Question 1

Loamite Brothers and its union have not been successful in their contract negotiations.A neutral third party has been called in.This person is actively working with both sides to help them reach a settlement.But the neutral party only proposing potential solutions,she will not be imposing a solution on the parties.Loamite is involved in

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes a neutral third party working actively with both sides, proposing potential solutions without imposing a solution on the parties. This is the definition of mediation. Therefore, the correct answer is B.

Question 2

A panel of neutral third parties has been brought in to decide an impasse over pay and scheduling between the firefighters and the city.This is called ________ arbitration.

Accepted Answer

Interest arbitration is a type of arbitration used to resolve disputes over pay and working conditions between a union and an employer. It involves a panel of neutral third parties who make a binding decision based on the interests of both parties. This differs from grievance arbitration, which focuses on resolving specific disputes, and mandated arbitration, which is required by law. Rights arbitration is also a type of arbitration, but it focuses on disputes over the interpretation or application of a specific contract or collective bargaining agreement.

Question 3

Joe participated in a strike called by the union over the company's refusal to negotiate.Now that the strike is over,and the NLRB has ruled the strike a ___________.Joe wants to return to work at the company,and the company must rehire him.

Accepted Answer

If the NLRB has ruled the strike as an unfair labor practice strike, then Joe and any other striking workers cannot be permanently replaced by the company and must be offered their jobs back once the strike is over.

Question 4

During contract negotiations,the union representing the nursing home aides traded off an across-the-board pay increase for all aides for higher pay for night shift employees.This was

Accepted Answer

This scenario is an example of trade-offs that occur during collective bargaining. It is common for negotiations to involve trading one benefit for another, such as giving up a pay increase for certain employees in exchange for higher pay for others. This is an accepted practice in collective bargaining and is not considered unfair or corrupt.

Question 5

A "company union"

Accepted Answer

A "company union" is a union that is dominated or controlled by the employer, rather than being independent and representing the interests of the workers. It is often seen as a sham organization that gives the appearance of a union, but does not truly advocate for workers' rights and interests. This type of union is generally frowned upon by major union federations and is not considered a legitimate form of unionization under the Wagner Act.

Question 6

The teachers' union in the Wild Mustang Hills school district has not come to a collective bargaining agreement with the school board.A neutral third party has been brought in to make decisions on the topics that have kept the two parties from agreeing on a contract.This process is

Accepted Answer

Arbitration involves a neutral third party making a final decision to resolve a dispute between two parties, which seems to be the case in this scenario. Fact-finding involves a neutral third party gathering information to help the parties reach an agreement, while conciliation and mediation involve a neutral third party assisting the parties in reaching a voluntary agreement.

Question 7

The unionized employees and the management of Gable Electronics have had a history of hostile relations.The union contract has a no-strike clause that applies during the life of a labor contract.One day,27 employees throw down their tools in disgust at a supervisor's comment that they will all be working weekends for the next three months.The workers leave the premises.These employees have engaged in a

Accepted Answer

The employees engaged in a wildcat strike, which is a work stoppage that occurs without the approval or knowledge of the union leadership or in violation of the no-strike clause in the labor contract. Since the strike was not authorized by the union and violated the no-strike clause, it is considered a wildcat strike.

Question 8

Employee involvement programs may violate the Wagner Act if they

Accepted Answer

Employee involvement programs may violate the Wagner Act if they deal with traditional collective bargaining issues, as this could be seen as bypassing or undermining the role of labor unions, which the Wagner Act protects.

Question 9

Which of the following is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Strikes in the U.S. are typically focused on labor issues such as wages, benefits, and working conditions, rather than political objectives.

Question 10

In a unionized workplace,which of the following statements is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

In a unionized workplace, a grievance is a formal complaint made by an employee or union regarding an alleged violation of the collective bargaining agreement or other workplace policies. Grievances are required to be stated in writing and are usually subject to a formal process in which an arbitrator or third party is called in to mediate the dispute.

Question 11

Union and management have failed to reach agreement during collective bargaining but no illegal employer actions have take place.The current contract has expired.In these circumstances if the union calls a strike,it is a/an ____ strike.

Accepted Answer

Since no illegal employer actions have taken place and there is no dispute over the jurisdiction or work assignments, the strike called by the union would be an economic strike. This type of strike is initiated by the union to put pressure on the employer to meet their demands during collective bargaining negotiations.

