Question 1

Union membership in the United States reached its highest in the 1980s.

Accepted Answer

Union membership in the United States peaked in the 1950s, when about one-third of the labor force was unionized. Membership has generally declined since then.

Question 2

MATCHING KEY TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
-Labor contract provisions designed to attract and retain dues-paying members.
A)Fact-finding
B)Wagner Act
C)Dues checkoff
D)Lockout
E)Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)
F)Open shop
G)Maintenance of membership
H)Union security arrangements
I)Railway Labor Act
J)Wildcat strike
K)National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
L)Agency shop
M)Right to work laws
N)Grievance procedure
O)Authorization card

Accepted Answer

Union security arrangements are specifically designed to ensure that employees in a bargaining unit become and remain union members, thereby attracting and retaining dues-paying members.

Question 3

MATCHING KEY TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
-A complaint-resolving process contained in union contracts.
A)Fact-finding
B)Wagner Act
C)Dues checkoff
D)Lockout
E)Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)
F)Open shop
G)Maintenance of membership
H)Union security arrangements
I)Railway Labor Act
J)Wildcat strike
K)National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
L)Agency shop
M)Right to work laws
N)Grievance procedure
O)Authorization card

Accepted Answer

The grievance procedure is the complaint-resolving process contained in union contracts, designed to address and resolve disputes between the employer and union members regarding the interpretation or application of the contract.

Question 4

The Taft-Hartley Act is also referred to as the National Labor Relations Act.

Accepted Answer

The Taft-Hartley Act is actually an amendment to the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, also known as the Wagner Act, and is formally named the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947.

Question 5

MATCHING KEY TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
-A union security arrangement whereby employees must pay union dues to the certified bargaining unit even if they choose not to join the union.
A)Fact-finding
B)Wagner Act
C)Dues checkoff
D)Lockout
E)Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)
F)Open shop
G)Maintenance of membership
H)Union security arrangements
I)Railway Labor Act
J)Wildcat strike
K)National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
L)Agency shop
M)Right to work laws
N)Grievance procedure
O)Authorization card

Accepted Answer

An agency shop is a form of union security arrangement where employees must pay union dues to the certified bargaining unit even if they do not join the union. This ensures that all employees who benefit from the union's collective bargaining efforts contribute to the costs of union representation.

Question 6

If a union drive is going on in an organization, management should routinely and secretly observe and note who is distributing pro-union literature.

Accepted Answer

Engaging in surveillance or creating the impression of surveillance of employees' union activities is considered an unfair labor practice under the National Labor Relations Act.

Question 7

Interestingly, transportation is the least unionized private sector of the U.S.workforce.

Accepted Answer

Transportation is one of the more heavily unionized sectors in the U.S. private workforce, particularly with unions such as the Teamsters and the United Transportation Union representing a significant portion of workers in this sector.

Question 8

Maintenance of membership means that employers withhold union dues from an employee's paycheck.

Accepted Answer

Maintenance of membership is a provision in a labor agreement that requires employees to maintain union membership as a condition of employment, not the withholding of union dues from an employee's paycheck.

Question 9

If a majority of workers sign authorization cards, the NLRB certifies a bargaining unit.

Accepted Answer

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) requires a formal election process to certify a bargaining unit, not just the signing of authorization cards by a majority of workers. The cards can trigger an election but do not alone result in certification.

Question 10

The U.S.has one of the highest percentages of union membership of industrialized nations.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. has one of the lower rates of union membership among industrialized nations, with countries in Scandinavia and Western Europe typically having much higher percentages.

Question 11

Under the terms of a union contract, wildcat strikes are legal and a legitimate way to enforce management compliance with a labor agreement.

Accepted Answer

Wildcat strikes are unauthorized by the union and typically violate the terms of a labor agreement, making them illegal under most union contracts.

Question 12

The Landrum-Griffin Act of 1959 was passed to address the public outcry over the misuse of union funds and corruption in the labor movement.

Accepted Answer

The Landrum-Griffin Act, also known as the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, was indeed passed in response to concerns over corruption and financial mismanagement within labor unions, aiming to protect union members' rights and ensure union democracy.

Question 13

MATCHING KEY TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
-Employer withholding of union dues from union members' paychecks.
A)Fact-finding
B)Wagner Act
C)Dues checkoff
D)Lockout
E)Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)
F)Open shop
G)Maintenance of membership
H)Union security arrangements
I)Railway Labor Act
J)Wildcat strike
K)National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
L)Agency shop
M)Right to work laws
N)Grievance procedure
O)Authorization card

Accepted Answer

Dues checkoff refers to the practice where an employer automatically deducts union dues from the paychecks of union members and then forwards these dues directly to the union. This arrangement is typically agreed upon in the collective bargaining agreement between the union and the employer.

Question 14

The most desirable form of union security from a union perspective is the open shop.

Accepted Answer

The most desirable form of union security from a union perspective is the closed shop, as it requires that all employees must be members of the union as a condition of employment, ensuring full union membership and support.

Question 15

When labor union contract negotiations breakdown; the outcome is an impasse.

Accepted Answer

An impasse in labor union contract negotiations occurs when the parties involved are unable to reach an agreement despite extensive bargaining, effectively reaching a deadlock.

Question 16

Fortunately, union shops are legal in right-to-work states.

Accepted Answer

Right-to-work laws prohibit union security agreements, or agreements between employers and labor unions, that govern the extent to which an established union can require employees' membership, payment of union dues, or fees as a condition of employment, either before or after hiring. Union shops, which require employees to join the union as a condition of employment, are therefore not permitted in right-to-work states.

Question 17

MATCHING KEY TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
-A card signed by prospective union members indicating that they are interested in having a union election held at their worksite.
A)Fact-finding
B)Wagner Act
C)Dues checkoff
D)Lockout
E)Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)
F)Open shop
G)Maintenance of membership
H)Union security arrangements
I)Railway Labor Act
J)Wildcat strike
K)National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
L)Agency shop
M)Right to work laws
N)Grievance procedure
O)Authorization card

Accepted Answer

An authorization card is a card signed by employees indicating their desire for a union representation election, showing initial support for unionization at their workplace.

Question 18

Of all U.S.employers, the government has the highest percentage of unionized employees.

Accepted Answer

Government sectors, including local, state, and federal, have the highest percentage of unionized employees compared to private sectors in the U.S. This is due to stronger union protections and traditions within public employment.

Question 19

Greater job security is one reason an employee may wish to join a union.

Accepted Answer

Unions often negotiate for better job security measures for their members, making union membership attractive for employees seeking more stable employment conditions.

Question 20

It is considered an unfair labor practice for an employer to refuse to bargain collectively with the representatives chosen by the employees.

Accepted Answer

Under U.S. labor law, specifically the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), it is considered an unfair labor practice for an employer to refuse to bargain collectively with the representatives that have been duly chosen by its employees.

Quiz 13: Understanding Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining