Deck 12: Labor Unions and Collective Bargaining

Question 1

Which of the following is the political arm of the AFL-CIO?

A) ACTION
B) COPE
C) NLRB
D) PATCO

Answer 1

B
Explanation: B) The political arm of the AFL-CIO is the Committee on Political Education (COPE). Founded in 1955, its purpose is to support politicians who are friendly to the cause of organized labor.

Question 2

What is an organizing approach used by labor where employees sign a card of support if they want unionization, and if 50 percent of the work force plus one worker sign a card, the union considers it a victory?

A) union salting
B) card check
C) public awareness campaign
D) flooding the community

Answer 2

B
Explanation: B) The card check is an organizing approach by labor in which employees sign a nonsecret card of support if they want unionization, and if 50 percent of the workforce plus one worker sign a card, the union is formed. It permits workers to decide in a nonsecret election their union status.

Question 3

A restaurant worker labor union is training union organizers to apply for jobs at fast food restaurants in the Chicago area. Once hired, the union organizers will actively work to unionize employees at the restaurant. This strategy is best described as ________.

A) broadbanding
B) union salting
C) flooding the community
D) raising public awareness

Answer 3

B
Explanation: B) Union salting is the process of training union organizers to apply for jobs at a company and, once hired, working to unionize employees. Although traditionally used by blue-collar labor unions within the construction and building industries, it is a strategy labor unions are also using in other sectors, such as the hotel and restaurant industries.

Question 4

What is the most powerful level in the union structure?

A) industrial union
B) commercial union
C) national union
D) craft union

Question 5

In which case did the Supreme Court rule that employers cannot discriminate against union salts?

A) Firefighters Local Union #1984 v Carl W. Stotts
B) Espinoza v Farah Manufacturing Company
C) NLRB v Town & Electric Inc.
D) American Tobacco Company v Patterson

Question 6

As a union growth strategy, what is the term which involves labor maneuvers which do not coincide with a strike or organizing campaign to pressure an employer for better wages, benefits, and the like?

A) union salting
B) political involvement
C) public awareness campaigns
D) flooding communities with organizers

Question 7

In how many states is it legal for an employer to agree with the union that a new employee must join the union after a certain period of time or be terminated?

A) 19
B) 27
C) 44
D) 50

Question 8

The process of the union inundating communities with organizers to target a particular business is known as ________.

A) building corporate labor campaigns
B) flooding the community
C) organizing funds
D) union salting

Question 9

Which term refers to a wage structure where newly hired workers are paid less than current employees for performing the same or similar jobs?

A) two-tier
B) bilateral
C) incremental
D) multi-level

Question 10

The United Auto Workers is an example of which type of union?

A) industrial
B) craft
C) local
D) service

Question 11

Unions consisting of all the workers in a particular plant or group of plants are ________.

A) craft
B) commercial
C) industrial
D) global

Question 12

Major reasons employees join unions include all of the following EXCEPT ________.

A) dissatisfaction with management
B) need for avenues of leadership
C) desire for a social outlet
D) pressure from managers

Question 13

What union is typically composed of members of a particular trade or skill in a specific locality?

A) specialty
B) craft
C) trade
D) industrial

Question 14

What is a union tactic called that puts pressure on the end user of a company's product in order to have a successful organizing attempt?

A) flooding the community
B) pulling the union through
C) political involvement
D) building public awareness

Question 15

Unionized machinists who perform essential jobs at a boat manufacturing plant decide to strike for higher wages. As a result, the plant is forced to shut down until an agreement can be reached. The labor union is most likely using a strategy of ________.

A) union salting
B) pulling the union through
C) public awareness campaigns
D) strategically located union members

Question 16

Critics of project labor agreements (PLAs) say the agreements do all of the following EXCEPT ________.

A) increase costs
B) are unfair to municipalities struggling to fund public works projects
C) limit competition
D) discriminate against union companies

Question 17

A ________ is a prehire collective bargaining agreement between construction firm owners and one or more labor organizations establishing the terms and conditions of employment for a specific construction project.

