Deck 12: Labour Relations

Question 1

A labour union with branches and members in both Canada and the United States, the head office of which is in the United States, is known as

A) a member of the AFL-CIO.
B) a regional union.
C) a national union.
D) an international union.
E) an industrial union.

Answer 1

D
an international union.

Question 2

Convincing politicians of the need for stricter and more comprehensive health and safety legislation is most closely associated with

A) pre-strike activity.
B) social unionism.
C) information picketing.
D) political unionism.
E) business unionism.

Answer 2

E
business unionism.

Question 3

Speaking out on proposed legislative reforms is most closely associated with

A) social unionism.
B) business unionism.
C) pre-strike activity.
D) political unionism.
E) information picketing.

Answer 3

A
social unionism.

Question 4

The negotiations that take place between a labour union and an employer to arrive at a mutually acceptable collective agreement are known as

A) collective bargaining.
B) contract bargaining.
C) union organizing.
D) contract ratification.
E) contract administration.

Question 5

Becoming so responsive to employees' needs that there is no incentive for unionization is associated with which approach to labour relations?

A) positive labour relations
B) union substitution
C) union suppression
D) union acceptance
E) union avoidance

Question 6

The most important part of the union structure for human resources managers is the

A) national union.
B) local.
C) provincial/territorial federation of labour.
D) local/district labour council.
E) central or regional office.

Question 7

Common characteristics among labour relations legislation in all Canadian jurisdictions include all of the following except

A) a minimum term of six months for all collective agreements.
B) procedures that must be followed by one or both parties before a strike or lockout is legal.
C) the requirement that disputes over matters arising from interpretation of the collective agreement be settled by binding arbitration.
D) establishment of a labour relations board or the equivalent.
E) prohibition of strikes or lockouts during the life of a collective agreement.

Question 8

Specific strategies adopted by organizations using the union substitution approach include

A) pay, benefits, and working conditions equal to or better than those in unionized firms.
B) preventing a union from gaining a foothold.
C) avoiding a union at all costs.
D) accepting collective bargaining as an appropriate mechanism for establishing terms and conditions of employment.
E) viewing the union as the legitimate representative of the firm's employees.

Question 9

In a ________, collective bargaining is accepted as an appropriate mechanism for establishing workplace rules.

A) union suppression approach
B) union substitution approach
C) proactive human resources approach
D) union avoidance strategy
E) union acceptance strategy

Question 10

Bargaining has commenced at the Airport Authority in Vancouver.The management bargaining team has as its mandate to strive for a mutually acceptable collective agreement.This is an example of

A) union avoidance strategy.
B) labour relations strategy.
C) proactive human resources approach.
D) union substitution approach.
E) union acceptance strategy.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is true about the AFL-CIO and CLC?

A) The AFL-CIO is the major central labour organization in Canada.
B) The purpose of the CLC is social reform
C) The AFL-CIO and CLC operate independently, and have no common interests.
D) Most international and national unions belong to the CLC.
E) The local/district labour councils belong to both the CLC and AFL-CIO.

Question 12

An organizing drive has begun at a busy branch of a bank.The managers wish to avoid a union at all costs.This approach to labour relations is

A) tough bargaining.
B) union suppression.
C) union substitution.
D) union acceptance.
E) union avoidance.

Question 13

Factors accounting for union membership trends in Canada include all of the following except

A) more effective HR practices in non-unionized firms.
B) the increase in service sector.
C) a decline in employment in industries that have traditionally been highly unionized.
D) increase in white-collar jobs.
E) none, there are no exceptions listed above.

Question 14

A union steward is

A) a union member who is appointed by management to act as the union representative.
B) a union member elected by workers in a particular area of a firm to act as their union representative.
C) a union member elected by management to act as the union representative.
D) a union member working with an airline.
E) a management member elected by workers in an area of a firm to act as their union representative.

Question 15

The term labour-management relations refers to

A) the process of administering a collective agreement.
B) relations between union members.
C) the process of labour-management contract negotiations and the process of administering a collective agreement.
D) the process of contract negotiations.
E) relations between front line managers and employees only.

Question 16

The labour organization that, traditionally, represented all workers eligible for union membership in a particular company or industry, irrespective of the type of work performed, is

A) a craft union.
B) an industrial union.
C) an independent local union.
D) a provincial federation of labour.
E) a local/district labour council.

Question 17

Each of the following is a component of business unionism except

A) lobbying for legislative changes pertaining to security issues and working conditions.
B) seeking greater job security.
C) negotiating for better pay and benefits.
D) achieving better working conditions.
E) There are no exceptions listed above.

Question 18

The CNTU is the

A) largest chartered local union in Canada.
B) Quebec counterpart of the CLC.
C) American counterpart of the CLC.
D) parent union of the CLC.
E) parent union of the Ontario Federation of Labour.

Question 19

Canada's labour laws have two key purposes, which are

A) balancing the rights of the public and protection of public welfare.
B) protecting union rights and management rights.
C) providing a common set of rules for fair negotiations and protecting public interest.
D) specifying management rights and union rights.
E) ensuring the right to unionize or remain union-free.

Question 20

An association of persons performing a certain type of skill or trade is called

A) an independent local union.
B) a provincial federation of labour.
C) a craft union.
D) an international union.
E) an industrial union.

Question 21

The final outcome of the collective bargaining process is shaped, to a large extent, by

A) the number of bargaining team members.
B) the quality of pre-negotiations planning.
C) the skill of the negotiations.
D) the legislative context.
E) the choice of bargaining representatives.

Question 22

Steps in the unionizing process typically include all of the following except

A) an all-out public campaign.
B) the outcome: certification, recognition, or rejection.
C) formation of an in-house organizing committee.
D) employee/union contact.
E) a vote.

Question 23

Under the law, employers are granted the right to do all of the following in response to a unionization attempt except

A) require employees to attend sessions at which their position is presented.
B) state their position regarding the desirability of remaining non-union.
C) express their views and opinions regarding unions.
D) prohibit distribution of union literature on their own property on company time.
E) increase wages, make promotions, and take other HR actions, as long as they would do so during the normal course of business.

Question 24

Which of the following statements is true about regular certification?

A) To gain certification, the voting results must indicate that more than 20 percent of the potential bargaining unit members are in support of the union.
B) The majority of union certifications in Canada are based on the results of a secret ballot vote.
C) Automatic certification is permitted in all Canadian jurisdictions.
D) Signed authorization cards along with an application for certification are required.
E) The evidence of support required to apply for certification ranges from 40 to 50 percent depending on jurisdiction.

Question 25

A full-time employee of the union, whose role is to plan and execute union membership recruitment campaigns, is known as

A) a union organizer.
B) a regional representative.
C) a chief steward.
D) a business agent.
E) the local president.

Question 26

The labour relations process consists of ________ steps, as outlined in the text.

A) 5
B) 3
C) 8
D) 7
E) 6

Question 27

Who is responsible for contacting employees, presenting the case for unionization, and signing up members?

A) the in-house organizing committee
B) the union organizer
C) the regional representative
D) the business agent
E) the president of the local/district labour council

Question 28

The approach to bargaining often typified as "win-lose" is known as

A) concessionary.
B) productivity.
C) interest-based.
D) distributive.
E) integrative.

Question 29

During a union organizing drive, the employer is permitted to

A) shut down operations to avoid unionization.
B) give bonuses to employees for leading a campaign to counteract the union campaign.
C) participate in union formation by organizing one in advance.
D) discipline an employee for wanting to join the union.
E) forbid the distribution of union literature on company property.

Question 30

During preparation for negotiations, unions generally hold a meeting that is open to all bargaining unit members at which

A) individual members have the opportunity to suggest items for inclusion in union demands.
B) union strategic plans are discussed.
C) members submit written proposals.
D) management presents its proposals.
E) information is given by the business agent.

Question 31

The bargaining zone is between

A) Party A's resistance point and Party B's target point.
B) Party B's resistance point and Party A's resistance point.
C) Party A's target point and Party B's target point.
D) Party B's resistance point and Party B's target point.
E) Party B's resistance point and Party A's target point.

Question 32

Workers primarily seek unionization when

A) they are dissatisfied and believe that it is only through collective action that the factors causing dissatisfaction can be changed.
B) they are unhappy with the location of the firm.
C) they primarily want career advancement.
D) a union organizer convinces them of the benefits of unionization.
E) they are extremely dissatisfied.

Question 33

An alternative mechanism for certification, used in situations in which there is evidence of irregularities early in an organizing campaign such as unfair management practices, is known as

A) voluntary recognition.
B) arbitrated certification.
C) a representation vote.
D) a pre-hearing vote.
E) automatic certification.

Question 34

The process by which a formal collective agreement is established between labour and management is known as

A) contract ratification.
B) collective bargaining.
C) conciliation.
D) contract bargaining.
E) collective negotiating.

Question 35

All of the following statements about union certification are true except that

A) if a union loses a representation vote, another election cannot be held among the same employees for at least a year.
B) representation votes are supervised by the LRB (or equivalent).
C) in those jurisdictions with automatic certification, if the level of support is not sufficient for such certification, but is above a specified minimum level, the LRB (or equivalent) will order a representation vote.
D) in most jurisdictions, LRBs can grant automatic certification.
E) in all jurisdictions, in order for a union to be certified, more than 50 percent of the potential bargaining unit members must be in support of the union.

