Deck 14: Understanding Unionization and Collective Bargaining

Question 1

One major function of the National Labor Relations Board is to:

A) conduct the process in which a union is chosen to represent employees
B) supervise the internal activities and finances of unions
C) settle employee-employer disputes
D) encourage the certification of unions
E) reduce the number of economic strikes

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Edgar is a reporter for the business section of the local newspaper. In order to have better knowledge of the inner workings of the union for the town's largest employer, he has obtained permission to sit in on a regular monthly meeting on a "deep background" basis. According to your textbook, Edgar is likely to be struck by _____.

A) the enthusiasm and "gung ho" spirit of the membership
B) the low voter turnout
C) a tire iron
D) the high turnout at the meeting
E) the attendance of middle management

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The steady decline of membership in unions in the United States can be explained by:

A) a decline in employment in industries that are highly unionized
B) an increase in service-sector employment
C) increased decertification of unions and management initiatives
D) an increase in high tech and white-collar jobs
E) all of the above

Answer 3

E

Question 4

Which of the following is not a reason why many unions merged?

A) to end costly jurisdictional disputes between unions
B) to gain more financial strength
C) to cover industries and occupations previously underrepresented
D) to increase efficiency in union-organizing efforts
E) to support the move toward global expansion

Question 5

_______________ clauses in collective bargaining agreements detail the specific grounds for discipline or provide a general statement that discipline can only occur for proper and just reasons.

A) Absolution
B) Probable cause
C) Reasonable doubt
D) Just cause
E) Impropriety

Question 6

National unions:

A) are umbrella organizations like the AFL-CIO
B) are all affiliated with the AFL-CIO
C) develop the general policies and procedures by which local unions operate
D) serve as the primary arbitrator in employee-employer disputes
E) routinely assist local unions in grievance-handling

Question 7

The majority of union members in the United States are:

A) private sector employees
B) service-sector employees
C) health-care employees
D) government employees
E) none of the above

Question 8

Which of the following laws is NOT among the laws that have been passed to provide legitimacy, structure, and governance to unions:

A) Title VII of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978
B) National Labor Relations Act of 1935
C) Labor Management Relations Act of 1947
D) Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959
E) Labor Management Anticorruption Act of 1963

Question 9

Germaine has been hired full-time by a large local teacher's union to handle their grievances and contract negotiations. Germaine's new job title is _____.

A) negotiator
B) steward
C) spokesperson
D) liaison
E) business representative

Question 10

Which of the following statements about why unionization and collective bargaining are important is true?

A) Employers typically do not change their methods of operation when union organizers appear.
B) The core of union-management relations is the grievance procedure.
C) Unionization typically gives employers more flexibility in hiring new workers.
D) Unions can help employees get high wages, generous benefits, and other desirable conditions of employment.
E) All of the above statements about why unionization and collective bargaining are important are true.

Question 11

In the chapter opener vignette "Managing Human Resources at United Parcel Service," __________ and the use of part-time workers were important issues in the strike between the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) and UPS in 1997.

A) pensions
B) discipline
C) grievance procedures
D) seniority
E) job security

Question 12

Which of the following groups provide the best opportunity for growth in union membership?

A) younger workers
B) minorities
C) women
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 13

Local unions elect a(n) _____, an employee elected by his or her work unit to act as the union representative at the workplace and to respond to company actions against employees that may violate the labor agreement.

A) employee spokesperson
B) union liaison
C) union steward
D) business representative
E) union delegate

Question 14

What type of union-management relationship is becoming increasingly common today?

A) adversarial
B) cooperative
C) reciprocal
D) administrative
E) paternal

Question 15

The largest national union is:

A) National Education Association (NEA)
B) Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
C) American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
D) International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT)
E) United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW)

Question 16

Which of the following statements about why unionization and collective bargaining are important is true?

A) Unions obtain rights for their members that employees without unions do not legally have.
B) Unions may help identify workplace hazards and improve the quality of work life for employees.
C) The core of union-management relations is collective bargaining.
D) The possibility of unionization can significantly influence how an employer manages its human resources.
E) All of the above statements about why unionization and collective bargaining are important are true.

Question 17

__________ is the industry with the highest unionization rate

A) Educational services
B) Construction
C) Health care
D) Transportation and warehousing
E) None of the above

Question 18

__________ employees tend to have higher salaries and substantially more benefits than __________ employees. Thus, _________ firms tend to have __________ labor costs than similar _________ firms.