A) final-offer arbitration
B) project labor agreement
C) premeditated labor mediation
D) construction contract consortium

Question 18

Which of the following prohibits employers and unions from entering into agreements requiring union membership as a condition of employment?

A) right-to-work laws
B) fair labor agreements
C) union shop contracts
D) employment-at-will laws

Question 19

What is the basic element in the structure of the American labor movement?

A) craft union
B) industrial union
C) national union
D) local union

Question 20

The local union is primarily responsible for ________.

A) actively lobbying at national and state levels
B) publishing the union newspaper
C) administering the collective bargaining agreement
D) engaging in collective bargaining at the national level

Question 21

Which of the following is a union federation consisting of the seven unions that broke from the AFL-CIO?

A) United We Stand Coalition
B) United Farm Workers
C) International Teamsters
D) Change to Win Coalition

Question 22

A group of employees recognized by an employer as appropriate for representation by a labor organization for purposes of collective bargaining is (are) called a ________.

A) representative group
B) bargaining unit
C) closed shop
D) trade union

Question 23

Frank and two other machinists want to form a bargaining unit at Nelson Manufacturing. What is the first step Frank and his co-workers need to take?

A) collecting authorization card signatures
B) campaigning for election
C) petitioning for election
D) becoming certified

Question 24

Most union organizers will NOT continue their organizing efforts unless at least ________ percent of the workers in the workgroup sign authorization cards.

A) 30
B) 50
C) 70
D) 100

Question 25

Most contract bargaining is carried out under what type of structure?

A) one company dealing with a single union
B) several companies dealing with a single union
C) several unions dealing with a single company
D) several companies dealing with several unions

Question 26

What is the largest and fastest growing national union in the United States?

A) United Auto Workers
B) United Steel Workers
C) Service Employees International
D) International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Question 27

A machinists union and an employer are involved in collective bargaining. The bargaining issues have already been determined. What is the most likely next step in the process?

A) ratifying an agreement
B) preparing for negotiations
C) negotiating an agreement
D) overcoming breakdowns

Question 28

What is the first step in the collective bargaining process?

A) ratifying an agreement
B) preparing for negotiations
C) negotiating an agreement
D) choosing a bargaining unit

Question 29

What is the primary law governing the relationship of companies and unions?

A) National Labor Relations Act
B) Norris-LaGuardia Act
C) Landrum-Griffin Act
D) Sherman Act

Question 30

Which of the following is NOT one of the four major bargaining structures?

A) one company dealing with a single union
B) several companies dealing with a single union
C) several unions dealing with a single company
D) one bargaining unit dealing with several unions

Question 31

Which of the following is the parent organization of local unions?

A) industrial union
B) commercial union
C) national union
D) craft union

Question 32

Which of the following holds membership in the national union?

A) managers
B) local unions
C) individual workers
D) craft union officers

Question 33

What is the duration of a typical labor/management agreement?

A) one year
B) two years
C) three years
D) four years

Question 34

Which of the following is LEAST likely to lead to the NLRB declaring an election campaign invalid?

A) A union threatens loss of jobs or benefits to influence employees' votes or union activities.
B) An employer misstates campaign facts when the other party does not have a chance to reply.
C) A union incites religious prejudice with inflammatory campaign appeals.
D) An employer discusses with workers the negative aspects of unionization.

Question 35

Before negotiating an agreement, it is most important that both negotiators understand which of the following?

A) recruitment techniques of the firm
B) benefits structure of the organization
C) requirements of each position at the firm
D) organizational hierarchy at the company

Question 36

Which of the following is the central trade union federation in the U.S.?

A) Service Employees International Union
B) International Brotherhood of Teamsters
C) Change to Win Coalition
D) AFL-CIO

Question 37

In conducting a legal campaign to discourage employees from voting for the union, management would most likely ________.

A) tell workers the benefits of remaining union-free
B) threaten workers with loss of their jobs to influence the votes
C) incite racial or religious prejudice by making inflammatory campaign appeals
D) make speeches to assembled employees on company time within 24 hours before an election

Question 38

An authorization card indicates that an employee wants ________.

