Question 1

Estimated union membership in the U.S.is roughly ____ of the private sector workforce.
A) under 10%
B) about 20%
C) about 35%
D) over 40%

Accepted Answer

According to recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, union membership in the private sector is under 10%.

Question 2

Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A) The main motivator for employees who support unions is hostility toward management.
B) Although unionized workers typically have higher benefits than non-union workers, their wages are approximately the same.
C) Unions sometimes result in higher productivity.
D) Management discretion in handling employee issues is essentially the same whether the company is unionized or not.

Accepted Answer

While unions are often associated with decreased productivity due to increased bureaucracy and rigid rules, studies have shown that in some cases, unions can actually have a positive impact on productivity through improved communication and increased worker satisfaction. Options A, B, and D are all false statements.

Question 3

In the United States,a union is a formal association of workers that promotes the interests of its members primarily through
A) political control of an official labor party at the national level.
B) collective action in the workplace.
C) membership on corporate boards of directors.
D) intervention by impartial third parties in disputes between employees and management.

Accepted Answer

Unions primarily promote the interests of their members through collective action in the workplace, such as negotiating and advocating for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. While unions may also engage in political activity, membership on corporate boards of directors is not a typical function of a union, and third-party intervention in disputes is often a result of union activity rather than a primary function.

Question 4

The All China Federation of Trade Unions
A) has been persecuted by the Chinese government because of its aggressive organizing tactics and strikes.
B) is considered to be a better model for union organizing and structure in developing countries than the European or U.S. labor systems.
C) has been criticized by international labor leaders for being overly aligned with the government.
D) has improved the wages and working conditions for Chinese workers significantly.

Accepted Answer

The All China Federation of Trade Unions has been criticized by international labor leaders for being overly aligned with the government, which limits its effectiveness in advocating for workers' rights and interests. While it is the only legal trade union in China, its close ties to the government have led to accusations of being a rubber-stamp organization rather than a true labor union.

Question 5

In the U.S.,all of the following are factors leading to unionization EXCEPT
A) non-competitive pay compared with equivalent jobs and firms.
B) arbitrary management decision making.
C) poor working conditions.
D) political convictions of employees.

Accepted Answer

While political convictions of employees may contribute to their desire to join a particular union, it is not a factor leading to unionization in general. The other options all describe conditions that may lead workers to seek representation through a union.

Question 6

The most highly unionized part of the U.S.workforce is the
A) local public sector.
B) heavy manufacturing sector.
C) healthcare industry.
D) communications industry.

Accepted Answer

The local public sector, which includes teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other government employees, has the highest rate of union membership of any industry sector in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019, 33.6% of local government workers were members of a union. This is significantly higher than the 6.2% of private sector workers who are union members.

Question 7

Which of the following is a SIMILARITY between European unions and U.S.unions?
A) Unionization is carried out on a company-by-company basis.
B) Providing aid and guidance to unions in developing countries.
C) Collective bargaining agreements are contracts between employers and the union.
D) Relations between unions and employers are expected to be adversarial.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is a SIMILARITY...

Question 8

Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A) Although union members still have more generous benefits than non-union employees, the wage difference between union and non-union employees has almost disappeared.
B) Unionized employees in the private sector make more than non-union employees, but in the public sector there is no significant difference in pay between unionized and non-union employees.
C) Because of the recession of 2009, union wages in the U.S. have fallen to the level of non-union wages.
D) In almost every industry, unionized employees receive significantly higher pay than non-unionized employees

Accepted Answer

Unionized employees typically receive higher wages than their non-unionized counterparts across various industries, reflecting the bargaining power of unions to negotiate better pay and benefits for their members.

Question 9

How has the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)affected U.S.unions?
A) Because of the higher demand for Mexican labor, Mexican unions have been able to increase wages enough that U.S. firms no longer have a cost advantage in moving unionized jobs to Mexico.
B) Unionized Canadian manufacturers have moved operations to non-union plants in the U.S.
C) Unionized U.S. firms have moved their operations to Mexico, thus reducing union employment in the U.S.
D) The lowering of tariffs and trade restrictions has allowed unionized U.S. firms to sell more of their products to Canada and Mexico, thus increasing employment for union members.

Accepted Answer

NAFTA has contributed to union job loss in the U.S. as many unionized firms relocated operations to Mexico, where labor laws are more lax and wages are lower. This reduced demand for union labor in the U.S. as more jobs were outsourced.

Question 10

The shift from ______________ industries has reduced the proportion of unionized jobs in the U.S.economy.
A) high-wage to low-wage
B) manufacturing to service
C) labor intensive to capital intensive
D) private sector to public sector

Accepted Answer

The shift from manufacturing to service industries has reduced the proportion of unionized jobs in the U.S. economy. Service jobs are typically less unionized compared to manufacturing jobs, where they used to dominate in the past, resulting in a decline in the overall level of unionization in the country.

Question 11

In the U.S.,the primary determining factor in whether employees unionize is
A) the behavior of the employing organization's management.
B) the promotion of or discouragement of unionization by the federal government.
C) economic cycles of boom and bust.
D) actions by union organizers.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that the behavior of management is the most significant factor in whether employees choose to unionize or not. If management is perceived as unfair or unresponsive to employee concerns, the likelihood of unionization increases.

Question 12

If Human Resources has only limited involvement with labor relations in the organization,____ takes on most of the responsibility.
A) top management
B) the board of directors
C) operating managers
D) a labor law consulting firm

Accepted Answer

Operating managers typically have direct contact with employees and their supervisors, making them the primary point of contact for labor relations issues. While Human Resources may provide guidance and support, operating managers are often responsible for handling grievances, negotiating contracts, and managing employee relations on a day-to-day basis. Top management and the board of directors may be involved in higher-level labor negotiations or decisions, but the primary responsibility falls to operating managers. A labor law consulting firm may be used for guidance or support, but they would not typically take on the majority of the responsibility for labor relations in the organization.

Question 13

The ILO (International Labour Organization)has become more active in recent years because
A) unions are dealing with multi-national firms.
B) of increasing worldwide management opposition to unions.
C) unions in the U.S. are weakening and the ILO is assisting the AFL-CIO in organizing efforts.
D) wages and benefits for unionized employees are eroding in European nations.

Accepted Answer

The ILO has become more active in recent years due to the increasing involvement of multi-national firms in the global economy, which has created challenges for unions in ensuring workers' rights are protected.

Question 14

Unions in the United States focus primarily on
A) blocking technological change that replaces workers with machines.
B) increasing industrial democracy.
C) bread-and-butter economic issues.
D) maintaining due process for all workers.

Accepted Answer

Unions in the United States primarily focus on bread-and-butter economic issues, such as higher wages, better benefits, improved working conditions, and job security. While they may advocate for workers' rights and due process, their main goal is to negotiate with employers for better economic outcomes for their members. While some unions may be resistant to technological change, this is not a primary focus for most unions in the U.S. Similarly, while increasing industrial democracy may be a goal of some unions, it is not the primary focus of the labor movement as a whole.

Question 15

The decline in union membership has been attributed to all of the following factors EXCEPT
A) deregulation.
B) backlash against union militancy.
C) actively anti-union company managements.
D) high unemployment.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The decline in union membership has been...

Question 16

Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A) The trend in the U.S. is toward tripartite bargaining.
B) In other countries, national unions bargain with the government or with employer groups.
C) In the U.S. a collective bargaining agreement is considered a contract in name only because it is not enforceable.
D) Because labor laws and conditions for workers vary so widely from country to country, there are no labor organizations with a global focus.

Accepted Answer

In many other countries, it is common for national unions to bargain either with the government or with employer groups. This is not the case in the U.S where collective bargaining agreements are negotiated between management and labor unions. A tripartite bargaining system involving labor, management, and government is not currently a trend in the U.S., although it is sometimes used in other countries. A collective bargaining agreement is a legally binding contract in the U.S. and can be enforced through legal action. There are many labor organizations with a global focus, such as the International Labour Organization (ILO), which promotes international labor standards and employment rights.

Question 17

Which of the following statements is FALSE?
A) Unions in European countries, such as France and Italy, tend to be strongly tied to national politics.
B) The AFL-CIO has begun a strategy of national strikes in the U.S. in order to increase union power.
C) Collective bargaining in other countries has been largely based on the U.S. model.
D) Co-determination requires corporate boards of directors to include union representatives.

Accepted Answer

Collective bargaining in other countries has not been largely based on the U.S. model.

Question 18

All of the following factors will make a union look desirable to employees EXCEPT
A) inadequate staffing.
B) inequitable pay raises.
C) job insecurity.
D) lack of promotion opportunities.

Accepted Answer

Lack of promotion opportunities may not directly make a union desirable, as unions typically focus on collective bargaining for wages, benefits, and working conditions rather than individual career advancement.

Question 19

The practice of having union representatives on the company's board of directors is called
A) collusion.
B) co-operation.
C) co-determination.
D) tripartite negotiation.

Accepted Answer

The practice of having union representatives on the company's board of directors is called co-determination. This means that the management and employees work together to make decisions about the company's policies, strategies, and goals. It is commonly practiced in European countries, such as Germany, where it is legally mandated that companies with over 2,000 employees must have worker representation on their board of directors.

Question 20

All of the following are reasons for the decline in union membership in the U.S.EXCEPT
A) the shifting of the U.S. economy from a manufacturing emphasis to a service emphasis..
B) the shift of low-skill U.S. jobs to other countries.
C) the increasing proportion of white-collar workers in the economy.
D) unions' historical failure to pass worker-friendly legislation.

Accepted Answer

While the other three choices have contributed to the decline in union membership, unions have been successful in passing worker-friendly legislation, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act and the National Labor Relations Act.

Quiz 16: Union/Management Relations

Estimated union membership in the U.S.is roughly ____ of the private sector workforce.

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

In the United States,a union is a formal association of workers that promotes the interests of its members primarily through

The All China Federation of Trade Unions

In the U.S.,all of the following are factors leading to unionization EXCEPT

The most highly unionized part of the U.S.workforce is the

Which of the following is a SIMILARITY between European unions and U.S.unions?

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

How has the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) affected U.S.unions?

The shift from ______________ industries has reduced the proportion of unionized jobs in the U.S.economy.

In the U.S.,the primary determining factor in whether employees unionize is

If Human Resources has only limited involvement with labor relations in the organization,____ takes on most of the responsibility.

The ILO (International Labour Organization) has become more active in recent years because

Unions in the United States focus primarily on

The decline in union membership has been attributed to all of the following factors EXCEPT

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

All of the following factors will make a union look desirable to employees EXCEPT

The practice of having union representatives on the company's board of directors is called

All of the following are reasons for the decline in union membership in the U.S.EXCEPT