A) Unionized, nonunionized, nonunionized, higher, unionized
B) Nonnionized, unionized, unionized, lower, nonunionized
C) Unionized, nonunionized, unionized, higher, nonunionized
D) Nonunionized, unionized, higher, nonunionized
E) None of the above are correct.

Question 19

Which of the following statements about the early days of unions is true?

A) The beginning of the labor movement in the United States was after the Civil War during the early days of industrialization.
B) Early unions were immune to changes in economic conditions.
C) Early unions used collective bargaining.
D) Early unions all operated independently of each other.
E) All of the above statements about the early days of unions are true.

Question 20

Most large local unions elect a president and a secretary-treasurer and hire a full-time _____ to handle grievances and negotiate contracts.

A) employee spokesperson
B) union liaison
C) union steward
D) business representative
E) union delegate

Question 21

Which of the following is an example of a condition that strongly influences an employee's decision to join a union?

A) organizational mission statement
B) union instrumentality
C) employee personality
D) management's open door policy
E) a lack of formalization

Question 22

What happens once the union begins the campaign to collect authorization cards?

A) If the union gets 75 percent or more of the qualified employees to sign the cards, the employer must accept the union as a bargaining agent.
B) If the union gets at least 50 percent or more of the qualified employees to sign the cards, the NLRB must conduct an election.
C) The union needs 30 percent or more of the qualified employees to sign the cards in order to petition the NLRB for an election.
D) The employer usually resists the union's card-signing campaign.
E) The employer typically supports the union's card-signing campaign in order to reduce disruption in the workplace during the campaign.

Question 23

The check-out clerks at a large grocery store are in negotiations with management. The last remaining issue to settle is the hourly wage. In their earlier meetings, the clerks' bargaining committee has decided that although they are demanding $9.50 an hour, they will settle for nothing less than $8.75. Management's bargaining committee has decided that their highest offer will be $8.50. This situation is an example of _____.

A) a negative settlement range
B) a positive settlement range
C) an incompatible settlement range
D) a distributive settlement range
E) a settlement range of $.25

Question 24

Which of the following statements during the election campaign would probably be viewed negatively by the NLRB?

A) Management says that unions are costly to the employees because of union dues.
B) Management says that if a union is formed, strikes may occur.
C) The union promises that a grievance procedure will ensure fair treatment of employees
D) The union promises higher wages.
E) Management says that layoffs will occur if a union is elected.

Question 25

During the first stage of the union certification process, employers must be careful not to:

A) misrepresent the facts about the union
B) threaten employees with pay reductions if they support a union
C) allow solicitation by union activists
D) make unscheduled changes in wages, benefits, or hours
E) all of the above activities are prohibited

Question 26

Last year, Mukluk, Inc., a small family-owned manufacturer of mud and snow boots was bought by a larger organization when the founder of the small firm decided to retire. With the change in management came many changes in policies, procedures and organizational culture. It used to be a "laid-back" and informal organization, where any line employee could talk personally with the founder. Now, rules are strict, production quotas are high, and line employees are grumbling that the supervisors are "slave drivers." What has changed about this organization that will make it prone to unionization?

A) the collective bargaining climate
B) the exclusivity of the employees
C) the psychological contract
D) the situational instrumentality
E) the essentiality of the jobs

Question 27

Decertification elections:

A) are conducted by employers
B) can remove a union from representation
C) are conduced by the local union
D) are conducted by the national union
E) can pre-empt the card-signing campaign

Question 28

Which of the following types of bargaining used in contract negotiation results in a win-lose situation?

A) intraorganizational
B) distributive
C) integrative
D) continuous
E) concessionary

Question 29

In a unionized setting, the union joins the "HR Triad" discussed throughout the text. Which of the following is not one of the union's responsibilities?

A) to maintain traditional work methods
B) to seek improvements in wages for employees
C) to abide by laws and regulations governing legal union activities
D) to offer to work with management to improve company profitability and survival
E) to bargain with line managers and HR professionals

Question 30

What are the responsibilities of line managers in unionization and collective bargaining?

A) to understand why employees are likely to join a union
B) to manage employees with respect and equality
C) to support the efforts of HR professionals in developing and implementing policies to support good working conditions.
D) to know what can and can't be said to employees regarding unionization during an organizing campaign
E) to do all of the above

Question 31

A large private high school is in the midst of a union organizing campaign. Teachers, clerical employees, janitorial employees and groundskeepers are all showing high interest in the union. Which is the most likely composition of the bargaining unit(s)?

