Question 1

Much of the public-sector union growth has occurred in the service industry and among white-collar employees.

Accepted Answer

An interesting aspect of public sector union growth is that much of it has occurred in the service industry and among white-collar employees-groups that have traditionally been viewed as difficult to organize. In contrast to the private sector, strikes are illegal at the federal level of the public sector and in most states.

Question 2

In a collective bargaining contract, factors related to profit-sharing and stock purchase are typically covered under the _____ provision.

Accepted Answer

In a collective bargaining contract, factors related to profit-sharing and stock purchase are typically covered under the employee benefit plans provision.

Question 3

The duty of fair representation mandated by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)requires that all bargaining unit members, whether union members or not, have equal access to and representation by the union in the grievance procedure.

Accepted Answer

The duty of fair representation is mandated by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)and requires that all bargaining unit members, whether union members or not, have equal access to and representation by the union in the grievance procedure. Too many grievances may indicate a problem, but so may too few.

Question 4

Which of the following is true of a shop steward of a union?

Accepted Answer

Most union contact is with shop stewards, who are responsible for ensuring that the terms of the collective bargaining contract are enforced. Shop stewards represent employees in contract grievances.

Question 5

Which of the following is likely to be part of a craft union?

Accepted Answer

The electrical workers' and carpenters' unions are craft unions, meaning that the members all have a particular skill or occupation. Craft unions often are responsible for training their members (through apprenticeships)and for supplying craft workers to employers.

Question 6

According to the model developed by Katz and Kochan, at which level does the management make basic choices such as whether to work with its unions or to devote its efforts to developing nonunion operations?

Accepted Answer

According to Katz and Kochan, at the strategic level, management makes basic choices such as whether to work with its union(s)or to devote its efforts to developing nonunion operations. Environmental factors (or competitive challenges)offer both constraints and opportunities in implementing strategies.

Question 7

Resolving disputes between the management and labor through discussion is known as _____.

Accepted Answer

Labor unions' major benefit to society is the institutionalization of industrial conflict, which is therefore resolved in the least costly way. Thus, although disagreements between management and labor continue, it is better to resolve disputes through discussion (collective bargaining)than by battling in the streets.

Question 8

Codetermination is more common in the United States than in western European countries.

Accepted Answer

The United States differs from western Europe in the degree of formal worker participation in decision making. Works' councils and worker representation on supervisory boards of directors (codetermination)are mandated by law in countries such as Germany. Worker representation on boards of directors in the United States is still rare.

Question 9

Since the United States does not have a strong history of deep class-based divisions in society, the unionization rate and coverage is low when compared to Europe.

Accepted Answer

One explanation as to why the unionization rate and coverage is comparatively low in the United States is that the United States does not have as strong a history of deep class-based divisions in society as other countries do. Furthermore, the labor movement in western and northern Europe is broader than that in the United States.

Question 10

According to John Dunlop, which of the following is required for an industrial relations system to be successful?

Accepted Answer

According to John Dunlop, a successful industrial relations system consists of four elements: (1)an environmental context; (2)participants; (3)a "web of rules"; and (4)ideology. For the industrial relations system to operate properly, the three participants must, to some degree, have a common ideology and must accept the roles of the other participants.

Question 11

In a collective bargaining contract, factors related to shift operations and hazardous work are typically covered under the _____ provision.

Accepted Answer

In a collective bargaining contract, factors related to shift operations and hazardous work are typically covered under the plant operations provision.

Question 12

Which of the following sought to provide an environment conducive to collective bargaining?

Accepted Answer

The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)sought to provide an environment conducive to collective bargaining and has since regulated labor and management activities and interactions.

Question 13

Which of the following is true of local unions?

Accepted Answer

Even when a national union plays the most critical role in negotiating terms of a collective bargaining contract, negotiation and administration of the contract are largely carried out at the local union level. Consequently, the bulk of day-to-day interaction between labor and management takes place at the local union level.

Question 14

Most national unions are composed of multiple local units and are affiliated with the _____.

Accepted Answer

Most national unions are composed of multiple local units and are affiliated with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).

Question 15

Which of the following is a characteristic of an industrial union?

Accepted Answer

Industrial unions are made up of members who are linked by their work in a particular industry (such as steelworkers and autoworkers). Typically, they represent many different occupations. Membership in the union is a result of working for a particular employer in the industry.

Question 16

Which of the following is the largest union and is not affiliated to the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)?

Accepted Answer

The National Education Association, with 3.2 million members, is the largest union; it is not affiliated with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).

Question 17

The union pay advantage causes employers to use less labor and more capital per worker than they would otherwise, which reduces efficiency across society.

Accepted Answer

The union pay advantage causes employers to use less labor and more capital per worker than they would otherwise, which reduces efficiency across society. Union contract provisions may limit permissible workloads, restrict the tasks that particular workers are allowed to perform, and require employers to use more employees for certain jobs than they otherwise would.

Question 18

Which of the following is a reason for an industrial relations system to adopt collective bargaining?

Accepted Answer

One of the reasons for industrial relations systems adopting collective bargaining is because unilateral control by management sacrifices workers' rights. Thus, although disagreements between management and labor continue, it is better to resolve disputes through discussion (collective bargaining)than by battling in the streets.

Question 19

Which of the following is likely to be a part of an industrial union?

Accepted Answer

Industrial unions are made up of members who are linked by their work in a particular industry (such as steelworkers and autoworkers). Typically, they represent many different occupations.

Question 20

In a collective bargaining contract, factors related to hiring and transfer arrangements are typically covered under the _____ provision.

Accepted Answer

In a collective bargaining contract, factors related to hiring and transfer arrangements are typically covered under the job and income security provision.

Quiz 14: Collective Bargaining and Labor Relations