during certain time periods
D) steadily declined till the mid-1990s and then increased considerably

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which of the following collective bargaining issues can be classified as a permissive issue?

A) Salary and benefits
B) Preference for union members when hiring employees
C) Benefits for retired employees
D) Demanding a closed-shop provision in the labor contract

Answer 2

C

Question 3

A(n) _____ is defined as a formal association of workers that promotes the interests of its members through collective action.

A) closed shop
B) union
C) open shop
D) cartel

Answer 3

B

Question 4

To some extent, unions may be considered victims of their own success because:

A) managers in many companies have become more proactive and successfully respond to union arguments through improved workplace practices.
B) workers are strongly intimidated by union activities despite the efforts unions have put in for the benefit of workers.
C) unions spend money to facilitate certain political activities and positions, which is a concern for individuals who have opposing viewpoints.
D) they have successfully passed most of the important issues that affect workers into law and may no longer be considered necessary.

Question 5

The Railway Labor Act of 1926 was the result of a joint effort between railroad management and unions to:

A) prohibit employees from signing yellow dog contracts.
B) reduce the number of transportation strikes.
C) ensure financial transparency within unions in the railway industry.
D) allow the president of the United States to declare that a strike constitutes a national emergency.

Question 6

Which of the following statements is true of collective bargaining issues?

A) Virtually all labor contracts include management rights that give the management of an organization the unilateral right to make changes in areas not identified in a labor contract.
B) The agency shop organizational arrangement is illegal except in limited situations within the construction industry.
C) The management of an organization is often open to labor-friendly union security clauses such as the no-layoff policy or job security guarantee.
D) Labor unions usually avoid the union security provision of the dues checkoff authorization or dues checkoff clause.

Question 7

Gloria, an employee of Bargello Inc. and an active member of the company's union, is elected as the representative of Bargello's unionized workers. She represents employees at the workplace and discusses their grievances with HR managers. In this scenario, Gloria is most likely _____.

A) a line manager in the company
B) the union arbitrator of the company's union
C) the union steward of the company's union
D) an operating manager in the company

Question 8

In the context of unions, which of the following statements is true of white-collar workers?

A) They view unions as being oriented primarily toward pink-collar workers.
B) They tend to believe that unions are open to change.
C) They believe that issues related to the nature of jobs should be considered permissive and not mandatory by unions.
D) They view unions as not being in touch with the concerns of the more educated workers in technical and professional jobs.

Question 9

One of the primary reasons for the unionization of employees in the United States is _____.

A) that employees are dissatisfied with how they are treated by their employers
B) that employees are concerned about the increased reshoring of manufacturing jobs
C) the democratic leadership style used by the management of most companies
D) the absence of ethnocentric work practices

Question 10

Which of the following statements is true of the unions and managements of today?

A) Some union leaders and employer representatives recognize that cooperation between management and labor unions is a useful route if organizations are to compete effectively in the global economy.
B) The most significant aspect of collective bargaining between a union and management is that it is a continuing relationship that ends immediately after an agreement is reached.
C) Most unions and managements of today adopt an adversarial approach with each other and try to resolve standoffs through strikes and lockouts.
D) Collusion between unions and managements seems to be one of the most sought-after legal approaches to dispute resolution today.

Question 11

Which of the following is a reason for the decline in U.S. union membership?

A) The decline in many white-collar jobs in heavy industry
B) The decreased use of temporary or contingent workers
C) The movement of low-skill jobs in U.S. manufacturing companies with unionized workforces to Mexico
D) The shift in U.S. jobs from service industries to industries such as manufacturing, construction, and mining

Question 12

Which of the following is an advantage of union representation in organizations?

A) The unchallenged decision-making power of the management of organizations
B) The consistent increase in the profitability of organizations
C) The efficient allocation of organizational resources
D) The opportunity for employees to provide feedback to employers

Question 13

The long-term decline in union membership in the United States has been attributed to the _____.

A) shift in U.S. jobs from service industries to manufacturing industries
B) passage of laws that protect workers
C) increase in the number of blue-collar jobs in heavy industry
D) reshoring of many low-skill jobs from developing countries to the United States

Question 14

Identify a true statement regarding unions in the United States.

A) Much of the decline of U.S. union membership can be attributed to the shift in U.S. jobs from service industries to manufacturing industries.
B) Private-sector employees are more likely to belong to labor unions than public-sector employees.
C) Unions have reduced efforts to organize white-collar workers because advances in technology have decreased their numbers in the workforce.
D) Union workers frequently receive higher compensation than do nonunion workers.