A) All school employees will be in one bargaining unit.
B) There will be two units: one for professional employees and one for all other employees.
C) There will be two units: inside employees will be in one unit, with outside employees in another.
D) There will be three units: teachers will be in one unit, clerical employees in another, and all other employees in a third.
E) There will be two units: persons with a high school education or less in one unit and persons with bachelor's degrees or more education will be in the other unit.

Question 32

Which of the following statements about union instrumentality is true?

A) The more employees believe a union can obtain positive work aspects, the more instrumental employees perceive the union to be in removing the causes of their dissatisfaction.
B) Employee willingness to support a union is related strictly to union instrumentality over monetary aspects of employment.
C) Employees are interested in unionization when costs exceed benefits.
D) Union instrumentality reflects the level of dissatisfaction felt by employees.
E) Union instrumentality is determined by the level of decentralization within the organization.

Question 33

Which of the following is not among the responsibilities of union and their officers under the Landrum-Griffin Act?

A) Managing funds and property of the union responsibly
B) Bonding all officers who handle funds
C) Filing information and financial reports annually
D) Complying with numerous officer election regulations
E) all of the above are responsibilities of the union and its officers under the act

Question 34

In order for the NLRB to be petitioned for a representation election, union organizers must secure authorization cards from _____ of the company employees who will make up the bargaining unit.

A) 10%
B) 30%
C) 33%
D) 50%
E) 75%

Question 35

Which of the following union statements in favor of card checking is not incorrect according to the findings of labor relations research?

A) Card checking would simplify the certification process by eliminating an election.
B) Card checking would end secret ballot certification elections.
C) Card checking would remove employers' distinct advantage in the election process.
D) Card checking increases workers' knowledge of the union recognition process.
E) Card checking will substantially increase union membership.

Question 36

The check-out clerks at a large grocery store are in negotiations with management. The last remaining issue to settle is the hourly wage. In their earlier meetings, the clerks' bargaining committee has decided that although they are demanding $9.50 an hour, they will settle for nothing less than $8.75. Management's bargaining committee has decided that their highest offer will be $8.50. Union's figure of $8.75 is its _____.

A) initial demand point
B) target point
C) resistance point
D) strike point
E) settlement point

Question 37

Which of the following Bill of Rights for Union Members items is incorrect:

A) Unions may impose assessments and raise dues only by democratic procedures.
B) Union members have equal rights to nominate candidates for union office, vote in union elections, and participate in union meetings.
C) Unions must afford members a full and fair hearing of charges against them.
D) Union members and nonmember employees have the right to receive and inspect a copy of the collective bargaining agreement.
E) Union members may enforce these rights through an arbitration process suit against the union.

Question 38

What is the first step in the union certification process?

A) gain employer approval of unionization
B) union-employee contact
C) get sufficient number of employees to sign authorization cards
D) set up a meeting between employees and an NLRB representative
E) inform all stakeholders of union interest

Question 39

If a certification election is held, and the union loses, how soon can a new election be held?

A) the next month
B) in six months
C) in one year
D) never, a new union would have to petition to be certified
E) there is no time restriction on certification elections

Question 40

Which of the following describes an employee who would most likely be able to force an employer to improve work conditions?

A) Goran is the only person Hartley Construction employs who will clean debris from work sites.
B) Bill is a skillful market researcher for a marketing consulting firm.
C) Anna manages a database for a telemarketer and is the only one who understands the system she designed.
D) Karin is the only person in her office who can use the accounting software that the company bought even though it is simple to use.
E) Adam has a commercial driver's license and a twenty-year safe driving record.

Question 41

When the butchers at Acme Meat Processing Company went on strike, its members formed picket lines at grocery stores that carried Acme products. The union members in the picket lines asked shoppers to not buy meat processed by Acme. Their slogan was, "No Acme Baloney!" This union action is called a(n):

A) secondary boycott
B) union support technique
C) primary boycott
D) employee vendetta
E) intermediary involvement device

Question 42

Which of the following is an example of a mandatory issue to be discussed during a collective bargaining session?

A) number of new hires
B) pricing strategy for new products
C) wage rates
D) product design
E) new product development process

Question 43

MegaChemicals, Inc., has reached a bargaining impasse with its chemical workers union. Because of a serious fear of sabotage, the management of MegaChemicals has decided to close down operations until the bargaining impasse is settled. This action is called a(n) _____.

