Deck 1: Union-Management Relationships in Perspective

Question 1

Work rules in organizations where employees are unrepresented (no union) are typically determined unilaterally by management.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Regarding the management organization, labor relations managers and representatives are often found at the corporate, divisional, and plant levels.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The employees' age, race, and ethnic background might influence whether particular work rules are found in the labor agreement.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Mediators have binding legal authority to require the parties to settle an interest dispute, but they often first restrict themselves to offering advice to help each party clarify their own priorities and assessment of costs or risks associated with failing to reach a voluntary agreement.

Question 5

Many of today's fastest growing occupations are on opposite ends of the level of education and skills required for effective job performance.

Question 6

Public opinion reflects influential individuals and/or organizations as well as cultural values and traditions.

Question 7

Arbitrators differ from mediators because arbitrators are almost always appointed by the government to resolve strikes in the private sector.

Question 8

Negotiation of the labor agreement occurs during the second phase of the labor relations process.

Question 9

Public opinion of institutions in general is high in the United States.

Question 10

Union membership in the United States has shown a steady gradual growth as a proportion of the total labor force (i.e., comprising all employed persons 16 years of age or older).

Question 11

Union density is one measure of relative union strength or potential influence.

Question 12

Work rules, while complex in nature, have a common dimension since they all pertain to compensation for work performed.

Question 13

The growth in part-time employment also has a small, but significant, positive impact on union density.

Question 14

Public opinion, while a potentially powerful influence, pertains only to the first phase of the labor relations process, particularly union organizing drives.

Question 15

Significant employee pension and health care benefit gains under union contracts are now referred to as ''high legacy costs'' by unionized employers.

Question 16

Mediators, unlike arbitrators, do not have authority to make a final and binding decision concerning labor disputes.

Question 17

One general category of work rules pertains to employees' and employers' job rights.

Question 18

"Employees" need to be viewed as a separate category of participants since they can have loyalties to both the employer and union organizations.

Question 19

"Employees" often represent the least significant participant category in the labor relations process since their actions are controlled basically by union leaders and/or management officials.

Question 20

Although union leaders are usually elected by the members, members and leaders do not completely agree on bargaining priorities.

Question 21

Which of the following "state of the economy" factors is likely to occur?

A) more construction union pressure to protect against layoffs if interest rates rise
B) less union pressure for cost-of-living clauses in inflationary times
C) unions will be more likely to accept bargaining concessions during unfavorable economic times
D) all of these
E) more construction union pressure to protect against layoffs if interest rates rise and unions will be more likely to accept bargaining concessions during unfavorable economic times

Question 22

An analysis of 40 years of The New York Times columns concerning labor unions found that the frequency of strikes has

A) been exaggerated.
B) remained relatively constant from one year to the next.
C) widely fluctuated from one year to the next.
D) reached a record high.
E) can't be determined since the required statistics were not kept until 1985.

Question 23

The "focal point" of labor relations represents:

A) union and management officials.
B) public opinion.
C) work rules.
D) the government.
E) all of these.

Question 24

Technology is an external variable that influences the development of work rules. Which of the following represent a dimension of technology?

A) equipment used in operation
B) the pace and scheduling of work
C) characteristics of the work environment and the tasks to be performed
D) information exchange
E) all of these

Question 25

"Probationary work periods" would be most desired by management when the labor market:

A) has a high unemployment rate and many skilled employees.
B) has a high number of unskilled employees.
C) has a low unemployment rate.
D) has a low number of unskilled employees.
E) has a low unemployment rate and a low number of unskilled employees.

Question 26

"Technology" includes:

A) characteristics of the work environment.
B) pace of work.
C) tasks to be performed.
D) all of these
E) characteristics of the work environment and tasks to be performed.

