Question 1

The employees at Wegners Market were interested in unionizing because they saw statistics showing that union workers are more likely to have guaranteed pensions than nonunion employees. They were motivated by

Accepted Answer

The employees' motivation for unionizing is based on an economic need - the desire for a guaranteed pension.

Question 2

Technological advances in computer science and automated operating systems have lowered the demand for certain types of employees, who have traditionally been unionized.

Accepted Answer

Technological advances have led to automation and the use of computer systems in various industries, resulting in reduced demand for certain types of workers. This has affected unions that represent workers in those industries.

Question 3

Supervisors may express antiunion opinions as long as those statements are not coercive. However, they may not question employees individually about their union involvement.

Accepted Answer

Supervisors have the right to express their personal opinions about unions as long as they do not coerce employees. However, they cannot question employees individually about their involvement with a union. This would be considered interference and could be illegal under the National Labor Relations Act.

Question 4

Rights arbitration is provided for the determination of conflicting interests.

Accepted Answer

Rights arbitration is used to interpret or apply existing rights or agreements, not to determine conflicting interests. Interest arbitration is used for determining conflicting interests, such as in collective bargaining disputes.

Question 5

The fair representation doctrine settles disputes over the meaning of contract terms.

Accepted Answer

The fair representation doctrine is a principle that applies to labor unions and requires them to represent all members equally and without discrimination. It does not have a direct impact on contract disputes or the interpretation of contract terms.

Question 6

Energized organizing results in unions targeting recent immigrants, among other ignored work groups.

Accepted Answer

Energized organizing, which is a model of unionism that emphasizes targeting ignored and marginalized work groups, often focuses on recent immigrants as a group with particularly urgent and pressing needs for representation and support.

Question 7

Terry Moser, an organizer for the Teamsters, gives five progressive steps that can lead to unionization. Which step has as one of its purposes to identify employees who can help the organizer direct the campaign?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Terry Moser, an organizer for the Teamsters,...

Question 8

Illegal acts by either employers or unions that deny employees their rights and benefits are called

Accepted Answer

Illegal acts by employers or unions that deny employees their rights and benefits are called unfair labor practices. This includes things like discrimination, retaliation against employees who engage in protected activities, and interfering with employee rights to unionize. The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) outlines what constitutes unfair labor practices and provides a process for employees to file complaints and seek remedies.

Question 9

Elaine saw statistics showing that union employees make an average of 30 percent more than nonunion workers, so when she was looking for a new job, she looked for one at a company that was unionized. Elaine was motivated by

Accepted Answer

Elaine's motivation was based on economic needs, as she wanted to make more money by joining a union. The other options do not seem to be relevant to this scenario.

Question 10

A union member brought a grievance to the union rep. Because the union considered it to be a weak case that it would probably lose, the union most likely will not take it to arbitration for the fear of losing member support.

Accepted Answer

Unions have a duty of fair representation, which means they must represent all members fairly, without discrimination, and without regard to the strength or weakness of a grievance. They cannot refuse to take a case to arbitration solely because they fear losing or losing member support.

Question 11

In an attempt to increase unionism, unions are now targeting low-wage service workers.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Unions have been focusing on organizing low-wage service workers in recent years in an attempt to increase union membership and support for workers in industries like fast food, retail, and hospitality.

Question 12

Joe wanted to join a union so that he could take advantage of the equality and teamwork brought about through union membership. Joe was motivated by

Accepted Answer

Joe's motivation to join a union for equality and teamwork aligns with social and status needs, as these needs pertain to feeling part of a group and achieving a sense of belonging and respect among peers.

Question 13

Employees at Wegners Market began unionizing activities after a series of promotions and job transfers at the firm were handled in a biased manner. They were motivated by

Accepted Answer

The employees' motivation to unionize due to biased handling of promotions and job transfers indicates dissatisfaction with management practices, rather than economic, political, or social/status needs.

Question 14

An arbitration award should include not just a decision, but the rationale for it, in order to provide guidance for future interpretation.

Accepted Answer

An arbitration award should include not just the decision itself, but also the reasoning or rationale behind it. This provides guidance and clarity for the parties involved and for future interpretation of the decision.

Question 15

Arbitration hearings are formal court proceedings held in a court of law.

Accepted Answer

Arbitration hearings are not held in a court of law. They are usually held in a private setting outside the court system.

Question 16

Employees at Seyall Industries felt that they didn't have enough opportunity to participate in decisions that affected their welfare. This led to unionizing efforts, which were motivated by

Accepted Answer

The fact that employees felt they didn't have enough opportunity to participate in decisions that affected their welfare shows their dissatisfaction with management. This dissatisfaction led to unionizing efforts, indicating that the employees wanted a collective voice in decision-making processes. Ultimately, this was not just about economic or social needs but rather a desire for greater control over their work environment.

Question 17

It is the arbitrator's responsibility to ensure that each side receives a fair hearing.

Accepted Answer

As a neutral third party, the arbitrator's main duty is to ensure that both sides are given a fair opportunity to present their case and that the outcome of the arbitration is impartial and objective.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a reason that employees may want to unionize based on economic needs?

Accepted Answer

Option A pertains to issues of fairness and bias in promotions, transfers, and shift assignments, which fall under the category of procedural justice rather than economic need. Options B, C, and D all relate directly to economic benefits associated with unionization.

Question 19

Employees who want to unionize to get the opportunity to fraternize with other employees who have similar concerns are motivated by

Accepted Answer

The motivation for employees to unionize to fraternize is social and status needs. These employees want to connect with others who have similar concerns and feel a sense of belonging to a group with shared goals. Economic needs may also play a role, but the primary motivation in this scenario is social. Dissatisfaction with management or political needs are not particularly relevant to the desire to fraternize with other employees in a labor union context.

Question 20

Recent statistics show total union membership to be about 33 percent of the civilian labor force.

Accepted Answer

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the total union membership in 2020 was 10.8 percent of the civilian labor force.

Quiz 14: The Dynamics of Labor Relations