Deck 1: Union-Management Relationships in Perspective

Question 1

Work rules,while complex in nature,have a common dimension since the all pertain to compensation for work performed.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

The growth in part-time employment also has a small,but significant,positive impact on union density.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Significant employee pension and health care benefit gains under union contracts are now referred to as "high legacy costs" by unionized employers.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Arbitrators differ from mediators because arbitrators are almost always appointed by the government to resolve strikes in the private sector.

Question 5

Negotiation of the labor agreement occurs during the third phase of the labor relations process.

Question 6

Mediators have binding legal authority to require the parties to settle an interest dispute,but they often first restrict themselves to offering advice to help each party to clarify their own priorities and assessment of costs or risks associated with failing to reach a voluntary agreement.

Question 7

"Employees' often represent the least significant participant category in the labor relations process since their actions are controlled by union leaders and/or management officials.

Question 8

One general category of work rules pertains to employees' and employers' job rights.

Question 9

Union density is one measure of relative union strength or potential influence.

Question 10

"Employees" need to be viewed as a separate category of participants since they can have loyalties to both the employer and union organizations.

Question 11

Public opinion of institutions in general is low in the United States.

Question 12

Arbitrators,unlike mediators do not have authority to make final and binding decision concerning labor disputes.

Question 13

Public opinion reflects influential individuals and/or organizations as well as cultural values and traditions.

Question 14

Although union leaders are usually elected by the members,members and leaders do not completely agree on bargaining priorities.

Question 15

Public opinion,while a potentially powerful influence,pertains only to the first phase of the labor relations process,particularly union organizing drives.

Question 16

The employees' age,race,and ethnic background might influence whether particular work rules are found in the labor agreement.

Question 17

Work rules in organizations where employees are unrepresented (no union)are typically not determined unilaterally by management.

Question 18

Regarding the management organization,labor relations managers and representatives are often found at the corporate,divisional,and plant levels.

Question 19

Many of today's fastest growing occupations are on opposite ends of the level of education and skills required for effective job performance.

Question 20

Union membership in the United States has shown a steady decline as a proportion of the total labor force (i.e.,comprising all employed persons 16 years of age or older).

Question 21

The product market:

A) is where the company either sells its product or purchases key elements for its manufacture or can make management more vulnerable.
B) is basically an irrelevant influence on the labor relations process and is where the company either sells it product or purchases key elements for its manufacture.
C) is basically an irrelevant influence on the labor relations process.
D) can make management more vulnerable.
E) is where the company either sells it product or purchases key elements for its manufacture.

Question 22

__________ are third-party neutrals hired by the union and management officials to make a final and binding decision on a disputed issue.

A) Arbitrators
B) Mediators
C) Retired company presidents
D) all of the above
E) none of these

Question 23

An analysis of 40 years of The New York Times columns concerning labor unions found that the frequency of strikes has:

A) reached a record high.
B) been exaggerated.
C) remained relatively constant from one year to the next.
D) can't be determined since the required statistics were not kept until 1985.
E) widely fluctuated from one year to the next.

Question 24

The "focal point" of labor relations represents:

A) the government.
B) work rules.
C) public opinion.
D) union and management officials.
E) all of these

Question 25

One union estimate found that management consultants hired to counter a union organizing campaign were:

A) ridiculed by employees who overwhelmingly voted for union representation.
B) seldom if ever used by corporations.
C) involved in 75 percent of the union organizing campaigns.
D) none of these
E) all of these

Question 26

The negotiation of compensation for and number of intervals for bus drivers reflects which technological component?

A) Tasks to be performed.
B) Equipment used.
C) The pace of work.
D) none of these
E) all of these

Question 27

"Probationary work periods" would be most desired by management when the labor market:

A) has a low unemployment rate and a low number of unskilled employees.
B) has a low unemployment rate.
C) has a low number of unskilled employees
D) has a high unemployment rate and many skilled employees.
E) has a high number of unskilled employees.

Question 28

Work rules:

A) must be specific in nature.
B) reflect the dynamic nature of labor management relationships and are sometimes applicable to many occupations.
C) reflect the dynamic nature of labor management relationships and must be specific in nature.
D) are sometimes applicable to many occupations.
E) reflect the dynamic nature of labor management relationships.

Question 29

Union officials seek to enhance public opinion by:

A) getting organized labor's positive message out to the community and forming alliances with various groups in the community.
B) monitoring and reacting to negative comments made in the media.
C) forming alliances with various groups in the community.
D) getting organized labor's positive message out to the community.
E) all of these

Question 30

The mass media:

A) generally have a pro labor bias and helped bring several businesses to Peoria, Illinois, by publicizing labor management cooperation at Caterpillar.
B) often serve as a generator and conduit of community opinion and helped bring several businesses to Erie, PA by publicizing labor management cooperation at Caterpillar.
C) helped bring several businesses to Erie, PA, by publicizing labor management cooperation at Caterpillar.
D) often serve as a generator and conduit of community opinion.
E) generally have a pro labor bias.

Question 31

Technology is an external variable that influences the development of work rules.Which of the following represent a dimension of technology?

A) characteristics of the work environment and the tasks to be performed
B) equipment used in operation
C) information exchange
D) the pace and scheduling of work
E) all of the above

Question 32

"Technology" includes:

A) tasks to be performed.
B) pace of work.
C) characteristics of the work environment.
D) all of these.
E) characteristics of the work environment and tasks to be performed.

Question 33

Management purchases of automated equipment:

A) can reduce the number and/or skills of employees in the supermarket industry.
B) precipitated a strike at AT&T.
C) has been encouraged by the tremendous success of the U.S. Postal Service's automated experience with bar codes.
D) is currently at a higher rate than that found in Japan.
E) all of these

Question 34

When the North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA)was passed,it:

A) substantially lowered the wages of Mexican employees, such as truck drivers, in comparison to their U.S. counterparts.
B) contained a 25-year phase-in to increase tariffs between Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.
C) was unsuccessfully opposed by organized labor.
D) all of these
E) contained a 25-year phase-in to increase tariffs between Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. and substantially lowered the wages of Mexican employees, such as truck drivers, in comparison to their U.S. counterparts.

Question 35

The sequence of the labor relations process is:

A) random.
B) unpredictable.
C) independent.
D) cumulative.
E) unpredictable and random.

Question 36

The decline in union membership has been attributed to:

A) political and legal conditions governing the workplace.
B) structural changes in the labor force.
C) improved management practices in organizations.
D) all of these
E) none of these adequately explain the decline in union membership.

Question 37

U.S.unions believe that "fair trade" will:

A) serve to raise the living standards of workers in their own countries.
B) ensure that domestic companies can compete effectively in global markets.
C) reduce the labor cost advantage of moving work done by U.S. workers.
D) fostering more cooperation with foreign-based labor organizations.
E) all of these

Question 38

The "labor relations process" occurs when:

A) government dictates labor-management activities.
B) historical aspects of organized labor affect current decision.
C) management and the exclusive bargaining agent (the union) engage in the joint determination and administration of work rules.
D) privately held companies go public.
E) unions find international affiliations.

Question 39

Which of the following "state of the economy" factors is likely to occur?

A) Less union pressure for cost-of-living clauses in inflationary times.
B) More construction union pressure to protect against layoffs if interest rates rise.
C) Unions will be more likely to accept bargaining concessions during unfavorable economic times.
D) all of these
E) More construction union pressure to protect against layoffs if interest rates rise and unions will be more likely to accept bargaining concessions during unfavorable economic times.

Question 40

The labor relations process consists of _______ basic phase(s).

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 5

Question 41

The federal government's role in private sector collective bargaining activities is basically:

A) illegal.
B) direct and prohibited.
C) direct.
D) prohibited.
E) indirect.