A) personal representation by a labor attorney
B) additional benefits included in a contract
C) exclusion from labor union bargaining terms
D) union representation in collective bargaining

Question 39

Which of the following is the most fundamental to union and management relations in the United States?

A) minimum wage
B) legislative rulings
C) controlling political party
D) collective bargaining process

Question 40

The AFL-CIO's major activities include all of the following EXCEPT ________.

A) improving the image of organized labor
B) resolving disputes between local unions
C) engaging in collective bargaining
D) policing internal affairs of member unions

Question 41

What is the main purpose of union security provisions in a collective bargaining agreement?

A) addressing compensation issues that are usually problematic
B) ensuring that the union continues to perform its functions
C) identifying the union's bargaining representatives
D) establishing management's rights in negotiations

Question 42

In which section of the labor agreement would a checkoff of dues provision be included?

A) recognition
B) union security
C) employee security
D) management rights

Question 43

At H&R Enterprises, employees are not required to join the union. However, nonunion members of the bargaining unit must pay a service charge to the union. Which type of union security is most likely in place at H&R Enterprises?

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

Question 44

Bargaining issues can be divided into three categories. Which of the following is NOT one of those categories?

A) mandatory
B) concession
C) permissive
D) prohibited

Question 45

Which of the following acts permitted a closed shop in the construction industry?

A) National Labor Relations Act
B) Norris-LaGuardia Act
C) Landrum-Griffin Act
D) Taft-Hartley Act

Question 46

At Coffman Manufacturing, all employees are required to become members of the union after 60 days of employment. Which type of union security most likely exists at Coffman Manufacturing?

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

Question 47

Which section of the labor agreement usually appears at the beginning?

A) compensation
B) recognition
C) management rights
D) union security

Question 48

Under which of the following arrangements is an employee not required to join or financially contribute to a union?

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

Question 49

What type of bargaining issues may be raised, but neither side may insist that the issues be bargained over?

A) prohibited
B) arbitrary
C) mandatory
D) permissive

Question 50

When the dues checkoff is in effect, management agrees to ________.

A) pay dues for members who cannot afford them
B) send a portion of members' dues to charities
C) forward members' dues to the union
D) audit union members' dues

Question 51

Which of the following is LEAST likely to appear in a management rights section of a labor agreement?

A) power to discipline for cause
B) freedom to select company objectives
C) power to determine union security
D) freedom to determine how to use the firm's material assets

Question 52

A firm's refusal to bargain on which of the following issues would most likely result in a charge of unfair labor practices?

A) hourly wages
B) child care benefits
C) retiree health benefits
D) job recruiting techniques

Question 53

Which section of the labor agreement identifies the union that is recognized as the bargaining representative and describes the bargaining unit?

A) grievance procedure
B) union security
C) compensation
D) recognition

Question 54

Which of the following is usually one of the first items negotiated in a collective bargaining agreement?

A) management rights
B) recognition
C) union security
D) compensation

Question 55

Mandatory bargaining issues are those which ________.

A) fall within the definition of wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment
B) may be raised, but neither side may insist that they bargained over
C) are outlawed, such as the closed shop
D) involve company goals and strategies

Question 56

Joe and Pete have both been employed as electricians at Top Notch Manufacturing for two years. Joe belongs to a union and pays dues. Pete neither belongs to a union nor pays union dues. Which of the following most likely describes the union arrangement at Top Notch Manufacturing?

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

Question 57

Which of the following made the closed shop illegal?

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

Question 58

Davis Manufacturing deducts union dues from members' paychecks and forwards the money to the union. Which of the following is most likely included in the labor agreement?

A) maintenance of membership
B) permissive bargaining
C) collective bargaining
D) dues checkoff

Question 59

At Benson Enterprises, union membership is a prerequisite for employment. Which type of union security is most likely in place at Benson Enterprises?

