Deck 11: Labor Relations

Question 1

Which of the following areas is not examined when understanding the impact of police unions on the community?

A) Impact on discipline and accountability.
B) Impact on the police subculture.
C) Impact on politics.
D) Impact on public safety.

Answer 1

Impact on public safety.

Question 2

Which of the following is not a factor that helped to foster public-sector collective bargaining?

A) Needs of police organizations.
B) The reduction of legal barriers.
C) Personnel practices within police organizations.
D) Salaries and benefits.

Answer 2

Needs of police organizations.

Question 3

Assume that union A is conducting an organizing drive for patrol officers in Tampa. It needs to have a "majority" of patrol officers sign cards authorizing the union to represent them in collective bargaining. Further assume that unions B, C, and D are also holding their organizing drives for patrol officers in Tampa at the same time. With four unions seeking to represent patrol officers what does "majority" mean?

A) 25% plus one.
B) 33% plus one.
C) 50% plus one.
D) 66% plus one.

Answer 3

50% plus one.

Question 4

Why shouldn't a Chief of Police personally participate in bargaining sessions?

A) It usually violates state law.
B) It diverts energy from daily operations.
C) It is too time consuming.
D) It makes the task of leadership more difficult.

Question 5

From the union's perspective, what is a "trade-off"?

A) A demand which will be dropped as partial or full payment for some other benefit.
B) When management agrees to lesser punishment for an officer in lieu of having the union grieve the matter.
C) When both sides agree to drop one clause from their bargaining portfolio.
D) A demand which is stopped as a symbol of good faith.

Question 6

What is the biggest hammer in any union's toolbox?

A) Work slowdowns.
B) Court injunction.
C) Work stoppage.
D) Work speedups.

Question 7

With respect to the job action called "the vote of confidence," the typical result is:

A) A strike immediately.
B) Finding of confidence.
C) Finding of no confidence.
D) No finding either way.

Question 8

Your union steward has told all police officers in your department to reduce by one-half the number of tickets normally written. This action is being taken in response to a new general order written by the chief against the union's wishes. This is an example of a:

A) Work interruption.
B) Work delay.
C) Work interference.
D) Work slow down.

Question 9

The union has encouraged all police officers to strictly enforce minor traffic violations that are usually ignored. This is an example of a:

A) Work acceleration.
B) Work speed up.
C) Work frenzy.
D) Work enhancement.

Question 10

Which of the following general types of binding arbitration laws includes situations where an arbiter has the obligation to render a decision on each issue independently and craft an award on each issue?

A) Issue by issue arbitration.
B) Final offer issue by issue arbitration.
C) Total package arbitration.
D) Complete package arbitration.

Question 11

Which of the following general types of binding arbitration laws includes situations where an arbiter must award the final offer made by one of the parties and is not free to craft a compromise position?

A) Issue by issue arbitration.
B) Final offer issue by issue arbitration.
C) Total package arbitration.
D) Complete package arbitration.

Question 12

Which of the following is considered to be an "unfair" labor practice?

A) The domination of a labor organization by an employer.
B) The failure to furnish information relevant to the collective bargaining process.
C) A refusal to bargain in good faith over subjects that are mandatory for bargaining.
D) All of the above.

Question 13

What is the name of the law that opened up previously-closed bargaining sessions to the general public?

A) Sunshine law.
B) Open-door law.
C) Open-bargaining law.
D) Public-bargaining law.

Question 14

Which of the following is a common type of citizen oversight agency?

A) Police auditors.
B) Civilian compliance boards.
C) Neighborhood watch groups.
D) All of the above.

Question 15

Negotiation between an employer and a labor union, usually regarding issues such as wages, benefits, hours, and working conditions, is referred to as:

A) Job action.
B) Binding arbitration.
C) Grievance.
D) Collective bargaining.

Question 16

A judgment made by a neutral third party to settle a dispute between labor and management, in which both parties agree in advance to abide by the result, is referred to as:

A) Job action.
B) Binding arbitration.
C) Grievance.
D) Collective bargaining

Question 17

Historically, the police have felt isolated in their effort to control crime. This stems from two factors: ____________ and the impact of the due process revolution.

Question 18

Maintenance of ____________ clauses enhance(s) a labor organization's ability to prevent changes in past practices.

Question 19

The decision as to what is an appropriate grouping of officers for the purposes of collective bargaining, technically referred to as ____________, is profoundly significant and one about which management and the union may have sharp differences.

Question 20

____________ may be limited to matters discussed specifically in a contract, that are primarily contract-related, or that pertain to the job.

Question 21

The best way handle ____________ is for both management and the union to take the position that they have mutual responsibilities to avoid them.

Question 22

In recent years, police unions have been called upon not only to fight for pay raises for the members, but also to oppose threatened ____________.

Question 23

Each state has a ____________ that is charged with administering the collective bargaining statuses covering public employees of that state.

Question 24

A union's ____________ will usually not be a member of the bargaining unit; rather, he or she will be a specialist brought in to represent it.

Question 25

Identify and briefly discuss the seven major factors combined that led to public sector collective bargaining.

Question 26

What are the four areas that need to be examined in order to fully understand the impact of unions on a community? How do they impact the community?

Question 27

Although public employee collective bargaining laws vary by state, the general thrust of the laws can be summarized by three simplified models. What are these models?

Question 28

Who generally serves on union and management teams during negotiations?

Question 29

List and describe the four major forms of job action.

Question 30

Match the characteristic from Column 1 to its corresponding type of collective bargaining law in Column 2. The items in Column 2 may be used more than once.

-The least common collective bargaining law governing law enforcement.

A) Binding arbitration model.
B) Meet and confer model.
C) Bargaining not required model.

Question 31

Match the characteristic from Column 1 to its corresponding type of collective bargaining law in Column 2. The items in Column 2 may be used more than once.

-Allows public employees the right to select exclusive representatives.

A) Binding arbitration model.
B) Meet and confer model.
C) Bargaining not required model.

Question 32

Match the characteristic from Column 1 to its corresponding type of collective bargaining law in Column 2. The items in Column 2 may be used more than once.

-Only obligates employers to meet and confer with no method of impasse resolution.

A) Binding arbitration model.
B) Meet and confer model.
C) Bargaining not required model.

Question 33

Match the characteristic from Column 1 to its corresponding type of collective bargaining law in Column 2. The items in Column 2 may be used more than once.

-Weakest type in terms of protecting the organizing rights of law enforcement officers.

A) Binding arbitration model.
B) Meet and confer model.
C) Bargaining not required model.

Question 34

Match the characteristic from Column 1 to its corresponding type of collective bargaining law in Column 2. The items in Column 2 may be used more than once.

-Strongest type in terms of protecting the organizing rights of law enforcement officers.

A) Binding arbitration model.
B) Meet and confer model.
C) Bargaining not required model.

Question 35

Match the characteristic from Column 1 to its corresponding type of collective bargaining law in Column 2. The items in Column 2 may be used more than once.

-Used in states where collective bargaining is not required by statute.

A) Binding arbitration model.
B) Meet and confer model.
C) Bargaining not required model.

Question 36

In your opinion, should police organizations be allowed to collectively bargain and thus have union representation for their officers? Justify your response

Question 37

What steps can a chief take to impact the "code of silence" in their agency?

Question 38

Do you believe the chief of police should be an active member of the management team during negotiations with the union? Why or why not?

Question 39

Would you prefer to serve on the management or union team during labor negotiations? Why?

Question 40

What are the ethical and personal dilemmas an officer might face as he or she participates in a job action?