A) unfair labor practice
B) work slowdown
C) management boycott
D) lockout
E) reverse strike

Question 44

The flight attendants at Interstate Airlines are very unhappy with the scheduling practices, but Interstate Airlines' management is not being cooperative on this issue during contract negotiations. Consequently, the flight attendants are continuing to serve drinks to passengers, but they bring the drinks out from the kitchen one cup at a time instead of using the beverage cart. The flight attendants are using the strategy of a(n) _____.

A) passive-aggressive strike
B) work slowdown
C) on-the-job strike
D) boycott
E) customer campaign

Question 45

During contract negotiations, one of the negotiators says to his opposing negotiator, "Let's think out of the box on this problem. We are stuck on trying to divide up the pie. Why don't we try to make the pie bigger? That way we can both benefit." This negotiator is trying to move toward _____ bargaining.

A) intraorganizational
B) distributive
C) integrative
D) continuous
E) concessionary

Question 46

Before negotiations with the union, management needs to:

A) survey employees to find out what union demands are before they are put on the table
B) prepare statistical displays and supportive data that the company will need during negotiations
C) hire a labor relations expert to make sure nothing illegal is agreed to
D) announce across-the-board pay increases
E) confirm its bargaining position with the National Labor Relations Board

Question 47

Which of the following is an example of a permissive issue to be discussed during a collective bargaining session?

A) benefit package
B) number of new hires
C) wage rates
D) overtime pay
E) indirect compensation

Question 48

Which of the following statements about the composition of negotiating committees is true?

A) The employer and the union together select the management representative.
B) Lawyers are not selected as members of negotiating committees.
C) National union representatives are not included in any negotiating committee.
D) The union does not have to have management approval of its representative on the negotiating committee.
E) No one who is not a member of the union or an employee of the organization can be a member of the negotiating committee.

Question 49

Which of the following statements about continuous bargaining as a means of contract negotiation is true?

A) It uses no outside experts because those involved know firsthand the problems that need to be dealt with.
B) It focuses on internal problems rather than external events.
C) It uses an authoritative approach to problem-solving.
D) With continuous bargaining, frequent meetings are held during the life of the contract.
E) All of the above statements about continuous bargaining are true.

Question 50

Before negotiations begin with management, the union should:

A) collect information on the financial situation of the company
B) examine negotiation results at similar companies
C) determine the attitude of management toward various issues as reflected in past negotiations
D) gather information on the attitudes and desires of employees
E) do all of the above

Question 51

The most direct and dramatic response to a union-management negotiation deadlock that the union can make is a:

A) primary boycott
B) work slowdown
C) lockout
D) strike
E) secondary boycott

Question 52

In which of the following industries are you most likely to find wide-area and multicraft bargaining?

A) telecommunications
B) aviation
C) contract construction
D) medical
E) railroad

Question 53

During contract negotiations, it becomes clear that management will either agree to more generous medical benefits or to a moderate hourly wage increase. Older (thus, more senior) union members already make high wages and they have many medical expenses for themselves and their families. Younger (less senior) union members make lower wages and, since they are younger and less likely to be married or have children, they are not very interested in medical benefits. In order for the union to present a united face to management at the bargaining table, what needs to occur here?

A) intraorganizational bargaining
B) distributive bargaining
C) integrative bargaining
D) continuous bargaining
E) concessionary bargaining

Question 54

If, while engaged in a contract negotiation, a union representative were to ask management to use only union-made component parts and materials, it would be an example of a(n) _____ issue.

A) lose-lose
B) zero-sum
C) prohibited
D) make-or-break
E) win-lose

Question 55

When several unions bargain with a single employer, it is called:

A) inclusive
B) coordinated
C) collaborative
D) multiemployee
E) distributive

Question 56

When economic conditions threaten the very existence of the unionized organization, _____ bargaining is often used so the organization can survive.

A) intraorganizational
B) distributive
C) integrative
D) continuous
E) concessionary

Question 57

When a single union negotiates with several companies, the employers may bargain as a group. At the local level this is called _____ bargaining.

A) coordinated
B) distributive
C) collective
D) multiemployer
E) collaborative

Question 58

Which of the following statements is not true about cooperative union-management relationships?

