Deck 16: Unionmanagement Relations

Question 1

The long-term decline in the U.S. union membership has been attributed to the:

A) shift in jobs from service industries to manufacturing industries.
B) perception by firms that dealing with unions is expensive.
C) increase in blue-collar jobs in manufacturing.
D) increase in economic prosperity.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which of the following is true of unions in the United States?

A) They typically try to improve working conditions.
B) They typically avoid interfering with workplace rules.
C) They typically try to decrease compensation.
D) They typically avoid taking decisions through collective action.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of an industrial union?

A) The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees
B) The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
C) International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers
D) National Labor Relations

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Union membership, as a percentage of the U.S. civilian workforce, has:

A) remained constant over the years.
B) decreased over the years.
C) mostly remained steady with slight increases during certain time periods.
D) steadily decreased till the mid-90's and then increased considerably.

Question 5

A(n) _____ is a union in which all members do the same type of work, often using specialized skills and training.

A) craft union
B) federation
C) industrial union
D) international union

Question 6

Meatpacking workers, nursing home aides, building cleaners, and janitors are being targeted by unions for the purpose of union membership growth because these workers:

A) are more politically radical than other workers.
B) are relatively dissatisfied with their jobs.
C) tend to be very hostile toward their employers.
D) are uneducated and are susceptible to union arguments.

Question 7

Which of the following statements is true of the wages of employees in the United States?

A) Union members always receive more benefits than nonunion employees.
B) The wages paid to union and nonunion members differ in the private sector.
C) Union wages equaled nonunion wages only after the global recession of 2009.
D) Union workers frequently get compensated better in terms of pay than do nonunion workers.

Question 8

Which of the following U.S. unions founded in 1938 focused on semiskilled and unskilled workers?

A) The American Federation of Labor
B) The AFL-CIO
C) The Congress of Industrial Organizations
D) The Change to Win association

Question 9

A(n) _____ is a formal association of workers that promotes the interests of its members primarily through collective action.

A) employment contract
B) union
C) trade fair
D) cartel

Question 10

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

A) Mexican organizations have increased wages so that U.S. firms no longer have a cost advantage while moving low-skill jobs to Mexico.
B) Mexico has moved several manufacturing industries to the United States, thus providing employment opportunities to unionized workers.
C) U.S. firms with unionized workforces have moved low-skill jobs to Mexico, thus reducing union membership.
D) Low tariffs and restrictions have allowed U.S. firms to sell more products to Mexico, thus increasing employment for union members.

Question 11

In an organization, which of the following strategies can be employed to prevent unionization?

A) Warning those employees who talk to union officials
B) Providing incentives to dissuade employees from forming unions
C) Encouraging greater employee feedback and offering better compensation
D) Monitoring the interactions of employees with union representatives and acting accordingly

Question 12

Which of the following is an advantage of union representation in organizations?

A) High productivity due to increasing compensation
B) Consistent increase in profitability of organizations
C) Efficient allocation of organizational resources
D) Opportunity to provide feedback to employers

Question 13

Which of the following factors is responsible for a growth in the unionization of medical professionals?

A) The shortage of qualified medical staff and the consequent overwork
B) The loss of control of patient-care decisions due to managed care
C) The declining income for medical workers over the last decade
D) The eroding sense of professionalism among physicians and nurses

Question 14

One of the primary reasons for the unionization of employees in the United States is the:

A) dissatisfaction with how they are treated by their employers.
B) lack of performance-linked bonuses in organizations.
C) economic cycles that determine the profitability in an organization.
D) promotion of unionization by the federal government.

Question 15

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

A) agricultural sector.
B) manufacturing sector.
C) government sector.
D) mining sector.

Question 16

In the United States, why do laws prohibit police officers and firefighters from conducting strikes?

A) Strikes are unethical because police officers are equivalent to military officers.
B) Strikes by firefighters may endanger public health and safety.
C) Strikes are expensive and time-consuming to carry out.
D) Strikes are contradictory to the governing philosophies of public service.

Question 17

Which of the following is true of the view that white-collar workers have about unions?

