Deck 9: Collective Bargaining and Labour Relations

Question 1

Distributive bargaining looks for win-win solutions,or outcomes in which both sides benefit.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

The overall rate of unionization (union density)has been increasing during the last decade.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

In Canada,labour relations is primarily a provincial/territorial responsibility.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The Canadian Labour Congress is Canada's largest labour union.

Question 5

In 2011,women outnumbered men in the workforce and as members of unions.

Question 6

Industrial unions consist of members who all have a particular skill or occupation.

Question 7

Most studies show that union workers are more productive than nonunion workers.

Question 8

The Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canada's largest labour union.

Question 9

Administration of the collective agreement largely takes place at the local union level.

Question 10

The traditional understanding of union-management relations is that the two parties are adversaries.

Question 11

Over the last two decades,the use of joint labour-management committees has declined.

Question 12

The union steward is responsible for primarily two activities: helping to investigate complaints and representing employees to supervisors and other managers when employees file grievances.

Question 13

The activities of unions and management take place within the context of society,with society's values driving the laws and regulations that affect labour relations.Societal goals include ensuring that laws and regulations provide an advantage to employers in their negotiations with unions.

Question 14

The usual first step in an employee-initiated grievance procedure is to submit a written grievance.

Question 15

The Human Rights Commission for a particular jurisdiction is also responsible for interpreting and enforcing the labour laws in that jurisdiction.

Question 16

In Canada,unionization is much higher in the public sector than the private sector.

Question 17

Unions can be certified (voted in)and decertified (voted out).

Question 18

A lockout is initiated by the employer.

Question 19

Unions have a role in organizations because some degree of conflict is inevitable between workers and management.

Question 20

The Rand Formula makes the payment of union dues voluntary for members.

Question 21

Activities that attempt to influence social and economic policies of government are called:

A)social unionism.
B)checkoff.
C)closed shop.
D)Rand Formula.
E)union shop.

Question 22

Unions have a role because some degree of ____________ is inevitable between workers and management.

A)association
B)conflict
C)violence
D)discussion
E)work

Question 23

_________ has one of the highest rates of unionization while _________ has the lowest.

A)Ontario;British Columbia
B)Quebec;Newfoundland
C)Quebec;Alberta
D)Newfoundland;Quebec
E)Newfoundland;Manitoba

Question 24

Which of the following is NOT a reason for the increase in women membership in unions?

A)Number of women in the highly unionized public sector.
B)Number for women in the paid workforce.
C)Number of women employed in nontraditional male-dominated occupations and industries.
D)Unionization of part-time employees (many of whom are women).
E)Men leaving the workforcE.

Question 25

__________ is Canada's largest union.

A)Canadian Union of Public Employees
B)Canadian Teachers' Federation
C)Public Service Alliance of Canada
D)Communications,Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada
E)None of the abovE.

Question 26

A union security provision making payment of union dues mandatory even if the worker is not a member of the union is:

A)the Rand FormulA.
B)Labour Relations Board.
C)checkoff provision.
D)social unionism formula.
E)closed shop.

Question 27

A craft union is characterized by which one of the following?

A)Members all have a particular skill or occupation.
B)Union leaders may try to limit the number of members in order to maintain high wages.
C)Members are linked by their work in a particular industry.
D)Members change unions more frequently than employers.
E)Both "a" and "b."

Question 28

In Canada,union membership is least concentrated in which of the following sectors?

A)Accommodation and food
B)Public administration
C)Education
D)Health care
E)Mining,quarrying,oil and gas

Question 29

On average,union members receive ___________ wages and benefits than nonunion workers.

A)lower
B)higher
C)the same
D)more complicated
E)both "a" and "d."

Question 30

Organizations are concerned about the impact of unions on:

A)the labour market.
B)market share.
C)competitors.
D)productivity,profits,and stock performance.
E)product markets.

Question 31

In Canada,union membership is relatively concentrated in all but one of the following sectors.Identify the exception.

A)Retail trade
B)Public administration
C)Education
D)Health care
E)Manufacturing

Question 32

Which one of the following is a level of decision making within labour relations?

A)Administering collective agreements
B)Labour relations strategy
C)Negotiating contracts
D)All of the choices are correct.
E)"a" and "c" only.

Question 33

Which union federation has the largest coverage affiliation in Canada?

A)The federal government
B)Industrial unions
C)The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)
D)The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
E)The Chamber of Commerce

Question 34

John is a unionized employee and is a member of the local chapter of a national industrial union.John believes his immediate supervisor is not living up to the terms of the recently negotiated contract and although he has discussed his concerns with his supervisor,he is not satisfied with his supervisor's response.John should contact:

A)the regional office of his labour union.
B)the union's president.
C)the national office of the Canadian Labour Congress.
D)his union stewarD.
E)other employees in his workplacE.

Question 35

How does union density among employees aged 15 to 24 years compare to the national average for union density?

A)Much higher than the national average.
B)Slightly higher than the national average.
C)Approximately the same as the national average.
D)Well below the national average.
E)Employees are unable to join unions until they are at least 25 years of agE.

Question 36

Under _____________,the employer,on behalf of the union,automatically deducts union dues from employees' paycheques.

