Question 1

The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) has now merged with the Socialist Labor Party.

Accepted Answer

There is no evidence or announcement of a merger between the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and the Socialist Labor Party. The two organizations have distinct histories and ideologies, and while they may share similar goals and values, they have not formally merged.

Question 2

The American Federation of Labor is a federation of unions made up of skilled workers formed in 1886 by Samuel Gompers.

Accepted Answer

The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was indeed formed in 1886 by Samuel Gompers and was made up of skilled worker unions.

Question 3

According to the Fair Labor Standards Act, to be exempt from the overtime provision, a worker must be paid a salary of $455 per week and meet a bona fide job duties test.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true according to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). To be exempt from the overtime provision, an employee must receive a salary of at least $455 per week (or $23,660 per year) and perform specific job duties that meet the FLSA's criteria for executive, administrative, or professional positions. This is referred to as the "bona fide job duties test."

Question 4

The Working Women's Association was the first national association dedicated to organizing women.

Accepted Answer

The Working Women's Association, founded in 1868, was indeed an early organization aimed at supporting working women, but it was not the first national association dedicated to organizing women. The National Women's Trade Union League (WTUL), established in 1903, is often credited with being the first national association specifically for organizing women workers on a large scale.

Question 5

"Yellow-dog" contracts were contracts in which employees pledged to refrain from union membership.

Accepted Answer

"Yellow-dog" contracts, also known as anti-union agreements, were indeed contracts in which employees agreed not to join or support a union as a condition of employment.

Question 6

The American Federation of Labor (AFL) placed more emphasis on economic or industrial action as opposed to political action.

Accepted Answer

The AFL focused on economic and industrial action, such as strikes and collective bargaining, rather than political action.

Question 7

In 1935, John L. Lewis and leaders of the Ladies Garment Workers and the Clothing Workers set up the International Trade Union Confederation.

Accepted Answer

While John L. Lewis did play a key role in labor unions during this time period, he did not establish the International Trade Union Confederation. The ITUC was actually founded in 1949 through the merger of two other international labor organizations.

Question 8

The Railway Labor Act was expanded to include the airline industry.

Accepted Answer

In 1936, the Railway Labor Act was expanded to include the airline industry, which led to the formation of labor unions in the airline industry.

Question 9

The Fair Labor Standards Act requires employers to pay covered employees at least the federal minimum wage and overtime pay of one-and-one- half-times the regular rate of pay for work exceeding a 40-hour week.

Accepted Answer

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does require employers to pay covered employees at least the federal minimum wage and overtime pay of one-and-one- half-times the regular rate of pay for work exceeding a 40-hour week.

Question 10

The Erdman Act put into place a requirement that companies using federal dollars for construction projects use the "prevailing wage rate" of the area as the minimum-wage rate on their construction project.

Accepted Answer

The Erdman Act primarily dealt with arbitration of disputes between railroads and their employees. The Davis-Bacon Act of 1931 is the legislation that requires payment of prevailing local wages on public works projects.

Question 11

According to the legal tenet of conspiracy, if two or more people conspire to commit an illegal act, they are guilty of conspiracy whether or not they ever complete the illegal act itself.

Accepted Answer

According to the legal tenet of conspiracy, if two or more people agree to commit an illegal act and take steps towards carrying out that plan, they can be charged with conspiracy even if the illegal act is never completed. This is because the agreement and steps taken towards carrying out the illegal act are considered illegal in themselves.

Question 12

During World War I, President Woodrow Wilson formed the National Labor Relations Board to prevent labor disputes from disrupting the war effort.

Accepted Answer

This is false. The National Labor Relations Board was not formed until 1935, after World War I had ended. During World War I, Wilson created the National War Labor Board to address labor disputes that could affect wartime production.

Question 13

A "company union" is an employee organization formed by an employer to discourage employee unionization.

Accepted Answer

A company union is indeed formed by the employer to act as an alternative to an independent union that employees may form, with the goal of discouraging or preventing the formation of labor unions. Company unions typically lack the independence, bargaining power, and protections that are inherent in independent unions.

Question 14

The American Federation of Labor (AFL) offered trade unions local autonomy because the national union operated as a decentralized organization.

Accepted Answer

The AFL operated as a federation of autonomous trade unions at the local level, with each union having control over its own affairs.

Question 15

Only males were allowed to be members of the Industrial Workers of the World.

Accepted Answer

The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) was one of the few labor unions in the early 1900s that welcomed women as members. The IWW advocated for the rights of all workers, regardless of their gender, race, or ethnicity. Women played a significant role in the IWW's activities and organizing efforts, especially in industries such as textiles, agriculture, and domestic work.

Question 16

The CIO differed from the AFL by promoting solidarity with African American workers and with women and immigrants in the workforce.

Accepted Answer

The CIO, or Congress of Industrial Organizations, did indeed differ from the AFL, or American Federation of Labor, by promoting solidarity with African American workers and with women and immigrants in the workforce. The CIO was particularly active in the organization of industrial unions, which sought to unionize entire industries and break down barriers of race, gender, and ethnicity in the workplace.

Question 17

The Sherman Antitrust Act was designed to break up corporate monopolies.

Accepted Answer

The Sherman Antitrust Act, passed by Congress in 1890, was designed to prevent and break up monopolies and anti-competitive business practices.

Question 18

A company union does not meet the requirements of the National Labor Relations Act and thus is not considered a true union.

Accepted Answer

A company union is a union that is controlled or dominated by the employer and does not truly represent the interests of the employees. The National Labor Relations Act prohibits employers from interfering with employees' rights to form or join unions of their choosing, and a company union undermines those rights. Therefore, a company union is not considered a true union under the NLRA.

Question 19

The Norris-La Guardia Act made "yellow-dog" contracts illegal.

Accepted Answer

The Norris-La Guardia Act, passed in 1932, made it illegal for employers to force employees to sign "yellow-dog" contracts, which required the employee to promise not to join a union.

Question 20

The National Labor Relations Act is also known as the Davis-Bacon Act.

Accepted Answer

The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and the Davis-Bacon Act are two separate pieces of legislation. The NLRA is also known as the Wagner Act, after its sponsor Senator Robert Wagner. It was enacted in 1935 and governs the rights of employees to form and join unions, engage in collective bargaining, and engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or mutual aid or protection. The Davis-Bacon Act, on the other hand, is a federal law that requires contractors and subcontractors working on federal government construction projects to pay prevailing wages and benefits to their workers. It was enacted in 1931 and is named after its sponsors, Representative Robert Davis of Pennsylvania and Senator James Bacon of New York.

Quiz 2: Private Sector Labor Relations: History and Law