Question 1

After all national emergency strike procedures have been exhausted and no agreement has been reached,Congress has the power to legislate a settlement or force the parties to go to final and binding arbitration.

Accepted Answer

According to the National Labor Relations Act, if parties have exhausted all national emergency strike procedures and no agreement has been reached, Congress may enact legislation to provide a settlement or require the parties to submit to final and binding arbitration.

Question 2

It is an unfair labor practice for unions to fine or otherwise punish workers (union or nonunion)who cross a picket line.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 3

Unions usually give up their right to strike over grievances in exchange for a final and binding arbitration clause.

Accepted Answer

This is generally true. Unions may agree to final and binding arbitration as a way to resolve disputes without resorting to strikes. The decision of the arbitrator is final, meaning both parties agree to accept it as binding and cannot appeal it.

Question 4

An economic strike is a strike that occurs when workers are unhappy with a country's general economic conditions and seek to apply pressure to government officials to improve the economy.

Accepted Answer

An economic strike is actually a strike that occurs when workers are unhappy with their pay, benefits, or working conditions, and seek to negotiate better terms with their employers. It is not aimed at applying pressure to government officials to improve the economy.

Question 5

Annually,only around 1 percent of the contracts that are opened for negotiations end up in a strike.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Annually, only around 1 percent of the contracts that are opened for negotiations end up in a strike.

Question 6

Interest disputes are conflicts over the terms and conditions of employment.

Accepted Answer

Interest disputes are conflicts between employers and employees over the terms and conditions of employment, such as pay, benefits, working hours, and job security.

Question 7

Regardless of the type of strike,all strikers have the same rights under the NLRA.

Accepted Answer

Under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), the rights of strikers can vary depending on the type of strike (economic strikes vs. unfair labor practice strikes), affecting their job protection and reinstatement rights.

Question 8

If the President thinks a strike will be dangerous to the national health or safety,the Taft-Hartley Act empowers the President to halt a strike while an arbitrator investigates and issues a final and binding decision.

Accepted Answer

The Taft-Hartley Act allows the President to obtain a court injunction to halt a strike for an 80-day cooling-off period, but it does not empower the President to enforce a final and binding decision through arbitration.

Question 9

A recognition strike occurs when a union strikes to force an employer to assign work to its members.

Accepted Answer

A recognition strike occurs when a union strikes to force an employer to recognize and bargain with the union as the representative of the employees. It is not related to work assignment.

Question 10

If the NFL football players went out on strike to support the referees in their negotiations over wages and working conditions,it would be considered a sympathy strike.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. If the NFL players went out on strike to support the referees in their negotiations, it would be considered a sympathy strike since they are supporting another group's labor dispute.

Question 11

Regardless of whether workers strike over "mandatory" or "permissive" bargaining issues,the NLRA protects their right to strike and they cannot be discharged or disciplined for their strike activity.

Accepted Answer

The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) protects workers' rights to strike over "mandatory" bargaining issues, such as wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. However, striking over "permissive" bargaining issues, which are not mandatory subjects of bargaining, does not afford the same protections, and workers could potentially be disciplined or discharged for striking over these issues.

Question 12

It is illegal for picketers to block an entrance to an employer's place of business.

Accepted Answer

According to the National Labor Relations Act, picketing is lawful only if it is conducted peacefully and does not interfere with the employer's operations. Blocking an entrance can be seen as a disruption and is not protected under the law.

Question 13

When it comes to the legality/illegality of strikes,the rights of strike replacements,and the rights of strikers,all strikes are treated the same.

Accepted Answer

The legality/illegality of strikes, the rights of strike replacements, and the rights of strikers can vary depending on the specific laws and regulations in different countries and jurisdictions. Therefore, not all strikes are treated the same.

Question 14

Rights disputes occur over the application and interpretation of contract language in a particular situation.

Accepted Answer

Rights disputes can occur when there is a disagreement over the meaning or implementation of contractual terms in a specific situation.

Question 15

Striking to support other workers who are on strike (for example,by not crossing their picket line)is a sympathy strike.

Accepted Answer

A sympathy strike is a strike action taken by workers in a support of other striking workers, typically those in a different union or industry. This can include refusing to cross picket lines, staging a walkout or work stoppage, or engaging in other forms of protest in solidarity with the other striking workers.

Question 16

In the 1950's,approximate number of lost days due to strike activity in the U.S.was 1/5^th of the total working days.Today it is less than 1/100^th of the total working days.

Accepted Answer

In the 1950s, the number of lost days due to strike activity in the U.S. was significant, but not as high as 1/5th of the total working days. Today, the number of lost days due to strikes is indeed much lower, but the specific fraction mentioned (less than 1/100th) is an oversimplification and may vary year by year. The general trend of a decrease in strike activity is accurate, but the exact proportions provided are not.

Question 17

Workers cannot be disciplined or discharged for participating in unfair labor practice strikes even if the NLRB ultimately determines that the employer is innocent of any wrong-doing.

Accepted Answer

Workers can be disciplined or discharged for participating in unfair labor practice strikes if the NLRB ultimately determines that the employer is innocent of any wrongdoing, as the protection for striking workers is contingent upon the strike being over practices that are deemed unfair under the National Labor Relations Act.

Question 18

The purpose of a strike is to increase the employer's cost of disagreeing with the union's demands by depriving the employer of its profit-generating ability.

Accepted Answer

The purpose of a strike is to put pressure on the employer by disrupting their ability to generate profits, which in turn increases their costs of disagreeing with the union's demands. This is achieved by workers refusing to work, which results in a loss of productivity and revenue for the employer.

Question 19

Public sector strikes are often not allowed in part because it is believed that they have the potential to seriously harm the public interest.

Accepted Answer

Public sector strikes can disrupt essential services such as healthcare, public transportation, and emergency services, which can be detrimental to the public interest. As a result, many countries have laws that limit or prohibit public sector strikes.

Question 20

It is illegal for employees to cross their own union's picket line.

Accepted Answer

Crossing a union's picket line, while often discouraged by the union and potentially leading to social or professional consequences, is not illegal. Employees have the right to make their own choices regarding participation in strikes or picketing.

Quiz 8: Impasse, Strikes, and Dispute Resolution