Question 36

All of the following statements about termination of bargaining rights are true except that

A) a union is automatically decertified when a collective agreement is not negotiated within one year of certification.
B) it is possible for a labour union to notify the LRB (or equivalent) that it no longer wishes to represent the employees in a particular bargaining unit.
C) members may apply for decertification if they are dissatisfied with the performance of a union.
D) the decertification process generally involves a secret-ballot election.
E) generally, members may apply for decertification if the union has failed to negotiate a collective agreement within one year of certification.

Question 37

The approach that is appropriate when dealing with monetary issues, but may be used when there is a history of distrust and adversarial relations, is known as ________ bargaining.

A) distributive
B) productivity
C) concessionary
D) mutual gains
E) integrative

Question 38

The process whereby a union is legally deprived of its official recognition as the exclusive bargaining agent for a group of employees is known as

A) decertification due to fraud.
B) voluntary decertification.
C) decertification.
D) automatic decertification.
E) termination of a voluntarily-recognized union.

Question 39

In order to broaden their appeal to white-collar workers, unions have

A) heavily promoted wage gains for blue collar workers to white collar workers.
B) changed the style of clothes they wear when they meet with white collar workers.
C) taken out ads in magazines and online publications most often read by white collar workers.
D) changed their focus and bargaining priorities to include issues important for white collar workers.
E) rebranded their names to make them sound like organizations white collar workers would want to join (like the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union or COPE).

Question 40

The area defined by the resistance points of each side, in which compromise is possible, as is the attainment of a settlement satisfactory to both parties, is known as the

A) distributive bargaining range.
B) bargaining range.
C) area of potential settlement.
D) bargaining zone.
E) settlement range.

Question 41

Which of the following statements about ratification is false?

A) In some jurisdictions, ratification is required by law.
B) If any of the bargaining unit members vote in favour of the proposal, it replaces any prior agreement.
C) The results of a ratification vote have a significant impact.
D) If the proposed collective agreement is rejected, a strike is the inevitable result.
E) When a ratification vote is held, all members of the bargaining unit, whether or not they are trade union members, have the right to cast a ballot.

Question 42

Situations in which interest arbitration may be involved include all of the following except

A) negotiations involving firefighters in most jurisdictions.
B) negotiations involving police officers in most jurisdictions.
C) negotiations involving public servants in some jurisdictions.
D) negotiations involving nursing home employees in most jurisdictions.
E) none, there are no exceptions listed above.

Question 43

The use of a neutral third party to assist an organization and the union representing a group of its employees to come to a mutually satisfactory collective agreement is known as

A) interest arbitration.
B) rights arbitration.
C) mediation.
D) conciliation.
E) LRB intervention.

Question 44

A type of security arrangement in which the individuals who were bargaining unit members at the time of certification are not obliged to join the union is referred to as a

A) modified union shop.
B) dues shop.
C) maintenance-of-membership arrangement.
D) Rand Formula.
E) union shop.

Question 45

Wage rates and vacation entitlements are more likely to be fixed-sum issues that are handled by _________ bargaining.

A) productivity
B) concessionary
C) interest-based
D) distributive
E) mutual gains

Question 46

The section of the collective agreement that identifies the recognized trade union and clarifies its rights and responsibilities as the exclusive bargaining agent for the employees in the bargaining unit, is known as the ________ clause.

A) union recognition
B) union rights
C) union security
D) bargaining unit descriptor
E) union exclusivity

Question 47

Bargaining that is aimed at seeking win-win solutions to labour relations issues is ________ bargaining.

A) productivity
B) integrative
C) union acceptance
D) mutual gains
E) distributive

Question 48

All Canadian jurisdictions require that collective agreements contain a clause providing for

A) surface bargaining.
B) mediation.
C) final and binding settlement by arbitration of all disputes arising out of the collective agreement.
D) a disciplinary process.
E) pattern bargaining.

Question 49

A favourable strike vote means

A) a strike will occur within a specified period of time.
B) going on strike would not involve a high risk.
C) an advantage for management.
D) a strike is inevitable.
E) management may be more willing to make concessions.

Question 50

Which type of union security arrangement recognizes the fact that the union must represent all employees in the bargaining unit, whether or not they choose to belong to the union?

A) open shop
B) union shop
C) closed shop
D) the Rand formula
E) maintenance-of-membership

Question 51

The imposition of the final terms of a collective agreement occurs through the process known as

A) mediation-arbitration.
B) rights arbitration.
C) arbitration.
D) final offer selection.
E) interest arbitration.

Question 52

Any rights not limited by the management rights clause are

A) negotiable.
B) known as management prerogatives.
C) reserved to management.
D) known as union prerogatives.
E) reserved to the union.