A) Most union members belong to minority groups.
B) Unions prefer women in low-skill jobs as members.
C) Union members frequently encounter unfair and inequitable treatment.
D) Unions are not in touch with the concerns of the more educated workers.

Question 18

Why are unions considered to be victims of their own successes?

A) Unions have managed to earn several benefits for workers but this has resulted in
A general perception by firms that dealing with unions is expensive.
B) Workers are strongly intimidated by union activities despite the efforts unions have put in for the benefit of workers.
C) Unions have succeeded in passing several laws successfully for the welfare of workers, but mostly through illegal means.
D) Unions have passed most of the important issues that affect workers into law and are no longer considered necessary.

Question 19

The Change to Win association has attempted to counteract the overall decline in the U.S. union membership by:

A) reducing membership dues and initiation fees.
B) organizing workers in economically underdeveloped countries.
C) boycotting states with "employer-friendly" laws.
D) organizing low-paid individuals in service industries.

Question 20

_____ deal with unionized employees in organizations where human resource professionals have limited involvement with labor relations.

A) Top managements
B) Board of directors
C) Operating managers
D) Labor-law consulting firms

Question 21

Before a union election can be called, _____ of the employees in the targeted employee group must sign authorization cards of the union.

A) a majority
B) two-thirds
C) more than 40 percent
D) at least 30 percent

Question 22

The contract between the management of a company and its union is due to expire in 30 days. If the management and the union fail to successfully negotiate a contract within 30 days due unsettled disputes, the Taft-Hartley Act requires them to notify the _____.

A) National Labor Relations Board
B) Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
C) American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations
D) U.S. Secretary of Labor

Question 23

Samuel applies for work with a local construction company that is located in a country that does not have right-to-work laws. He is told that he must join the employee union at the company so as to be hired. This employer has a(n) _____ shop.

A) closed
B) union
C) agency
D) open

Question 24

Colleen, an active union member, applies for a job at a company that her union has targeted so that she can start organizing efforts in favor of the union. She is also being paid by the union for her efforts. Which of the following practices is Colleen employing?

A) Embedding
B) Salting
C) Corporate intelligence
D) Subversion

Question 25

In 1936 in the United States, airlines and their employees were added to those covered by the:

A) Wagner Act.
B) Taft-Hartley Act
C) Airline Employment Act.
D) Railway Labor Act.

Question 26

Which of the following laws has been called the Magna Carta of labor and was pro-union?

A) The Wagner Act
B) The Landrum-Griffin Act
C) The Railway Labor Act
D) The Taft-Hartley Act

Question 27

Right-to-work laws:

A) promote full-employment in unionized industries.
B) restrict compulsory union membership.
C) require that all union members have legal visas.
D) prohibit unions' organizing efforts during work hours.

Question 28

A union shop requires:

A) job applicants to have a "union card" to be considered for employment.
B) employees to join the union, usually 30 to 60 days after being hired.
C) employees who refuse to join the union to pay a special fee for representative services from the union.
D) a union to represent an entire group of employees at a company, including nonmembers of the union.

Question 29

A(n) _____ shop is an arrangement that makes workers who don't join a union to make payments equal to union dues and fees to get union representation services.

A) restricted
B) union
C) open
D) agency

Question 30

Monica, an active member of a local union, runs the local headquarters and provides assistance to all union members. She helps employees negotiate contracts with their managements and actively works toward increasing the union's strength. Monica plays the role of a(n) _____.

A) business agent
B) administrative consultant
C) union steward
D) lobbyist

Question 31

Gloria, an active member of a local union and an employee of Bargello Inc., is elected as the first-line representative of Bargello's unionized workers. She discusses the grievances of the employees with their supervisors and represents employees at the workplace. Gloria plays the role of an elected _____.

A) union leader
B) union officer
C) union steward
D) business agent

Question 32

Which of the following represents a group of autonomous national and international unions?

A) Craft unions
B) Industrial unions
C) Congresses
D) Federations

Question 33

The _____, which prohibited employers from using unfair labor practices, declared that the official policy of the U.S. government was to encourage collective bargaining.

A) Railway Labor Act
B) Landrum-Griffin Act
C) Wagner Act
D) Taft-Hartley Act

Question 34

In 1932, the U.S. Congress passed the _____ which guaranteed workers some rights to organize and restricted the issuance of court injunctions in labor disputes.

