Question 1

Melvin has been a member of the American Arbitration Association and long-standing faculty member of the business school of a university for over a decade. Right now, he is on a plane headed for Detroit, where he will serve as an arbitrator between members of the United Auto Workers union and management of a major auto manufacturer. His responsibilities will deal with
A) certifying union representation at the Michigan manufacturing sites.
B) certifying union representation and collective bargaining at all manufacturing sites that the auto manufacturer currently has in operations, including any in Mexico and Canada (in accordance with NAFTA).
C) listening to both sides of an unresolved dispute between labor and management and render a binding decision on the problem.
D) protecting the interests of management and staving off a strike by the auto workers.

Accepted Answer

Arbitration is a more extreme form of negotiation as compared to mediation. The arbitrator will listen to the perceptions and problems of both parties and work out a binding solution to the dispute. Both sides must preliminarily agree that they will accept the arbitrator's decision.

Question 2

During negotiations for a new faculty contract at a university, the ________ was quite narrow. Of thirteen items, the union representatives wanted concessions on the following items: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, and 13. The union overlapped with the university administration on the remaining items: Nos. 6, 8, 11, and 12.
A) negotiation degree
B) bargaining zone
C) breakdown criteria
D) well-being apportionment

Accepted Answer

The bargaining zone is the area where two parties overlap, before negotiations begin. This is the range of options between the first offer and the final offer that both parties will consider.

Question 3

________ are workers a company hires to replace workers who are out on strike.
A) Yellow dogs
B) Convergent workers
C) Structural replacements
D) Strikebreakers

Accepted Answer

Strikebreakers are workers a company hires to replace workers who are out on strike. This is often seen as a controversial move as it can undermine the power of the striking workers and prolong the duration of the strike. Yellow dogs is a slang term with a similar meaning, while convergent workers and structural replacements are not commonly used terms for strikebreakers.

Question 4

A(n) ________ boycott is an illegal attempt by labor to convince others to stop doing business with a firm that does business with a company that is the subject of a primary boycott.
A) extended
B) secondary
C) tactical
D) strategic

Accepted Answer

A secondary boycott is when labor tries to stop others from doing business with a firm that does business with the company being boycotted (primary boycott). This type of boycott is illegal under US labor law. Extended, tactical, and strategic boycotts are not specific types of boycotts.

Question 5

Two of the most important tactics used by unions when collective bargaining efforts break down are
A) strikes and boycotts.
B) injunctions and lockouts.
C) conciliation and yellow-dog contracts.
D) enforcement of right-to-work clauses and cooling-off periods.

Accepted Answer

Strikes and boycotts are two of the most common tactics used by unions when collective bargaining efforts break down. Strikes involve workers refusing to work until their demands are met, while boycotts involve workers and their supporters refusing to patronize a business or buy a certain product until their demands are met. These tactics can put pressure on the employer to come back to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair contract.

Question 6

Yadier believes that an agency shop is the most desirable union security arrangement. Which of the following statements would be most likely to represent Yadier's views?
A) A union can succeed in its collective bargaining efforts only if it represents all workers. Therefore, workers should be required to join the union soon after they are hired.
B) Workers should be allowed to join a union if they wish, but they should not be required to join or pay a fee to the union in order to keep their job.
C) Workers should not be required to join a union to keep their jobs. However, since all workers enjoy the benefits obtained through collective bargaining, even those who do not join should pay a fee to support the union.
D) Unions should be replaced by employee stock ownership plans that give workers a say in the management of their firms.

Accepted Answer

Under an agency shop arrangement, workers are not required to join a union, but those who do not join must pay a union fee.

Question 7

At this time, the largest labor organization in the United States is the
A) Teamsters.
B) Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
C) United Automobile Workers (UAW).
D) National Education Association (NEA).

Accepted Answer

The National Education Association (NEA) is the largest labor organization in the United States, representing educators and staff involved in the education sector.