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

Question 60

Tom works at a company that has a closed shop arrangement. In which industry does Tom most likely work?

A) steel
B) aerospace
C) construction
D) mining

Question 61

Seniority may be granted to employees on the basis of all of the following EXCEPT ________.

A) department
B) division
C) job
D) age

Question 62

Which of the following is typically LEAST useful during the negotiating phase of collective bargaining?

A) give-and-take attitude
B) neutral meeting location
C) clear communication
D) media involvement

Question 63

An escalator clause in a labor agreement ________.

A) guarantees annual wage increases
B) widens the scope of the contract
C) compensates for cost of living increases
D) protects management's authority

Question 64

Ben is a member of the electricians' union, which is currently striking against Rawlings Manufacturing. However, Ben does not support the strike and does not want to participate, so he is continuing to work at Rawlings. As a result, Ben could be fined as high as ________ percent of his wages.

A) 25
B) 50
C) 75
D) 100

Question 65

During the first round of negotiations with Olsen Automotive, the machinists union demands that management raise the wages of all employees by 15%. The union does not expect management to agree to this demand initially. Which term best describes the demand made by the union?

A) beachhead
B) arbitrary
C) secondary
D) tactical

Question 66

During negotiation preparations, which of the following is typically the best choice for gathering information regarding union members' attitudes?

A) executives
B) union stewards
C) business managers
D) local union presidents

Question 67

Which section of the labor agreement contains seniority provisions?

A) grievance procedure
B) union security
C) employee security
D) management rights

Question 68

Which law established the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)?

A) Taft-Hartley Act
B) Davis-Bacon Act
C) Landrum-Griffin Act
D) Norris-LaGuardia Act

Question 69

The unionized machinists at Larson Aeronautics have refused to work and have halted production as a result of a breakdown in negotiations. Which of the following terms best describes the actions of the machinists?

A) boycott
B) strike
C) beachhead
D) lockout

Question 70

Which term refers to an employee's dissatisfaction or feeling of personal injustice relating to his or her employment?

A) arbitration
B) ratification
C) severance
D) grievance

Question 71

The amount of vacation an employee may take is usually stated in the ________ section of the labor agreement.

A) union security
B) compensation
C) employee security
D) recognition

Question 72

Carlson Machines and the local labor union have a contract dispute over wages. The two sides have agreed to submit the dispute to an impartial third party for a binding decision. Which of the following will most likely serve as the judge and jury in this situation?

A) arbitrator
B) mediator
C) HR manager
D) union steward

Question 73

At the local level, the bargaining committee will normally include ________.

A) elected rank-and-file members
B) industrial relations representatives
C) stewards from the national union
D) AFL-CIO representatives

Question 74

In labor agreements, seniority is an important issue because it ________.

A) addresses family and child-care problems
B) establishes the process for filing grievances
C) provides the basis of promotion decisions
D) determines the need for retirement plans

Question 75

Which of the following is NOT likely to be included in the compensation section of a labor agreement?

A) vacation
B) premium pay
C) family care
D) dues checkoff

Question 76

Which law requires each union member to voluntarily sign a statement authorizing a deduction when the dues checkoff is used?

A) Landrum-Griffin Act
B) Norris-LaGuardia Act
C) Taft-Hartley Act
D) Sherman Act

Question 77

A formal, systematic process that permits employees to express complaints without jeopardizing their jobs is known as a(n) ________.

A) grievance procedure
B) union security
C) employee security
D) management

Question 78

What is the process called when a neutral third party enters and attempts to resolve a labor dispute when a bargaining impasse has occurred?

A) delegation
B) interest arbitration
C) mediation
D) rights arbitration

Question 79

Martin Engineering is a large corporation that is preparing for collective bargaining negotiations with the machinists' union. Which of the following is LEAST likely to be on the bargaining team for Martin Engineering?

A) HR manager
B) production manager
C) union officer
D) labor attorney

Question 80

Where do the two negotiating teams usually meet?

A) company premises
B) local union hall
C) neutral location
D) federal courtroom