Question 15

Which of the following is typically true of unions in the United States?

A) They try to improve working conditions.
B) They avoid interfering with workplace rules.
C) They focus exclusively on activism.
D) They avoid taking decisions through collective action.

Question 16

In the United States, which of the following is most likely a reason why laws prohibit police officers and firefighters from conducting strikes?

A) Police officers on strike tend to adopt xenocentric practices.
B) Strikes by police officers and firefighters may endanger public health and safety.
C) Firefighters on strike tend to have unrealistic demands regarding the union authorization process.
D) Strikes are contradictory to the governing philosophies of public-sector employment.

Question 17

Which of the following is a legal strategy that an organization can use to prevent unionization?

A) Warning those employees who talk to union officials
B) Providing incentives to dissuade employees from forming unions
C) Encouraging employee feedback and offering fair compensation
D) Monitoring the interactions of employees with union representatives

Question 18

Meatpacking workers, nursing home aides, building cleaners, and janitors are being targeted by unions for the purpose of increasing union membership because these workers _____.

A) are more politically radical than other workers
B) are relatively dissatisfied with their jobs
C) are mostly women who have a low opinion of labor unions
D) are usually supervised by managers who use the democratic style of leadership

Question 19

In the context of U.S. labor laws, airlines and their employees were added to those covered by the _____ in 1936.

A) Wagner Act
B) Taft-Hartley Act
C) Airline Employment Act
D) Railway Labor Act

Question 20

The most highly unionized part of the workforce in the United States is the _____.

A) agricultural sector
B) manufacturing sector
C) government sector
D) mining sector

Question 21

During contract negotiations at a manufacturing company, the union negotiator brings up the issue of increasing workers' wages. Which of the following statements is true in this situation?

A) The management need not negotiate on this issue because it is a permissive issue.
B) The management needs to negotiate on this issue as it is a mandatory issue.
C) This is a nonnegotiable issue because determining wages is part of management rights.
D) This is an illegal issue, and the management should refuse to negotiate.

Question 22

During contract negotiations, the management of RMS Inc. and its employee union fail to reach an agreement on an issue related to pay scales for the night shift. A neutral third party is called in to actively work with both sides and help them reach a settlement. This party suggests several ideas that could help in resolving the issue, and the management and the union eventually make a decision and reach a settlement. In the context of bargaining impasses, the process used in the given scenario is referred to as _____.

A) arbitration
B) mediation
C) collusion
D) conciliation

Question 23

Which of the following is a union security provision?

A) An open-door policy
B) A yellow dog contract
C) A no-solicitation policy
D) A no-layoff policy

Question 24

Which of the following U.S. labor laws passed in 1947 is considered to be pro-management?

A) Norris-LaGuardia Act
B) Railway Labor Act
C) Taft-Hartley Act
D) Wagner Act

Question 25

Which of the following statements is true of a union shop?

A) It requires job applicants to have a union card to be considered for employment.
B) It requires workers to join the union, usually 30 to 60 days after being hired.
C) It requires workers who refuse to join the union to pay a special fee to get union representation services.
D) It requires a union to represent all employees in a company, including nonmembers of the union.

Question 26

The process whereby representatives of management and workers negotiate over wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment is called _____.

A) decertification
B) collective bargaining
C) contract ratification
D) salting

Question 27

Colleen, an active union member, applies for a job at a company that her union has targeted so that she can start organizing efforts in favor of the union. She is also being paid by the union for her efforts. Which of the following practices does this scenario illustrate?

A) Onboarding
B) Salting
C) Corporate intelligence
D) Interest arbitration

Question 28

Which of the following U.S. labor laws has been called the Magna Carta of labor and was pro-union?

A) Wagner Act
B) Landrum-Griffin Act
C) Railway Labor Act
D) Taft-Hartley Act

Question 29

_____ is a process whereby a union is removed as the representative of a group of employees.

A) Union busting
B) Delisting
C) Cancellation
D) Decertification

Question 30

In 1932, the U.S. Congress passed the _____, which guaranteed workers some rights to organize and restricted the issuance of court injunctions in labor disputes.

