Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

This practice is called codetermination. It is a system where workers and employers collaborate in making important decisions in a company, and worker representatives are given positions on the company's board of directors. It is widely practiced in Germany and other European countries. Collusion refers to a secret agreement for a dishonest purpose, cooperation refers to working together for a common goal, and tripartite negotiation involves negotiation between three parties, often referring to representatives of employers, employees, and government.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

The Taft-Hartley Act allows the President, not the Senate, to intervene in strikes that pose a national emergency.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The Wagner Act, also known as the National Labor Relations Act, was passed in 1935 and established the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) as an independent federal agency to administer and enforce its provisions. The NLRB is responsible for protecting employees' right to organize and bargain collectively with their employers, as well as investigating and remedying unfair labor practices committed by employers or unions.

Question 4

Which of the following is true regarding international union membership?

Accepted Answer

According to the International Trade Union Confederation, the Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden, and Denmark) have the highest percentage of union membership in the world.

Note: A, B, and D are all incorrect statements.

Question 5

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_____.

Accepted Answer

The process described in the scenario, where a neutral third party is called in to make decisions and reach a settlement, is known as arbitration. Arbitration is used when negotiations between two parties fail and a neutral third party is needed to make a final decision. Option A, fact-finding, involves conducting an investigation to gather facts to help parties negotiate a settlement. Option B, conciliation, involves a neutral third party attempting to bring the parties together and facilitate an agreement. Option D, mediation, involves a neutral third party facilitating negotiations between parties to help them reach a voluntary agreement.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

Grievance arbitration is a process by which a neutral third party, usually an arbitrator, settles disputes arising from different interpretations of a labor contract between an employer and a labor union. This process is used when attempts at resolving grievances through negotiation and mediation have been unsuccessful. Interest arbitration refers to the process by which a third party arbitrator settles disputes over terms to be included in a new collective bargaining agreement, while contract mediation involves the use of a mediator to facilitate negotiations between the parties in order to reach a new agreement.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the union membership rate for public sector workers was 33.6% in 2020, while the rate for private sector workers was 6.3%.

Question 8

_____ 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.

Accepted Answer

Jurisdictional strikes are specific to disputes between unions over which one has the right to represent workers in a particular job or industry. In such cases, members of one union may strike to try to force the employer to assign work to them instead of to members of a rival union who are currently doing that work. Economic strikes (A) are aimed at improving wages, benefits, or working conditions, while sympathy strikes (C) occur when workers strike in support of another group of workers who are involved in a separate dispute with their employer. Wildcat strikes (D) are initiated by workers without the authorization of their union, often as a spur-of-the-moment protest over a particular grievance.

Question 9

The increasing use of temporary or contingent workers has led to union membership decline.

Accepted Answer

As temporary or contingent workers are typically not eligible for union membership, the increasing use of such workers has contributed to a decline in union membership overall.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

Right-to-work laws give workers the option to decline union membership and payment of union fees as a condition of employment.

Question 11

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.

Accepted Answer

The employees are conducting a wildcat strike, which is a strike that occurs without union authorization or in violation of a no-strike clause in a union contract. The fact that there is a no-strike clause in the contract suggests that it is not an economic strike, which is typically based on a demand for higher wages or benefits. It also does not seem to be a jurisdictional strike, which is based on a dispute over which union has the right to perform certain work. And while the supervisor's threats could be considered an unfair labor practice, the employees' actions do not fit the criteria for an unfair labor practice strike, which is typically based on an employer's violation of labor laws.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

A union steward is typically an elected union member who volunteers to represent and assist other union members in their workplace, but they are not full-time paid officials.

Question 13

In the United States, unions have typically focused primarily on_____.

Accepted Answer

Unions in the United States have historically fought for better wages, benefits, job security, and working conditions for their members. These issues continue to be the main focus of unions today, as they work to protect the rights and interests of workers in various industries. While some unions may also be concerned with issues such as industrial democracy or political power, their primary focus is typically on improving the economic conditions of their members.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

While the hiring of immigrant workers for low wages can be a reason for dissatisfaction among employees, it is not a major reason for employee unionization in the United States. Other factors such as benefits, working conditions, and job security are typically more significant.

Question 15

The goal of each stage of thegrievance procedure is_____.

Accepted Answer

The ultimate goal of the grievance procedure is to resolve the issue, whether through mediation, arbitration, or another means. While the other options may be components of the process, they are not the primary goal.

Question 16

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.

Accepted Answer

A lockout is a tactic used by employers to prevent employees from working by suspending operations until a resolution is reached. In this scenario, Sinclair Processing Inc. is using a lockout to prevent union members from working after failed negotiations.

Question 17

Unions must always report how much money they utilize forpolitical activity and lobbying.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Unions must disclose the amount of money they spend on political activities and lobbying as part of their financial reporting requirements under federal law. This information is publicly available and can be accessed through the Department of Labor's website.

Question 18

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?

Accepted Answer

Amanda's first step should be to discuss the grievance with her union steward and supervisor. They are the first line of defense for employees facing workplace issues and may be able to resolve the issue without involving the human resources unit or the national union. It is always best to exhaust all internal avenues before seeking external help.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

The statement is opposite to the actual decision made by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). In a recent ruling, the NLRB allowed temporary workers to be included in attempts to unionize firms, as long as the temporary workers have a “community of interest” with the regular employees.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

Providing incentives to dissuade employees from organizing is generally considered an unfair labor practice under U.S. labor law, specifically the National Labor Relations Act.

Quiz 16: Union/Management Relations