Question 1

What is the process called when a neutral third party enters and attempts to resolve a labor dispute when a bargaining impasse has occurred?

Accepted Answer

C)In mediation,a neutral third party enters the negotiations and attempts to facilitate a resolution to a labor dispute when a bargaining impasse has occurred.In arbitration,a dispute is submitted to an impartial third party for a binding decision; an arbitrator basically acts as a judge and jury.

Question 2

During the first round of negotiations with Olsen Automotive,the machinists union demands that management raise the wages of all employees by 15%.The union does not expect management to agree to this demand initially.Which term best describes the demand made by the union?

Accepted Answer

A)Demands for benefits that the union does not expect to receive when they are first made are known as beachhead demands.

Question 3

Neither the union nor management cares whether the other side loses face during the negotiation process.

Accepted Answer

Even though one party in the negotiating process may appear to possess the greater power,negotiators often take care to keep the other side from losing face.They recognize that the balance of power may switch rapidly.By the time the next round of negotiations occurs,the pendulum may be swinging back in favor of the other side.Even when management appears to have the upper hand,it may make minor concessions that will allow the labor leader to claim gains for the union.

Question 4

During negotiation preparations,which of the following is typically the best choice for gathering information regarding union members' attitudes?

Accepted Answer

B)The union must continuously gather information regarding membership needs to isolate areas of dissatisfaction.The union steward is normally in the best position to collect such data because they are usually elected by their peers.The union steward constantly funnels information up through the union's chain of command,where the data are compiled and analyzed.

Question 5

What is collective bargaining? What is involved in the collective bargaining process?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is collective bargaining? What is involved...

Question 6

Which law established the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)?

Accepted Answer

A)The principal organization involved in mediation efforts,other than some state and local agencies,is the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS).In 1947,the Taft-Hartley Act established the FMCS as an independent agency.

Question 7

Carlson Machines and the local labor union have a contract dispute over wages.The two sides have agreed to submit the dispute to an impartial third party for a binding decision.Which of the following will most likely serve as the judge and jury in this situation?

Accepted Answer

A)In arbitration,a dispute is submitted to an impartial third party for a binding decision; an arbitrator basically acts as a judge and jury.A mediator has no power to force a settlement but can help in the search for solutions,make recommendations,and work to open blocked channels of communication.

Question 8

Beachhead demands are ones that the union anticipates receiving from management during initial negotiations.

Accepted Answer

Each side usually does not expect to obtain all the demands presented in its first proposal.Labor can lose a demand and continue to bring it up in the future.Demands for benefits that the union does not expect to receive when they are first made are known as beachhead demands.

Question 9

An agency shop arrangement requires that all employees become members of the union after a specified period of employment.

Accepted Answer

An agency shop provision does not require employees to join the union; however,the labor agreement requires that,as a condition of employment,each nonunion member of the bargaining unit pay the union the equivalent of membership dues as a kind of tax,or service charge,in return for the union acting as the bargaining agent.A union shop arrangement requires that all employees become members of the union after a specified period of employment (the legal minimum is 30 days)or after a union shop provision has been negotiated.

Question 10

At the local level,the bargaining committee will normally include ________.

Accepted Answer

A)The responsibility for conducting negotiations for the union is usually entrusted to union officers.At the local level,rank-and-file members who are elected specifically for this purpose will normally supplement the bargaining committee.It is less likely that national level union stewards and AFL-CIO representatives would be on the bargaining committee.

Question 11

Ben is a member of the electricians' union,which is currently striking against Rawlings Manufacturing.However,Ben does not support the strike and does not want to participate,so he is continuing to work at Rawlings.As a result,Ben could be fined as high as ________ percent of his wages.

Accepted Answer

D)Virtually every national union's constitution contains a clause requiring the members to support and participate in a strike if one is called.If a union member fails to comply with this requirement,he or she can be fined as high as 100 percent of wages for as long as union pickets remain.

Question 12

Under the checkoff of dues provision,the company agrees to withhold union dues from members' paychecks and to forward the money directly to the union.

Accepted Answer

Under the checkoff of dues provision,the company agrees to withhold union dues from members' paychecks and to forward the money directly to the union.Because of provisions in the Taft-Hartley Act,each union member must voluntarily sign a statement authorizing this deduction.

Question 13

Where do the two negotiating teams usually meet?

Accepted Answer

C)The two negotiating teams usually meet at an agreed-on neutral site,such as a hotel.Meeting at the company or at a union hall would probably not lead to acceptable results.

Question 14

When preparing for negotiations,the union relies on the union steward to provide information about members' attitudes.

Accepted Answer

The union steward is normally in the best position to collect such data.Because they are usually elected by their peers,stewards should be well informed regarding union members' attitudes.The union steward constantly funnels information up through the union's chain of command,where the data are compiled and analyzed.

Question 15

In labor agreements,seniority is an important issue because it ________.

Accepted Answer

C)Agreement on seniority is important because the person with the most seniority,as defined in the labor agreement,is typically the last to be laid off and the first to be recalled.The seniority system also provides a basis for promotion decisions.

Question 16

Which of the following is typically LEAST useful during the negotiating phase of collective bargaining?

Accepted Answer

D)The term negotiating suggests a certain amount of give-and-take,the purpose of which is to lower the other side's expectations.Negotiations should be conducted in the privacy of a neutral location,not in the news media.It is equally important for union and management negotiators to strive to develop and maintain clear and open lines of communication.

Question 17

Which section of the labor agreement contains seniority provisions?

Accepted Answer

C)This section of the labor agreement establishes the procedures that cover job security for individual employees.Seniority is a key topic related to employee security.

Question 18

Martin Engineering is a large corporation that is preparing for collective bargaining negotiations with the machinists' union.Which of the following is LEAST likely to be on the bargaining team for Martin Engineering?

Accepted Answer

C)The makeup of the management team usually depends on the type of organization and its size,and with larger firms,HR managers,managers of principal operating divisions,and labor attorneys will most likely participate.Union officers would be on the other side of the table.

Question 19

Seniority may be granted to employees on the basis of all of the following EXCEPT ________.

Accepted Answer

D)Seniority is the length of time an employee has been associated with the company,division,department,or job.Seniority may be determined company-wide,by division,by department,or by job.It would be illegal to use age as the basis for promotions or lay-off decisions.

Question 20

The unionized machinists at Larson Aeronautics have refused to work and have halted production as a result of a breakdown in negotiations.Which of the following terms best describes the actions of the machinists?

Accepted Answer

B)When union members refuse to work in order to exert pressure on management in negotiations,their action is referred to as a strike.A boycott involves an agreement by union members to refuse to use or buy the firm's products.

Quiz 11: Labor Unions and Collective Bargaining