Question 1

Explain how permanent employment laws affect termination in a European country like Germany compared to the United States.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain how permanent employment laws affect termination...

Question 2

In addition to unions there is only one other type of worker participation that offers employees a voice and a way to have an impact-the joint consultation committee.

Accepted Answer

There are multiple forms of worker participation beyond unions and joint consultation committees, including works councils, employee stock ownership plans, direct communication channels, and participatory decision-making models.

Question 3

Bargaining agreements reached by unions and management end up covering many nonunion employees and a high union density does means that unions are more effective.

Accepted Answer

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Question 4

Workers in all countries are concerned with pay, job security, benefits, and working conditions, so some join labor unions in order to exert some control over these important work outcomes up to and including having a say in important firm decisions.

Accepted Answer

Workers around the world join labor unions as a way to collectively bargain for better pay, job security, benefits, and working conditions, and in some cases, to have a voice in significant company decisions. Unions serve as a mechanism for employees to organize and negotiate with employers on these critical aspects of their work life.

Question 5

The poverty rate in Japan, the world's third-largest economy, is among the highest in leading nations behind only Mexico, Turkey, and the United States.

Accepted Answer

Japan has a relatively high poverty rate compared to other leading nations, with only Mexico, Turkey, and the United States having higher rates among the OECD countries.

Question 6

Why is the threat by labor groups to reduce or stop work output less credible when the employer is a multinational?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is the threat by labor groups...

Question 7

The largest challenge to domestic unions comes from multinational firms, which can move some or all of their operations to another country, and this fact resulted in the development of international unions.

Accepted Answer

Multinational firms have the ability to move operations across borders to take advantage of lower labor costs, less stringent labor laws, or other economic benefits, which undermines the bargaining power of domestic unions. This challenge has indeed contributed to the development of international unions, aiming to coordinate efforts across borders to better negotiate with multinational corporations.

Question 8

Union membership has declined by double digits over the last two decades in EU countries such as Germany and the Netherlands, as well as in Australia and the United States.

Accepted Answer

Union membership has indeed declined significantly in many developed countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, and the United States, over the last two decades due to various factors such as globalization, changes in the economy moving towards more service-oriented jobs, and changes in labor laws.

Question 9

Union activity in Africa is relatively underdeveloped and there is little difference across various countries in Africa.

Accepted Answer

Union activity in Africa varies significantly across different countries, reflecting a wide range of labor movements' strength, organization, and historical development. Some countries have strong and active unions, while others have weaker and less developed labor movements.

Question 10

The Western European social support mechanisms are solidly in place, and have grown in some countries, and the influence of unions and restrictive labor laws may be waning, partly due to the power of multinationals to quickly shift production east to lower-wage locations.

Accepted Answer

Western European countries generally have strong social support mechanisms, and while these have grown in some areas, the influence of unions and restrictive labor laws has indeed been challenged by globalization and the ability of multinational corporations to relocate production to lower-wage countries in Eastern Europe and beyond, seeking cost reductions.

Question 11

The union movement in the UK has a long history, having been legalized in 1871, and British unions are powerful because their membership and influence has remained stable over the last decade.

Accepted Answer

British unions have experienced a decline in membership and influence over the last several decades, particularly since the 1980s, due to various factors including changes in the economy, labor laws, and the nature of work.

Question 12

Union membership in the Untied States has been steadily declining in recent years, and in 2011 made up only 11.9% of the total American workforce, well down from the 20.1% figure for 1983.

Accepted Answer

Union membership in the United States has indeed been on a decline over the years, with the percentage of workers who were part of a union dropping from 20.1% in 1983 to 11.9% in 2011, reflecting a broader trend of decreasing unionization in the American workforce.

Question 13

Many countries have enacted "permanent employment" laws, in part as a response to union pressure, but these laws provide few if any protections for workers.

Accepted Answer

Permanent employment laws typically offer a range of protections for workers, including job security, benefits, and protection against unjust termination, contrary to the claim that they provide few or no protections.

Question 14

Groups of workers ultimately have more direct control over one method of getting their way on key issues-that of threatening to reduce or stop work output-and this threat is even more credible when the employer is a multinational.

Accepted Answer

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Question 15

Japan has thousands of enterprise unions (many different workers in a company, regardless of their profession or vocation, are represented by one omnibus union) so these in-house unions represent only the employees of their respective companies.

Accepted Answer

In Japan, enterprise unions are common, where a single union within a company represents the interests of all employees, regardless of their specific roles or professions, focusing solely on the workforce of that particular company.

Question 16

Many powerful unions within countries are in effect political groups and, as a result, are more concerned with national issues than international ones.

Accepted Answer

Many powerful unions often engage in political activities and advocacy, focusing on national issues that directly affect their members, such as labor laws, wages, and working conditions, which can lead to a primary concern with national rather than international issues.

Question 17

Unions in Sweden began as a socialist movement among manual workers and because of a friendly government, flourished in a mutually cooperative environment, which explains why Sweden has a high density rate (68%).

Accepted Answer

Sweden's labor unions did indeed originate from a socialist movement among manual workers and have historically benefited from a cooperative relationship with a government that has often been friendly to labor interests. This supportive environment has contributed to Sweden having one of the highest union density rates in the world.

Question 18

Managing layoffs can be complex, but it is usually simplified because of the political issues in a different country.

Accepted Answer

Managing layoffs can be more complex due to political issues in a different country, as these can introduce additional legal and cultural considerations that must be navigated carefully.

Question 19

One of the traditional hallmarks of China's labor relations approach has been full employment, and this approach has been referred to as the "iron rice bowl."

Accepted Answer

The term "iron rice bowl" refers to China's traditional approach to labor relations, emphasizing job security and guaranteed employment for life, particularly in state-owned enterprises.

Question 20

After World War II, many Japanese unions were both militant and violent and following many long and backbreaking strikes, Japanese employers basically struck a deal with their unions to obtain high wages in exchange for no labor strife.

Accepted Answer

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Quiz 12: Managing Building Global Commitment: Managing Labor Relations