Question 12

Clark's supervisor has asked to speak with him privately about an "important matter." Clark is a unionized employee.He suspects that his supervisor plans to give him a written warning about missing his daily production quota.According to Clark's Weingarten rights

Accepted Answer

According to Weingarten rights, unionized employees have the right to insist that a union representative be present during any investigatory interviews that might lead to discipline. Therefore, Clark may insist that a union representative be present during the interview with his supervisor.

Question 13

A potential problem for unions if union members take part in employee stock ownership plans is that

Accepted Answer

If union members become shareholders through an employee stock ownership plan, they may start identifying with the concerns of the employer rather than the union. This could result in the union losing its collective bargaining power as union members may negotiate for their own personal interests rather than for the interests of the collective bargaining unit as a whole. This could weaken the bargaining power of the union and result in a loss of member solidarity.

Question 14

If the organization argues that it cannot afford to pay what the union is asking,the employer must

Accepted Answer

The best choice would be for the employer to provide necessary financial data if requested by the union. While employers may argue that they cannot afford to pay what the union is asking, they are still obligated to bargain in good faith and provide relevant information to the union. However, they are not required to unilaterally provide full financial disclosure at the time the financial argument is made or allow a third party neutral to examine their books. Filing financial statements with the NLRB is also not necessary unless a charge of refusal to bargain has been filed against the employer. Thus, option C is the best choice in this case.

Question 15

After a hard-fought union organizing campaign,which Loamite Brothers lost,the first contract negotiations have begun.Loamite hopes to wear down the union in negotiations and have a contract that is favorable to management.As part of this strategy,Loamite is requiring that the management contract negotiators must leave the negotiating table to come to top management for approval of each and every issue that arises during negotiations.Loamite is

Accepted Answer

Loamite's requirement for negotiators to leave the table and seek top management approval for each issue during negotiations violates the requirement to bargain in good faith. This behavior shows a lack of willingness to cooperate in the give-and-take of negotiation and instead utilizes power bargaining tactics to wear down the union.

Question 16

The Ford Motor Company example of union-management cooperation illustrates that

Accepted Answer

The example of Ford Motor Company demonstrates that union-management cooperation can be successful when union leaders recognize that they are in a partnership with management. In this case, the union agreed to cost-cutting measures such as wage freezes and early retirement programs, which helped Ford avoid bankruptcy and maintain jobs. This shows that cooperation and collaboration between unions and management can lead to mutual benefits. Option A is incorrect because the example shows that union leaders did cooperate with management during the recession. Option C is incorrect because Ford did not declare bankruptcy. Option D is not applicable to this example.

Question 17

The union wishes to negotiate ____ during collective bargaining with Verdure,Inc.,but Verdure's management doesn't wish to address this topic.The union cannot insist on this because this topic is not a mandatory issue of bargaining.

Accepted Answer

Benefits for retired employees are not considered mandatory issues of bargaining and therefore, the union cannot insist on negotiating them. Pension coverage, profit-sharing plans, and vacations are all considered mandatory issues of bargaining that must be addressed by both the union and management during collective bargaining.

Question 18

Amanda was suspended for three days by her supervisor for a disciplinary violation covered in the union contract.Amanda denies that she committed this violation.She says that the supervisor "has it in for her." She is filing a grievance.Amanda's first step will be to

Accepted Answer

Amanda's first step would be to meet with her union steward and supervisor to discuss the issue and try to resolve it at the lowest possible level. The union steward can provide advice and support during the grievance process, and the supervisor may be willing to reconsider or modify the disciplinary decision. Filing a written complaint with the HR manager or contacting the grievance division of the national union may be necessary if the issue cannot be resolved at the local level. Applying for arbitration would be the last resort if all other options fail.

Question 19

The process by which union members vote to accept the terms of a negotiated labor agreement is called

Accepted Answer

Ratification is the process by which union members vote to approve or accept the terms of a negotiated labor agreement. Once the agreement is ratified, it becomes legally binding and enforceable.

Question 20

After contract negotiations with its union have reached an impasse,Sinclair Processing,Inc.,has temporarily ceased operations to prevent union members from working.Sinclair Processing has begun a/an

Accepted Answer

A lockout is a temporary suspension of work by the employer in order to prevent employees from working, typically used during contract negotiations or labor disputes. In this case, Sinclair Processing has ceased operations to prevent union members from working, which fits the definition of a lockout. Choices A and B (pre-emptive strike and counter strike) do not accurately describe the situation as neither side has engaged in physical or aggressive actions. Choice C (shut-down) is too generic and does not provide information about the motive behind the closure.

Quiz 16: Union/Management Relations