Question 1

Today, union members account for only a small portion of the American workforce and are concentrated in a limited number of industries and job categories.

Accepted Answer

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, union members accounted for 10.3% of the American workforce in 2020, and union membership is more prevalent in certain industries such as education, healthcare, and public administration.

Question 2

An organization of workers acting together to negotiate their wages and working conditions with employers is called a labor union.

Accepted Answer

This is the definition of a labor union.

Question 3

Perhaps the most significant occurrence in unions' recent history was the merger of the AFL and the CIO.

Accepted Answer

The merger of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) occurred in 1955 and was a significant event in the history of labor unions in the United States.

Question 4

The UAW was originally part of the AFL-CIO.

Accepted Answer

The UAW (United Auto Workers) was originally part of the AFL (American Federation of Labor) before it merged with the CIO (Congress of Industrial Organizations) to form the AFL-CIO in 1955.

Question 5

The difference between mediation and arbitration is

Accepted Answer

The main difference between mediation and arbitration is that mediation uses a neutral third party in the negotiations to facilitate communication and negotiation between the parties, but does not impose a decision. In contrast, arbitration also uses a neutral third party, but that party has the authority to make a binding decision to resolve the dispute. Therefore, option D correctly states that mediation uses, but arbitration may not use, a neutral third party in the negotiations. Option A and E are incorrect because they do not accurately describe the differences between mediation and arbitration. Option B is partially correct, but it only defines one aspect of arbitration and does not provide a sufficient contrast to mediation. Option C is incorrect because the president of the United States does not have the authority to intervene in either mediation or arbitration.

Question 6

The National Labor Relations Act forbids certain unfair labor practices by unions.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The National Labor Relations Act forbids certain...

Question 7

The primary goal of the American Federation of Labor was to improve employees' and society's moral standards.

Accepted Answer

The primary goal of the American Federation of Labor was to improve the working conditions, wages, and benefits of its members, not to improve moral standards.

Question 8

The AFL did not favor the use of strikes, whereas the KOL strongly believed that striking is an effective labor weapon.

Accepted Answer

The American Federation of Labor (AFL) did use strikes as a key strategy in its efforts to improve working conditions and wages, while the Knights of Labor (KOL) were more hesitant about strikes, preferring arbitration and cooperation between workers and employers.

Question 9

George Meany was the first president of the AFL-CIO.

Accepted Answer

George Meany was, in fact, the first president of the AFL-CIO, serving from 1955 to 1979.

Question 10

Unions will probably continue to see their membership increase.

Accepted Answer

The trend in recent years has been a decrease in union membership. While some industries and regions may see increases in membership, overall it is unlikely that unions will experience a sustained increase in membership.

Question 11

A craft union is an organization of skilled workers in a single trade.

Accepted Answer

A craft union is specifically composed of skilled workers in a certain trade or craft, whereas a general union typically represents workers in a variety of industries and job types.

Question 12

The Teamsters were originally part of the AFL-CIO.

Accepted Answer

The Teamsters Union was originally a part of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and later merged with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) to form the AFL-CIO in 1955.

Question 13

The Fair Labor Standards Act defines overtime as all hours worked beyond forty hours a week.

Accepted Answer

The Fair Labor Standards Act does define overtime as all hours worked beyond forty hours a week.

Question 14

The legislation considered a landmark in labor-management relations was the Norris-LaGuardia Act of 1932.

Accepted Answer

The Norris-LaGuardia Act of 1932 was considered a landmark in labor-management relations as it protected the rights of workers to join unions and engage in lawful strikes.

Question 15

Unions are needed more today than ever before to achieve goals such as obtaining better wages and working conditions because management has failed to do so.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Unions are needed more today than ever...

Question 16

Suppose a union threatened a strike that had the potential to shut down all electric power in the Washington-Baltimore-New York corridor after unsuccessful mediation and arbitration. The next step might be for the

Accepted Answer

The best choice in this scenario would be for the president of the United States to obtain a temporary injunction to prevent the strike. This would allow time for further negotiations and potentially a resolution to the dispute without causing significant disruption to the electric power supply in the region. Seeking alternative sources of electric power or contacting FEMA would not address the root cause of the problem, and calling out the National Guard or engaging in a wildcat strike could potentially escalate the situation and lead to further issues.

Question 17

The dealings between labor unions and business management, both in the bargaining process and beyond, are called labor relations.

Accepted Answer

Labor relations refer to the interactions and negotiations between labor unions and business management, encompassing the bargaining process as well as ongoing communication and collaboration.

Question 18

There has been a gradual increase in the proportion of union members relative to the size of the nation's workforce during the past thirty years.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. The proportion of union members has actually been declining over the past thirty years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 1983, 20.1% of all workers belonged to a union, compared to only 10.3% in 2019.

Question 19

Approximately 18 percent of the U.S. workforce belong to unions.

Accepted Answer

As of my last update in early 2023, about 10.3% of the U.S. workforce belonged to unions, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This percentage has been on a general decline from the mid-20th century when union membership was much higher.

Question 20

The first significant labor union was the CIO.

Accepted Answer

The first significant labor union was the Knights of Labor, founded in 1869. The Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) was formed in 1935.

Quiz 11: Enhancing Union-Management Relations