A) Landrum-Griffin Act
B) Railway Labor Act
C) Norris-LaGuardia Act
D) Wagner Act

Question 35

The Railway Labor Act (RLA) of 1926 was the result of a joint effort between railroad management and unions to:

A) regulate the wages and benefits of railroad workers.
B) reduce the number of transportation strikes.
C) break the monopoly of railroad "barons" who controlled the railway industry.
D) allow the President to federalize railroads in the case of emergencies.

Question 36

The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) is a union that consists of members holding various types of jobs in the American mining industry. The UMWA is an example of a(n) _____.

A) craft union
B) industrial union
C) federation
D) international union

Question 37

The Landrum-Griffin Act was passed in 1959 to:

A) give workers the right to engage in union activities at any time except work hours.
B) reduce strikes by developing third-party arbitration and mediation tools.
C) prohibit unfair labor practices by employers and union officials.
D) ensure that the federal government protects the democratic rights of union members.

Question 38

Which of the following laws passed in 1947 is considered to be pro-management?

A) The Norris-LaGuardia Act
B) The Railway Labor Act
C) The Taft-Hartley Act
D) The Wagner Act

Question 39

Which of the following is a result of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978?

A) Federal contractors cannot hire replacement workers during a strike.
B) Pension funds of federal unions have been guaranteed by the government.
C) Federal employees in all agencies are guaranteed the right to strike.
D) It established the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA).

Question 40

Which of the following is true in the context of a union representation election?

A) The Railway Labor Act places certain restrictions on the activities of the unions and managements before an election.
B) Supervisors cannot be included in bargaining units for unionization purposes, except in industries covered by the Railway Labor Act.
C) A union should gain 50% of the votes to be named as the representative of all the employees.
D) The larger is the number of employees in a bargaining unit, the higher is the likelihood that the union will win.

Question 41

The process whereby representatives of management and workers negotiate over wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment is called:

A) joint decision-making.
B) collective bargaining.
C) contract arbitration.
D) bipartite negotiation.

Question 42

After a series of failed negotiations with its union, Sinclair Processing Inc. shuts down its manufacturing unit in order to prevent union members from working. Sinclair Processing is using a _____ to put pressure on the union.

A) pre-emptive strike
B) counter strike
C) vandalism
D) lockout

Question 43

During a contract negotiation, the management of RMS, Inc. and its employee union fail to reach an agreement on an issue related to night shift pay scales. A neutral third party is called in to actively work with both sides and help them reach a settlement. This party suggests several ideas that could help in solving the issue. The process used by the third party in the given scenario is referred to as:

A) arbitration.
B) mediation.
C) fact-finding.
D) conciliation.

Question 44

Amanda is suspended by her manager for refusing to work on night shifts. She decides to file a grievance with the human resources unit in her company. Which of the following should be Amanda's first step?

A) Contacting the grievance division of the company's national union
B) Filing a written complaint with the national union of the company
C) Discussing the grievance with her union steward and supervisor
D) Applying for arbitration to settle the grievance

Question 45

In the United States, unions have typically focused primarily on:

A) avoiding changes that can replace workers with machines.
B) increasing industrial democracy in workplaces.
C) wages, benefits, job security, and working conditions.
D) integration with ruling governmental and political power.

Question 46

The responsibilities of a human resources unit while handling grievances in a unionized company include:

A) operating within provisions of the grievance procedure.
B) documenting grievance cases for grievance procedures.
C) engaging in grievance prevention efforts.
D) monitoring the trends in grievance rates.

Question 47

During a contract negotiation, the management of Wild Mist Inc. and its employee union fail to reach an agreement on an issue related to retirement benefits. A neutral third party is called in to come up with a solution, make the necessary decisions, and reach a settlement. The process used by the third party in the given scenario is referred to as:

A) fact-finding.
B) conciliation.
C) arbitration.
D) mediation.

Question 48

Which of the following can be considered as a union security provision?

A) Closed union shops
B) Right-to-work laws
C) No-solicitation policy
D) No-layoff policy

Question 49

Unions must always report how much money they utilize for union-based political pursuits.