Question 53

A type of union security arrangement in which union membership and dues payment are mandatory conditions of employment is known as

A) maintenance-of-membership.
B) closed shop.
C) the Rand formula.
D) union shop.
E) dues shop.

Question 54

A negotiating strategy in which the possibility of win-win, lose-win, and lose-lose outcomes is recognized, and there is acknowledgement that achieving a win-win outcome will depend on mutual trust and problem solving, is known as ________ bargaining.

A) integrative
B) mutual gains
C) concessionary
D) distributive
E) interest-based

Question 55

The memorandum of settlement is

A) management's agreement to bargain with the union.
B) a summary of terms and conditions agreed to by the parties.
C) a proposal for negotiation.
D) the signed collective agreement.
E) the union's agreement to bargain with management.

Question 56

The process involved in settling a dispute when special legislation is passed ordering striking or locked-out employees back to work is known as

A) final offer selection.
B) mediation-arbitration.
C) rights arbitration.
D) arbitration.
E) interest arbitration.

Question 57

The objective of ________ bargaining is to establish a creative negotiating relationship that benefits labour and management.

A) productivity
B) integrative
C) mutual gains
D) distributive
E) concessionary

Question 58

The most restrictive form of union security is known as a

A) open shop.
B) maintenance-of-membership.
C) union shop.
D) dues shop.
E) closed shop.

Question 59

Which type of bargaining is characterized by three distinct components: the initial point, the target point, and the resistance point?

A) concessionary
B) productivity
C) mutual gains
D) integrative
E) distributive

Question 60

Each of the following statements about lockouts is true except that

A) they put pressure on the union negotiating team to agree to the terms and conditions offered by management.
B) they are legally permissible in only a few Canadian jurisdictions.
C) they can damage an organization's public image.
D) they may have a negative impact on nonstriking employees.
E) lockouts are not a widely used strategy in Canada.

Question 61

Integrative bargaining is an approach that assumes that a win-win solution can be found.

Question 62

The actual settlement range in contract negotiations generally lies in the bargaining zone, between management's target and resistance points.

Question 63

Unionization impacts HRM in which of the following ways?

A) Management has more freedom to make decisions.
B) HR policies must be consistent with the terms of the collective agreement.
C) A union steward must design 50% of all HR policies.
D) Record keeping is decentralized.
E) The HR department becomes smaller.

Question 64

The group of employees in a firm, plant, or industry that has been recognized by an employer or certified by a LRB as appropriate for collective bargaining purposes is known as a labour union.

Question 65

Collective bargaining is the negotiations that take place between management and employees directly.

Question 66

In many collective agreements, seniority is the governing factor in layoffs and a(n) ________ factor in transfers and promotions.

A) unique
B) determining
C) first
D) important
E) sufficient

Question 67

Kate's organization is now unionized, so the HR department will hire a

A) labour relations specialist.
B) recruitment specialist.
C) training specialist.
D) line manager.
E) compensation specialist.

Question 68

The basis of a firm's labour relations strategy is the decision to accept or avoid unions.

Question 69

The final and binding process, through which disputes arising out of the interpretation or application of a collective agreement are settled, is known as

A) arbitration.
B) interest arbitration.
C) final offer selection.
D) rights arbitration.
E) mediation-arbitration.

Question 70

Unlike conciliators and mediators, arbitrators can impose a settlement.

Question 71

Global competition is forcing employers to become more militant and causing unions to struggle to maintain their influence at the bargaining table.

Question 72

An off-site setting is preferred for negotiations because it minimizes disruptions, interruptions, and misinterpretations.

Question 73

Managers often prefer to place greater weight on ________, while unions want more emphasis placed on ________.

A) attitude; seniority
B) ability/merit; seniority
C) certification; merit
D) physical ability; merit
E) loyalty; seniority

Question 74

The primary goal of the labour unions active in Canada is to obtain job security for their members.

Question 75

There must be a clause in every collective agreement forbidding strikes or lockouts during the life of the contract.

Question 76

Union membership in Canada has been declining rapidly as a percentage of both the civilian labour force and non-agricultural paid workers.

Question 77

In preparation for bargaining, unions generally hold a meeting that is open to all bargaining unit members, at which individuals have the opportunity to suggest items for inclusion in union's demands.

Question 78

A wildcat strike may be legal or illegal, depending on its timing.

Question 79

The grievance procedure provides the opportunity for the interpretation of contract language.

Question 80

The primary purpose of the grievance procedure is to

A) call to the attention of union and management leaders areas of the contract requiring clarification or modification in subsequent negotiations.
B) resolve issues that were not anticipated by those at the bargaining table.
C) serve as a communications device.
D) interpret the contract language.
E) ensure the application of the contract with a degree of justice for both parties.