Question 1

The union also carries out the responsibilities of the Human Resource department.

Accepted Answer

The union does not carry out the responsibilities of the Human Resource department. It is a separate entity that typically handles matters related to collective bargaining, grievance procedures, and ensuring fair and safe working conditions for union members.

Question 2

Collective agreements address issues such as wages, hours of work, and working conditions.

Accepted Answer

Collective agreements are contracts negotiated between employers and unions that address various employment terms and conditions, including wages, hours of work, benefits, and workplace health and safety regulations.

Question 3

Unionized employees have more comprehensive benefit packages than nonunionized employees.

Accepted Answer

Unionized employees typically have negotiated contracts that include more comprehensive benefit packages than nonunionized employees. These benefits can include health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.

Question 4

Unions are open social systems that are affected by their external environment.

Accepted Answer

Unions interact with various external factors such as government policies, economic conditions, market demand, and social norms, which can influence their functions and operations. This makes unions open social systems that are not self-contained but rather influenced by their external environment.

Question 5

Successful companies have only one union representing their employees.

Accepted Answer

It is not necessary for successful companies to have only one union representing their employees. Some successful companies have multiple unions representing different groups of employees, while others have no union representation at all. The success of a company is not dependent on the number of unions representing its employees, but rather on factors such as management, strategy, and market conditions.

Question 6

Newfoundland has the highest rate of unionism in Canada.

Accepted Answer

According to a report by Statistics Canada, Newfoundland has the highest unionization rate in the country, with 31.8% of workers belonging to a union in 2020.

Question 7

Labour unions alter the work environment as they change the relationship between employees and the organization.

Accepted Answer

Labour unions negotiate with organizations on behalf of employees for better working conditions, wages, benefits, and other job-related issues, which can lead to changes in the work environment and alter the relationship between employees and employers.

Question 8

After a strike is settled, relationships change between co-workers but there is little effect on labour-management relationships.

Accepted Answer

After a strike is settled, labour-management relationships may be strained or damaged, resulting in a long-term impact on the workplace. Meanwhile, co-workers may have tensions or resentments towards each other as a result of the strike, but these often dissipate over time.

Question 9

Union grievances often arise because supervisors don't understand the terms of the collective agreements.

Accepted Answer

Union grievances can arise due to various reasons, one of them being the lack of understanding on the part of supervisors regarding the terms of the collective agreements. This can lead to misinterpretation or misapplication of the agreed-upon terms, which can often be a source of conflict and dissatisfaction among the union workers.

Question 10

Unions composed of workers who possess the same skills or trades, usually within a certain geographical area, are called industrial unions.

Accepted Answer

Unions composed of workers who possess the same skills or trades are called craft unions. Industrial unions, on the other hand, are composed of workers from various crafts and trades within a specific industry or sector.

Question 11

Secession refers to the trend of Canadian workers increasingly joining international unions.

Accepted Answer

Secession actually refers to the act of a province or territory leaving the Canadian federation.

Question 12

International unions are those whose headquarters are located outside of Canada.

Accepted Answer

International unions have their headquarters located in a country other than Canada.

Question 13

Social unionism recognizes that a union can only survive if it delivers a needed service to its members in a businesslike manner.

Accepted Answer

Social unionism focuses on broader social and political issues affecting workers and their communities, not just on delivering services in a businesslike manner, which is more characteristic of business unionism.

Question 14

The average hourly wage for unionized workers is notably better than the hourly wage for nonunionized workers.

Accepted Answer

Studies have consistently shown that the average hourly wage for unionized workers is indeed higher than that of nonunionized workers. This is due to collective bargaining and negotiation power that unions possess in negotiating better wages, benefits, and working conditions for their members.

Question 15

Two major types of local unions are craft unions and industrial unions.

Accepted Answer

Craft unions represent workers in a specific trade or craft, while industrial unions represent workers across multiple industries or sectors.

Question 16

Many Canadians view union workers as being in blue-collar or government occupations so there is a growing recognition of the need to appeal to other employees.

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately reflects the perception of union workers in Canada and the importance of appealing to a broader range of employees.

Question 17

Traditional approaches to organizing and collective bargaining are less relevant today.

Accepted Answer

With the rise of the gig economy and remote work, as well as changes in labor laws and societal attitudes towards unions, traditional approaches to labor organizing and collective bargaining may not be as effective as they once were. New strategies and tactics may need to be developed to address these changes.

Question 18

Some employees are hesitant to join a union because they view unions as "one more boss" that leads to extra costs.

Accepted Answer

Some employees may see joining a union as giving up some control over their workplace and having to pay union dues, which they may view as additional costs.

Question 19

Secession is motivated by Canadian locals' desire for more autonomy.

Accepted Answer

Secession is the desire for a group within a country to break away and form a separate independent state. Local autonomy would mean having more control over local affairs, but it does not necessarily involve breaking away.

Question 20

The presence of a union places limits on the human resource management role.

Accepted Answer

When a union is present, the HRM role must take into account the collective bargaining agreement and other regulations established through the union contract. This may limit HRM's ability to make certain decisions related to pay, benefits, and work conditions.

Quiz 13: The Union-Management Framework