Question 50

Providing incentives to employees to dissuade them from organizing is a popular legal strategy used by employers to prevent unionization.

Question 51

The practice whereby union or worker representatives are given positions on a company's board of directors is called:

A) collusion.
B) cooperation.
C) codetermination.
D) tripartite negotiation.

Question 52

The process by which union members vote to accept the terms of a negotiated labor agreement is called:

A) authorization.
B) certification.
C) acceptance.
D) ratification.

Question 53

During a contract negotiation, the negotiator for a union brings up the issue of changing the manner in which work is scheduled. Which of the following is true of this situation?

A) The management need not negotiate on this issue because it is a permissive issue.
B) The management needs to negotiate on this issue as it is a mandatory issue.
C) This is a non-negotiable issue because scheduling is part of the management's rights.
D) This is an illegal issue and the management may refuse to negotiate.

Question 54

_____ is a means by which a third party settles disputes arising from different interpretations of a labor contract.

A) Interest arbitration
B) Grievance mediation
C) Grievance arbitration
D) Contract mediation

Question 55

A major reason for employee unionization in the United States is the hiring of immigrant workers for low wages by employers.

Question 56

_____ strikes exist when members of one union walk out to force the employer to assign work to them instead of to members of another union.

A) Economic
B) Jurisdictional
C) Sympathy
D) Wildcat

Question 57

A union is removed as the representative of a group of employees by the process of:

A) union busting.
B) delisting.
C) deunionization.
D) decertification.

Question 58

Which of the following bargaining patterns is relatively rare in U.S. labor history and is illegal?

A) Conflict
B) Collusion
C) Armed truce
D) Power bargaining

Question 59

Which of the following is true regarding international union membership?

A) In Europe, workers use technology to reform the way work gets done in factories.
B) Child labor is one of the major labor concerns in the Unites States.
C) The highest percentage of union membership is in the Scandinavian countries.
D) Codetermination is increasingly being practiced in developing countries.

Question 60

The union contract between the union and the management of Gable Electronics Inc. includes a no-strike clause that is valid till the date of the contract's expiry. When a supervisor threatens salary cut for those unionized employees who refuse to work on a few weekends, the employees conduct a strike. The employees are resorting to a(n) _____ strike.

A) jurisdiction
B) unfair labor practices
C) wildcat
D) economic

Question 61

At least two-thirds of the employees in the targeted group in a company must sign authorization cards before an election can be called.

Question 62

The practice of salting, which refers to paying union members to infiltrate an employer and organize workers, is a violation of the Wagner Act.

Question 63

The retirement of union members in older manufacturing firms has led to union membership decline.

Question 64

Issues pertaining to safety rules and profit-sharing plans are mandatory subjects for bargaining.

Question 65

Presenting employees with information about unions is an unfair labor practice.

Question 66

In the United States, employees in the public sector are more likely to be union members than employees in the private sector.

Question 67

The Landrum-Griffin Act appointed the U.S. Secretary of Labor to act as a watchdog of union conduct.

Question 68

The Wagner Act established the National Labor Relations Board as an independent entity to enforce the provisions of the act.

Question 69

Hiring "union busters" during the organizing campaign of a union is an unfair labor practice.

Question 70

Right-to-work laws allow a person the right to work without having to join a union.

Question 71

The process of conciliation is intended to resolve collective bargaining impasses by proposing potential solutions to the involved parties.

Question 72

Mailing antiunion letters to employees' homes is an illegal union prevention method.

Question 73

"Interest" arbitration is used extensively in the private sector in the United States.

Question 74

A decision by the National Labor Relations Board prohibits temporary workers to be included in attempts to unionize firms.

Question 75

It is illegal for employers to forbid distribution of union literature during work hours in work areas.

Question 76

The Taft-Hartley Act allows the U.S. Senate to declare that a strike presents a national emergency.

Question 77

The relationship between a union and a company's management in the United States alternates between accommodation and collusion.

Question 78

A union steward is a full-time union official who operates the union office and assists union members.

Question 79

It is common for wages and benefits to be higher in unionized firms.

Question 80

The Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 prohibits postal workers from striking and has established a dispute-resolution process for them to follow.