A) Landrum-Griffin Act
B) Railway Labor Act
C) Norris-LaGuardia Act
D) Wagner Act

Question 31

The Landrum-Griffin Act was passed in 1959 to:

A) prohibit employers from asking employees to sign yellow dog contracts.
B) reduce strikes by developing third-party arbitration and mediation tools.
C) prohibit unfair labor practices by employers and union officials.
D) protect the democratic rights of union members.

Question 32

A(n) _____ is an arrangement where workers who don't join a union must make payments equal to union dues and fees to get union representation services.

A) closed shop
B) union shop
C) open shop
D) agency shop

Question 33

Which of the following statements is true of right-to-work laws?

A) They promote closed shops in organizations.
B) They restrict compulsory union membership.
C) They require that all union members have legal work permits.
D) They prohibit union meetings during work hours.

Question 34

Lemuel applies for a job at a local construction company that is located in a state that does not have right-to-work laws. He is told that he must join the employee union at the company before he can be hired. This employer has a(n) _____.

A) closed shop
B) union shop
C) agency shop
D) open shop

Question 35

In the context of the typical unionization process, _____ of the employees in the targeted group in a company must sign authorization cards before a representation election can be scheduled.

A) a majority
B) at least two-thirds
C) more than 40 percent
D) at least 30 percent

Question 36

In the context of the continuum of collective bargaining relations, which of the following bargaining patterns is relatively rare in U.S. labor history and is illegal?

A) A conflict
B) Collusion
C) An armed truce
D) Power bargaining

Question 37

In the context of a union representation election, which of the following statements is true?

A) The Railway Labor Act places certain restrictions on the activities of the unions and management before an election.
B) Supervisors cannot be included in bargaining units for unionization purposes, except in industries covered by the Railway Labor Act.
C) A union should gain at least 70 percent of the votes to be named as the representative of all the employees in an organization.
D) The larger the number of employees in a bargaining unit, the higher the likelihood that the union will win.

Question 38

The process by which union members vote to accept the terms of a negotiated labor agreement is called _____.

A) salting
B) certification
C) codetermination
D) ratification

Question 39

The Taft-Hartley Act requires that the _____ be notified of disputes over contract renewals or modifications if they were not settled within 30 days after the designated date.

A) National Labor Relations Board
B) Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
C) American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations
D) U.S. secretary of labor

Question 40

The _____, which prohibited employers from using unfair labor practices, declared that the official policy of the U.S. government was to encourage collective bargaining.

A) Railway Labor Act
B) Landrum-Griffin Act
C) Wagner Act
D) Taft-Hartley Act

Question 41

Amanda is suspended by her manager for refusing to work the night shift. She decides to file a grievance with the HR unit in her company. Which of the following should be Amanda's first step?

A) Setting up an impartial third party to resolve the grievance
B) Filing a written complaint with the U.S. secretary of labor
C) Discussing the grievance with her union steward and supervisor
D) Applying for arbitration to settle the grievance

Question 42

Unions are required by law to report the payments made for political activity and lobbying.

Question 43

_____ is a means by which a third party settles disputes arising from different or conflicting interpretations of a labor contract.

A) The dues checkoff authorization
B) A yellow dog contract
C) Grievance arbitration
D) Collusion

Question 44

_____ occur when members of one union walk out to force an employer to assign work to them instead of to members of another union.

A) Economic strikes
B) Jurisdictional strikes
C) Sympathy strikes
D) Slowdown strikes

Question 45

Unions in the United States have historically emphasized _____.

A) the employment of pink-collar workers over blue-collar workers
B) increasing industrial democracy in workplaces
C) wages, benefits, job security, and working conditions
D) activism and integration with the ruling political party

Question 46

In a typical grievance procedure, an employee discusses his or her grievance with the union steward and his or her supervisor.

Question 47

A major reason for employee unionization in the United States is job insecurity.

Question 48

An increasing use of temporary or contingent workers is one of the reasons for the decline of union membership in the United States.

Question 49

A controversial decision by the National Labor Relations Board treats temporary or contract workers as part of a primary employer's workforce.

Question 50

The dues checkoff union security provision makes it easier for labor unions to collect union dues through one comprehensive payment.

Question 51

In the context of the Wagner Act and the rulings of the National Labor Relations Board, which of the following is a key to decisions allowing employee-involvement committees and programs?

A) Members of affinity groups based on race, gender, or religion in an organization must represent the interests of and speak on behalf of other employees.
B) An organization must form communities of interest consisting of employees with widely varying jobs, areas of work, physical locations, and other differences.
C) Employee-involvement committees and programs should not deal directly with traditional collective bargaining issues such as wages, hours, and working conditions.
D) An organization should not treat all solicitation alike, and each solicitation attempt must be treated as a separate case and involve a different employee-involvement committee or program.