Question 8

A(n) ________ occurs when management temporarily closes a business to deny employment to workers.
A) lockout
B) secondary boycott
C) involuntary strike
D) employment injunction

Accepted Answer

A lockout is a tactic used by management where they temporarily shut down their business to prevent workers from working. This is often used as a strategy during labor negotiations or disputes. It is the opposite of a strike, where workers refuse to work in order to pressure management to meet their demands.

Question 9

Despite a 1938 Supreme Court ruling allowing their use, ________ were seldom used by management during labor-management disputes until the 1980s.
A) injunctions
B) secondary boycotts
C) strikebreakers
D) yellow-dog contracts

Accepted Answer

Strikebreakers, also known as scabs, are individuals hired to work in place of striking workers. Their use became more common in labor-management disputes during the 1980s, despite being legally recognized and available as a tactic since a 1938 Supreme Court ruling.

Question 10

A(n) ________ is a court order directing someone to do something or to refrain from doing something.
A) restrictive covenant
B) injunction
C) judicial encyclical
D) declaratory judgment

Accepted Answer

An injunction is a court order that directs an individual or entity to either take or refrain from taking a particular action. This can occur in situations where the court believes that there could be harm to someone or something if the action is taken or not taken.

Question 11

The ________ is a tactic police, firefighters, and other workers who are not legally allowed to strike sometimes use to express their frustration and displeasure with working conditions or pay.
A) gold cold
B) steel deal
C) slow-mo
D) blue flu

Accepted Answer

The term "blue flu" refers to a coordinated absences from work by police officers, often done in protest of unsatisfactory pay or working conditions.

Question 12

Amara believes that her manager violated the terms of the negotiated labor-management agreement when he required her to report to work on a holiday. She has discussed her concerns with her shop steward and he agrees with her. It is likely the steward will encourage Amara to
A) start looking for another job in a right-to-work state.
B) contact the local chapter of the ACLU.
C) send a letter of protest to the president of the union.
D) pursue a grievance over the interpretation of the labor contract.

Accepted Answer

A grievance is a charge by employees that management is not abiding by or fulfilling the terms of the negotiated labor-management agreement.

Question 13

In recent years, many unions have begun to
A) focus primarily on the issue of equitable pay.
B) assist management in redesigning work and recruiting and training workers from diverse backgrounds.
C) take a more confrontational approach when attempting to achieve important goals.
D) experience rapid but uneasy growth as more foreign-owned firms enter the U.S. economy, creating cultural problems for American workers.

Accepted Answer

Many unions have recognized the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workforce and have begun to assist management in redesigning work and recruiting and training workers from diverse backgrounds. This approach helps to create a more equitable and inclusive workplace while also improving working conditions for all employees.

Question 14

Historically, the most potent union tactic when collective bargaining efforts break down has been the
A) strike.
B) lockout.
C) court injunction.
D) primary boycott.

Accepted Answer

Strikes have historically been the most potent union tactic when collective bargaining efforts break down. This is because they involve workers refusing to work, which can disrupt operations and bring financial pressure upon the employer. Lockouts, court injunctions, and primary boycotts are also tactics unions may use, but strikes are generally considered the most powerful.

Question 15

Under the provisions of the Taft-Hartley Act, the president can ask for a(n) ________ to prevent a strike in a critical industry.
A) arbitrator
B) cooling-off period
C) open shop agreement
D) temporary take over by the federal government

Accepted Answer

Under the Taft-Hartley Act, the president can request a cooling-off period, usually up to 80 days, to prevent a strike in a critical industry. During this period, negotiations continue, and the government may appoint a board of inquiry to investigate and make recommendations. However, the president does not have the authority to unilaterally impose an arbitrator or open shop agreement, and temporary take over by the federal government is a rare and extreme measure.

Question 16

You've been on your hour-long lunch break for less than 45 minutes when your boss orders you to return to work immediately or lose an hour's pay. You complain that the current labor contract specifies a full hour for your lunch break and you still have over 15 minutes left. Your boss stands firm on his order for you to return to work. Under protest, you return to work, but plan to file a grievance. The first step you should take is to contact a(n)
A) arbitrator.
B) mediator.
C) strikebreaker.
D) shop steward.

