Question 1

Which of the following is a responsibility of the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA)?

Accepted Answer

The responsibility of supervising elections in the federal sector is specifically assigned to the FLRA under the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute. Conducting arbitration in the federal sector is also a responsibility of the FLRA, but not exclusively. Leading negotiations and representing federal government managers in court are not responsibilities of the FLRA. Therefore, option D is the best choice.

Question 2

The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) was established by:

Accepted Answer

The Federal Labor Relations Authority was established by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, which aimed to modernize the civil service system and improve employee-management relations.

Question 3

What is the labor relations term used to describe the involvement of multiple parties in the collective bargaining process, particularly applicable to state and local level public sector bargaining?

Accepted Answer

Multilateral bargaining is the labor relations term used to describe the involvement of multiple parties in the collective bargaining process, particularly applicable to state and local level public sector bargaining. This can include representatives from the employer, union, and government, as well as other interested parties. Transpartite bargaining refers to negotiations between three parties from different sectors (e.g. labor, management, and government), while sunshine bargaining refers to open negotiations that are accessible to the public. Sovereignty bargaining and end-run bargaining are not commonly used terms in collective bargaining.

Question 4

The designation granted to a labor union by the federal government that indicates that the union has been selected by secret ballot of employees to be the exclusive representative of a group of employees is called:

Accepted Answer

Exclusive recognition is the term used to describe the official designation granted to a labor union by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), indicating that the union has been chosen by secret ballot to represent a particular group of employees in bargaining with their employer. This means that the union has exclusive bargaining rights on behalf of that group of employees and can negotiate the terms and conditions of their employment. The other choices do not accurately describe this concept.

Question 5

Which of the following is true about privatization?

Accepted Answer

All of the statements are true.

Question 6

Which of the following is true about labor-management partnerships in the federal government.

Accepted Answer

All of the statements are true. President Clinton formed the National Partnership Council (NPC) in 1993, which was later dissolved by President Bush in 2001. It has been found that federal labor-management partnerships improve labor-management communications, and a number of successes from federal labor-management partnerships have been documented.

Question 7

State laws that allow citizens to observe the collective bargaining process are referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Sunshine laws specifically refer to laws that allow for transparency and openness in government processes, including the collective bargaining process. Blue laws regulate certain activities on Sundays, sunset laws prescribe automatic expiration dates for laws, watergate laws tackle criminal activities related to government officials, and fishbowl laws are not a recognized term in the context of laws.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT considered an unfair labor practice under the Civil Service Reform Act (CSRA)?

Accepted Answer

Refusing to negotiate over a "permissible" bargaining subject is not considered an unfair labor practice under the CSRA. However, it is important to note that employers are required to negotiate over mandatory subjects such as wages, hours, and working conditions.

Question 9

Using the _______________ approach, an arbitrator chooses the entirety of either the union's or management's final offer covering all disputed issues.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Using the _______________ approach, an arbitrator chooses...

Question 10

Each of the following subjects is permissible in federal-sector negotiations except:

Accepted Answer

Management rights such as determining mission, budget, and internal security practices are considered non-negotiable and are exclusively reserved for management under federal law.

Question 11

Which one of the following organizations consists of one chairperson and at least six members appointed by the President that investigate any negotiation impasse presented and is authorized to take any necessary action to settle the dispute?

Accepted Answer

The Federal Service Impasse Panel (FSIP) consists of one chairperson and at least six members appointed by the President that investigate any negotiation impasse presented and is authorized to take any necessary action to settle the dispute. The other organizations listed do not have this specific role and function.

Question 12

The impasse resolution procedure that is acclaimed as the oldest and most frequently used in the public sector is:

Accepted Answer

Mediation is the oldest and most frequently used impasse resolution procedure in the public sector, as it involves a neutral third party helping the disputing parties reach a voluntary agreement.

Question 13

The highest percent of public-sector employees who are union members exist at what level of government?

Accepted Answer

Local level of government typically has the highest percent of public-sector employees who are union members. This includes employees such as police officers, firefighters, and teachers who often belong to unions at the local level.

Question 14

Which of the following has NOT contributed to the growth of public-sector unionization?

Accepted Answer

Privatization and downsizing of public-sector jobs have not contributed to the growth of public-sector unionization. In fact, they have led to a decrease in the number of unionized public-sector workers. A, B, and C have all contributed to the growth of public-sector unionization by creating a more favorable environment for the establishment and expansion of unions in the public sector.

Question 15

Which one of the following strategies is NOT a strategy that is commonly used to increase a public employer's cost of continuing to disagree with a union bargaining proposal?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which one of the following strategies is...

Question 16

The federal government agency that administers the federal relations program and adjudicates unfair labor practices is the:

Accepted Answer

The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) is the federal agency responsible for administering the federal labor relations program and adjudicating unfair labor practices.

Question 17

Which of the following statements is false about the differences between the public and private sectors?

Accepted Answer

Market forces do not constrain union and management negotiators in the public sector in the same way as in the private sector, due to the lack of competition and profit motive in the public sector.

Question 18

Which of the following statements about the rights and obligations of public-sector employees is NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

Public-sector employees can have limitations on their rights to expression and association if their activities create a conflict of interest or undermine the employer's interests. This can include political activities that may impact their ability to carry out their job duties impartially. Private-sector workers do not have the same level of scrutiny on their off-the-job behavior. Therefore, statement C is not correct as public-sector employees' rights to expression and association can be limited under certain circumstances.

Question 19

A criticism of conventional interest arbitration is that it:

Accepted Answer

The "narcotic effect" refers to the criticism that conventional interest arbitration can make parties overly reliant on arbitration to resolve disputes, reducing their incentive to negotiate settlements independently.

Question 20

The public-sector employee group most likely to participate in strikes is:

Accepted Answer

Educators, particularly teachers, are more likely to strike due to issues such as pay, working conditions, and education funding, which are common points of contention in the public sector.

Quiz 13: Labor Relations in the Public Sector

Which of the following is a responsibility of the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) ?