Question 52

The union contract between the union and the management of Gable Electronics Inc. includes a no-strike clause that is valid till the date of the contract's expiration. When a supervisor threatens a salary cut for those unionized employees who refuse to work on the weekend, the employees directly conduct a strike without approval of the union leadership. In this scenario, the employees are conducting a(n) _____.

A) jurisdictional strike
B) sympathy strike
C) wildcat strike
D) economic strike

Question 53

Right-to-work laws allow a person the right to work without having to join a union.

Question 54

The National Labor Relations Board is assigned with the task of enforcing all provisions of the Wagner Act.

Question 55

During contract negotiations, the management of Wild Mist Inc. and its employee union fail to reach an agreement on an issue related to retirement benefits. A neutral third party is called in to come up with a solution and make a decision on behalf of the management and the union. In the context of bargaining impasses, the process used in the given scenario is referred to as _____.

A) collusion
B) conciliation
C) arbitration
D) mediation

Question 56

The goal of each stage of the grievance procedure is _____.

A) to assign responsibility for the grievance
B) to document grievance issues for solution advancement
C) to encourage ethnocentrism and not promoting affirmative action
D) to resolve the grievance and not proceeding to the next stage

Question 57

In the United States, employees in the public sector are more likely to be union members than employees in the private sector.

Question 58

The Taft-Hartley Act allows the president of the United States to declare that a strike constitutes a national emergency.

Question 59

After a series of failed negotiations with its union, Sinclair Processing Inc. shuts down its manufacturing unit to prevent union members from working. Sinclair Processing is most likely using _____ to put pressure on the union.

A) a sympathy strike
B) a slowdown
C) a wildcat strike
D) a lockout

Question 60

In the context of union-management cooperation, successful organizational restructurings occur when:

A) unions obtain and share information with their members and work constructively with the company management.
B) organizations form a sham company union and coerce workers into joining the union to keep legitimate unions from organizing the employees.
C) teams of employees, referred to as labor organizations, collude with the management of an organization to carry out management goals without interference from labor unions.
D) members of affinity groups based on race, gender, or religion within an organization represent the interests of and speak on behalf of other employees.

Question 61

In the context of the typical unionization process, at least two-thirds of the employees in the targeted group in a company must sign authorization cards before a representation election can be scheduled.

Question 62

The collective bargaining process involved in negotiating a contract typically consists of two stages, which are negotiations and settlement.

Question 63

As per the maintenance-of-membership shop arrangement, employees must remain members of a union for the period of the labor contract.

Question 64

Interest arbitration is used extensively in the private sector in the United States.

Question 65

The Landrum-Griffin Act appointed the U.S. secretary of labor to act as a watchdog of union conduct.

Question 66

In some situations, unions have encouraged workers to become partial or complete owners of the companies that employ them.

Question 67

Employee stock ownership plans for union members have become popular because they create union solidarity and closer identification with the concerns and goals of employees rather than employers.

Question 68

The Wagner Act permits employers to refuse to hire otherwise-qualified applicants solely on the basis that they are paid by a union to infiltrate the employer and try to organize workers.

Question 69

The relationship between a union and a company's management in the United States alternates between accommodation and collusion.

Question 70

The process of conciliation is intended to resolve collective bargaining impasses by proposing potential solutions to help the negotiators reach a settlement.

Question 71

If a grievance is not settled by arbitration, the grievance procedure requires the grievant to file the grievance with a district court, who has the final word on the decision.

Question 72

Presenting employees with information about unions is an unfair labor practice.

Question 73

The Wagner Act permits the creation of employer-dominated labor organizations.

Question 74

Union workers frequently receive higher compensation than nonunion workers.

Question 75

It is legal for employers to monitor union meetings.

Question 76

It is illegal for employers to forbid distribution of union literature during work hours in work areas.

Question 77

Issues pertaining to pensions and profit sharing are mandatory subjects of bargaining.

Question 78

Unfair labor practices are actions that employers are legally prohibited from taking to prevent unionization.

Question 79

Hiring union busters during the organizing campaign of a union is an unfair labor practice.

Question 80

Jurisdictional strikes take place when one union chooses to express support for another union involved in a dispute, even though the first union has no disagreement with the employer.