Accepted Answer

The best choice is to contact a shop steward, who is a union representative responsible for handling grievances and advocating for workers' rights. The shop steward can help you navigate the grievance process and ensure that your rights under the labor contract are upheld.

Question 17

A(n) ________ occurs when a union encourages its members and the general public not to buy the products of a firm involved in a labor dispute.
A) injunction
B) wildcat strike
C) primary boycott
D) embargo

Accepted Answer

A primary boycott is a labor action in which a union encourages its members and the general public not to buy the products of a firm involved in a labor dispute. An injunction is a court order requiring a person or group to stop a particular action. A wildcat strike is an unauthorized strike by union members. An embargo is a government-imposed ban on trade with another country.

Question 18

A management executive just left a meeting between his team and the company's union representatives. She headed straight for the CEO's office and she reviewed where things seemed to break down. Union representatives came to the table with three different offers to resolve the insurance and vacation benefits problems laborers were experiencing. Management offered its own resolutions-two different ones, to be exact. The problem was that a bargaining zone did not emerge. Neither side was willing to consider each other's alternatives. As she reached the CEO's door, he was ready to concede that the negotiations were probably headed to
A) collective bargaining.
B) arbitration.
C) a vote.
D) mediation.

Accepted Answer

Labor and management were proceeding with collective bargaining; however, they had reached an impasse because there was no bargaining zone. The next step is to enter into mediation, where an impartial third party listens to disagreements and solutions offered by both sides, encourages the talks to continue, and makes suggestions for alternative solutions leading toward resolution.

Question 19

When union members who have a dispute with a company walk around outside the firm's place of business carrying signs and talking to the media and public about their concerns, they are using a tactic known as
A) boycotting.
B) estopment.
C) striking.
D) picketing.

Accepted Answer

Picketing involves union members protesting outside of a company's place of business, usually with signs and discussions with the media and public, to raise awareness of their concerns and attempt to put pressure on the company to negotiate with the union.

Question 20

Dr. Qiang, a professor at a local university, has been working with union leaders and management at Fairlawn Corporation to help the two sides resolve differences over desired wage levels for a new contract. First, he met with each side privately to determine any common ground for agreement. For the past week, he has worked with representatives from each side to promote communication and compromise at the bargaining table. Dr. Qiang is a(n)
A) arbitrator.
B) mediator.
C) fact finder.
D) shop steward.

Accepted Answer

A mediator is an impartial third party who encourages both sides in a labor dispute to continue negotiating. Mediators will often make suggestions for resolving a disagreement.

Quiz 12: Dealing With Employeemanagement Issues

________ are workers a company hires to replace workers who are out on strike.

A(n) ________ boycott is an illegal attempt by labor to convince others to stop doing business with a firm that does business with a company that is the subject of a primary boycott.

Two of the most important tactics used by unions when collective bargaining efforts break down are

Yadier believes that an agency shop is the most desirable union security arrangement. Which of the following statements would be most likely to represent Yadier's views?

At this time, the largest labor organization in the United States is the

A(n) ________ occurs when management temporarily closes a business to deny employment to workers.

Despite a 1938 Supreme Court ruling allowing their use, ________ were seldom used by management during labor-management disputes until the 1980s.

A(n) ________ is a court order directing someone to do something or to refrain from doing something.

The ________ is a tactic police, firefighters, and other workers who are not legally allowed to strike sometimes use to express their frustration and displeasure with working conditions or pay.

Amara believes that her manager violated the terms of the negotiated labor-management agreement when he required her to report to work on a holiday. She has discussed her concerns with her shop steward and he agrees with her. It is likely the steward will encourage Amara to

In recent years, many unions have begun to

Historically, the most potent union tactic when collective bargaining efforts break down has been the

Under the provisions of the Taft-Hartley Act, the president can ask for a(n) ________ to prevent a strike in a critical industry.

A(n) ________ occurs when a union encourages its members and the general public not to buy the products of a firm involved in a labor dispute.

When union members who have a dispute with a company walk around outside the firm's place of business carrying signs and talking to the media and public about their concerns, they are using a tactic known as