Question 27

The product market

A) is basically an irrelevant influence on the labor relations process.
B) is where the company either sells its product or purchases key elements for its manufacture.
C) can make management more vulnerable.
D) is basically an irrelevant influence on the labor relations process and is where the company either sells its product or purchases key elements for its manufacture.
E) is where the company either sells its product or purchases key elements for its manufacture and can make management more vulnerable.

Question 28

Union officials seek to enhance public opinion by:

A) monitoring and reacting to negative comments made in the media.
B) getting organized labor's positive message out to the community.
C) forming alliances with various groups in the community.
D) getting organized labor's positive message out to the community and forming alliances with various groups in the community.
E) all of these

Question 29

The "labor relations process" occurs when:

A) government regulates labor-management activities.
B) management and the exclusive bargaining agent (the union) engage in the joint determination and administration of work rules.
C) historical aspects of organized labor affect current decision.
D) unions find international applications.
E) privately held companies go public.

Question 30

The sequence of the labor relations process is:

A) independent.
B) cumulative.
C) unpredictable.
D) random.
E) unpredictable and random.

Question 31

_______ are third-party neutrals hired by the union and management officials to make a final and binding decision on a disputed issue.

A) Mediators
B) Arbitrators
C) Retired union presidents
D) all of these
E) none of these

Question 32

The federal government's role in private sector collective bargaining activities is basically:

A) direct
B) indirect
C) prohibited
D) illegal
E) direct and prohibited.

Question 33

U.S. unions believe that "fair trade" will

A) ensure that domestic companies can compete effectively in global markets.
B) fostering more cooperation with foreign-based labor organizations.
C) reduce the labor cost advantage of moving work done by U.S. workers.
D) serve to raise the living standards of workers in their own countries.
E) all of these

Question 34

The labor relations process consists of ____ basic phase(s).

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 5

Question 35

The negotiation of compensation for and number of intervals for bus drivers reflects which technological component?

A) the pace of work
B) equipment used
C) tasks to be performed
D) none of these
E) all of these

Question 36

One union estimate found that management consultants hired to counter a union organizing campaign were:

A) involved in 75 percent of the union organizing campaigns
B) seldom if ever used by corporations.
C) ridiculed by employees who overwhelmingly voted for union representation.
D) none of these
E) all of these

Question 37

When the North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA) was passed, it:

A) was unsuccessfully opposed by organized labor.
B) contained a 15-year phase-in to increase tariffs between Canada, Mexico, and the US.
C) substantially lowered the wages of Mexican employees, such as truck drivers, in comparison to their US counterparts.
D) all of these
E) contained a 15-year phase-in to increase tariffs between Canada, Mexico, and the US and substantially lowered the wages of Mexican employees, such as truck drivers, in comparison to their US counterparts.

Question 38

Work rules:

A) reflect the dynamic nature of labor management relationships.
B) must be specific in nature.
C) are sometimes applicable to many occupations.
D) reflect the dynamic nature of labor management relationships and must be specific in nature.
E) reflect the dynamic nature of labor management relationships and are sometimes applicable to many occupations.

Question 39

Management purchases of automated equipment

A) is currently at a higher rate than that found in Japan.
B) has been encouraged by the tremendous success of the U.S. Postal Service's automated experience with bar codes.
C) can reduce the number and/or skills of employees in the supermarket industry.
D) precipitated a strike at AT&T.
E) all of these

Question 40

The mass media:

A) generally have a pro labor bias.
B) often serve as a generator and conduit of community opinion.
C) helped bring several businesses to Peoria, Illinois, by publicizing labor management cooperation at Caterpillar.
D) often serve as a generator and conduit of community opinion and helped bring several businesses to Peoria, Illinois, by publicizing labor management cooperation at Caterpillar.
E) generally have a pro labor bias and helped bring several businesses to Peoria, Illinois, by publicizing labor management cooperation at Caterpillar.

Question 41

The decline in union membership has been attributed to:

A) structural changes in the labor force
B) improved management practices in organizations
C) political and legal conditions governing the workplace
D) all of these
E) none of these adequately explain the decline in union membership