A)the Rand Formula
B)a closed shop provision
C)a checkoff provision
D)a social unionism formula
E)an open shop provision

Question 37

Which of the following is the factor cited most often as the reason for the overall decline in union membership?

A)Change in the structure of the economy.
B)More women in the workforce.
C)Management efforts against unionizing.
D)Government regulations which make unions seem less important.
E)Adopting effective human resource management practices.

Question 38

An industrial union is characterized by which one of the following?

A)Members are all in the same occupation.
B)Union leaders may try to limit the number of members in order to maintain high wages.
C)Members are linked by their work in a particular industry.
D)Members change employers more frequently than in other types of unions.
E)Members all have a particular skill or occupation.

Question 39

Union security provisions are ways to address unions' concerns about _________,i.e.employees who benefit from union activities without belonging to a union.

A)free spirits
B)random riders
C)private sector employees
D)free riders
E)free loaders

Question 40

In general,unions have the goals of:

A)obtaining pay,job security,and working conditions that satisfy their members.
B)giving members a voice in decisions that affect them.
C)increasing the organization's profits and/or increasing productivity.
D)All of the choices are correct.
E)only "a" and "b."

Question 41

Typical collective agreements include all of the following provisions,EXCEPT:

A)education,training,and employee development.
B)technological change.
C)distribution of work.
D)management rights to test.
E)Actually,all of the above are typical provisions included in collective agreements.

Question 42

The outcome of collective bargaining agreements can have important consequences for:

A)labour costs.
B)productivity.
C)the organizations' ability to compete.
D)all of the choices are correct.
E)"b" and "c" only.

Question 43

The union organization process begins with:

A)consultation with management.
B)a membership application.
C)checkoff provision.
D)establishing a closed shop.
E)formation of a joint committeE.

Question 44

Union members have the right to vote out an existing union.This action is called:

A)firing the union.
B)suspending the union.
C)decertifying the union.
D)deorganizing the union.
E)Actually,it is not possible to vote out an existing union.

Question 45

A prohibited conduct of an employer,union,or individual under the relevant labour legislation is called a(n):

A)inappropriate act.
B)unfair labour practice.
C)inappropriate labour practice.
D)essential bargaining right.
E)none of the abovE.

Question 46

The laws and regulations pertaining to labour relations affect:

A)unions' bargaining power.
B)unions' size.
C)the degree to which unions,management,and society achieve their goals.
D)all of the choices are correct.
E)"a" and "b" only.

Question 47

What are 5 main features of labour legislation in Canada?

Question 48

A Labour Relations Board has the authority to:

A)dismiss employees.
B)increase wages.
C)shut down plants.
D)interpret and enforce relevant labour laws.
E)all of the abovE.

Question 49

Joint labour-management committees do not usually deal with which of the following issues?

A)Pay,benefits,pensions
B)Job evaluation/classifications/postings
C)Hours of work/scheduling
D)Training/apprenticeships
E)New product development

Question 50

Describe three alternatives to strikes and lockouts that are used to resolve contracts.

Question 51

A conflict resolution procedure in which a binding settlement is determined is:

A)a strike.
B)conciliation.
C)mediation.
D)arbitration.
E)a grievancE.

Question 52

What are the two general types of unions.Discuss the characteristics of each type and provide a specific example for each.

Question 53

__________________ is a collective decision of the union members not to work or to slow down until certain demands or conditions are met.

A)A strike
B)A lockout
C)Picketing
D)Collective bargaining
E)Arbitration

Question 54

The form of bargaining that addresses conflicts within union or management groups or objectives,such as between new employees or workers with high levels of seniority is:

A)distributive bargaining.
B)mutual-gains bargaining.
C)integrative bargaining.
D)intraorganizational bargaining.
E)attitudinal structuring.

Question 55

A lockout is initiated by the:

A)government
B)employer.
C)union.
D)non-union employees.
E)Labour Relations Board.

Question 56

The least formal and most widely used alternative to resolving conflicts between employees and management is:

A)a strike.
B)conciliation.
C)mediation.
D)arbitration.
E)a grievancE.

Question 57

All except one of the following are features of labour legislation in Canada.Identify the exception.

A)Methods to certify a union.
B)Maximum length of the collective agreement (maximum 3 years).
C)Regulation of strike and lockout activities.
D)Responsibility to bargain in good faith with the intention to reach an agreement.
E)Creation of a labour relations board.

Question 58

What are the goals of labour unions? Describe some of the methods unions use to ensure their survival.

Question 59

Which of the following is not a step in a typical grievance handling procedure?

A)Employee (and union steward)discusses problem with supervisor.
B)Written grievance is submitted to relevant authority.
C)Union steward and manager discuss grievance.
D)Management conveys verbal response to written grievance.
E)Union decides whether to refer unresolved grievance to arbitration.

Question 60

When bargaining looks for win-win solutions it is an example of:

A)the application of the Rand FormulA.
B)distributive bargaining.
C)integrative bargaining.
D)social unionism formula.
E)attitudinal structuring.

Question 61

Describe the four steps in the typical grievance procedure.