A) the union and management are partners
B) cooperative arrangements are particularly fragile
C) the union is jointly responsible with management for reaching a suitable solution to a business challenge
D) labor and management solve problems, share information, and integrate outcomes.
E) These relationships are more common in the U.S. than in Europe

Question 59

The intention of _____ bargaining between union and management representatives is to focus on creative solutions that reconcile (integrate) the parties' interests and yield joint benefits.

A) integrative
B) continuous
C) concessionary
D) intraorganizational
E) distributive

Question 60

When the butchers at Acme Meat Processing Company went on strike, its members formed picket lines at grocery stores that carried Acme products. The union members in the picket lines asked shoppers not to shop at these stores until they stopped carrying Acme products. This union action is called a(n) _____ and is _____.

A) secondary boycott, illegal
B) union support technique, legal
C) primary boycott, legal
D) employee vendetta, illegal
E) corporate campaign, legal

Question 61

Which of the following statements about grievance procedures is true?

A) The cost of arbitration is always borne by management.
B) Management is typically the party that files the grievance.
C) HR professionals are involved in the grievance procedures at the very first step
D) The first stage in the grievance procedure involves the aggrieved party contacting the union steward.
E) About 50 percent of contracts provide for a grievance procedure

Question 62

Employees have the right to solicit for unions on company property during their personal working hours.

Question 63

By law, only current employees can initially contact union organizers. The union cannot legally contact company employees.

Question 64

Employers usually support the union's authorization card signing campaign to minimize workplace disruption.

Question 65

The traditional relationship between union and management today is adversarial.

Question 66

Early unions were concerned about union shops and the regulation of apprenticeships to prevent the replacement of journeymen employees.

Question 67

Collective bargaining is a complex process in which union members and management negotiators maneuver to win the most advantageous contract. How difficult the issues are to be settled depends on:

A) the quality of the union-management relationship
B) whether the organization is centralized
C) the degree of formalization within the organization
D) the organizational mission
E) all of the above

Question 68

Disciplinary clauses in collective bargaining agreements detail the specific grounds for discipline or provide a general statement that discipline can only occur for proper and just reasons.

Question 69

A certification election determines if the majority of employees want a union.

Question 70

The most common type of union grievance reaching arbitration involves ____________.

A) discipline and discharge
B) allocation of overtime
C) allocation of shift work
D) safety and health
E) improper promotions

Question 71

An arbitrator:

A) is a neutral third party that helps the union and management negotiators reach a voluntary agreement
B) determines the conditions of the agreement that ends the negotiation deadlock
C) may make suggestions and recommendations based on his or her expertise
D) must have the trust and respect of both parties if he or she is to have any success at ending the deadlock
E) has no power to impose a solution

Question 72

Unionization is typically the first recourse of employees who are dissatisfied with some aspect of their jobs.

Question 73

Which of the following is a good measure of how well the union-management negotiation process works?

A) the need for government intervention
B) the duration of contract negotiations
C) the use of mediation and arbitration
D) the outcome of member ratification votes
E) all of the above

Question 74

What is the core of union-management relations?

Question 75

Four important influences on an employee's decision to join a union are dissatisfaction at work, lack of power, management efforts, and union instrumentality.

Question 76

A mediator:

A) is a neutral third party that helps the union and management negotiators reach a voluntary agreement
B) must have the trust and respect of both parties if he or she is to have any success
C) must have sufficient expertise to convince the union and employer he or she will be fair and equitable
D) has no power to impose a solution, he or she can only facilitate
E) is accurately described by all of the above

Question 77

From management's point of view, both cost considerations and smooth daily operations indicate that an effective grievance procedure is one that settles grievances at the _____ stage.

A) first
B) second
C) third
D) fourth (arbitration stage)
E) none of the above stages is preferable to another

Question 78

Unionization is the effort by employees and outside agencies to act as a single unit when dealing with management over issues relating to their work.

Question 79

Unions should have a grievance-handling procedure that aids in effectively processing grievances without being guilty of unfair representation. Unfair representation occurs when the union:

A) dismisses a grievance without investigating its merits
B) directly disregards the employee's interests
C) refuses to investigate a grievance because of the employee's race
D) fails to process the grievance to a reasonable conclusion
E) does any or all of the above

Question 80

Which of the following issues would most likely cause management to lodge a grievance?

A) wage and work schedules
B) absenteeism and discharge
C) discipline over employee substance abuse
D) wildcat strikes
E) outsourcing and part-time workers