Chapter 10— Union/Management Relations and Grievances
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A(n) _____ is a formal association of workers that promotes the interests of its members primarily
through collective action.
a.
employment contract
b.
union
c.
trade fair
d.
cartel
2. Which of the following is true of unions in the United States?
a.
They typically try to improve working conditions.
b.
They typically avoid interfering with workplace rules.
c.
They typically try to decrease compensation.
d.
They typically avoid taking decisions through collective action.
3. Which of the following is an advantage of union representation in organizations?
a.
High productivity due to increasing compensation
b.
Consistent increase in profitability of organizations
c.
Efficient allocation of organizational resources
d.
Opportunity to provide feedback to employers
4. One of the primary reasons for the unionization of employees in the United States is the:
a.
dissatisfaction with how they are treated by their employers.
b.
lack of performance-linked bonuses in organizations.
c.
economic cycles that determine the profitability in an organization.
d.
promotion of unionization by the federal government.
5. Which of the following statements is true of the wages of employees in the United States?
a.
Union members always receive more benefits than nonunion employees.
b.
The wages paid to union and nonunion members differ in the private sector.
c.
Union wages equaled nonunion wages only after the global recession of 2009.
d.
Union workers frequently get compensated better in terms of pay than do nonunion
workers.
6. In an organization, which of the following strategies can be employed to prevent unionization?
a.
Warning those employees who talk to union officials
b.
Providing incentives to dissuade employees from forming unions
c.
HR professionals and operating managers being attentive and responsive to employees
d.
Monitoring the interactions of employees with union representatives and acting
accordingly
7. _____ deal with unionized employees in organizations where human resource professionals have
limited involvement with labor relations.
a.
Top managements
b.
Board of directors
c.
Operating managers
d.
Labor-law consulting firms
8. Union membership, as a percentage of the U.S. civilian workforce, has:
a.
remained constant over the years.
b.
decreased over the years.
c.
mostly remained steady with slight increases during certain time periods.
d.
steadily decreased till the mid-90’s and then increased considerably.
9. The long-term decline in the U.S. union membership has been attributed to the:
a.
shift in jobs from service industries to manufacturing industries.
b.
perception by firms that dealing with unions is expensive.
c.
increase in blue-collar jobs in manufacturing.
d.
increase in economic prosperity.
10. Why are unions considered to be victims of their own successes?
a.
Unions have managed to earn several benefits for workers but this has resulted in
a general perception by firms that dealing with unions is expensive.
b.
Workers are strongly intimidated by union activities despite the efforts unions have put in
for the benefit of workers.
c.
Unions have succeeded in passing several laws successfully for the welfare of workers,
but mostly through illegal means.
d.
Unions have passed most of the important issues that affect workers into law and are no
longer considered necessary.
11. How has the North American Free Trade Agreement affected U.S. unions?
a.
Mexican organizations have increased wages so that U.S. firms no longer have a cost
advantage while moving low-skill jobs to Mexico.
b.
Mexico has moved several manufacturing industries to the United States, thus providing
employment opportunities to unionized workers.
c.
U.S. firms with unionized workforces have moved low-skill jobs to Mexico, thus reducing
union membership.
d.
Low tariffs and restrictions have allowed U.S. firms to sell more products to Mexico, thus
increasing employment for union members.
12. The most highly unionized part of the U.S. workforce is the:
a.
agricultural sector.
b.
manufacturing sector.
c.
government sector.
d.
mining sector.
13. Which of the following is true of the view that white-collar workers have about
unions?
a.
Most union members belong to minority groups.
b.
Unions prefer women in low-skill jobs as members.
c.
Union members frequently encounter unfair and inequitable treatment.
d.
Unions are not in touch with the concerns of the more educated workers.
14. Which of the following U.S. unions founded in 1938 focused on semiskilled and unskilled workers?
a.
The American Federation of Labor
b.
The AFL-CIO
c.
The Congress of Industrial Organizations
d.
The Change to Win association
15. A(n) _____ is a union in which all members do the same type of work, often using specialized skills
and training.
a.
craft union
b.
federation
c.
industrial union
d.
international union
16. Which of the following is an example of an industrial union?
a.
The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees
b.
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
c.
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers
d.
National Labor Relations
17. Which of the following represents a group of autonomous unions?
a.
Craft unions
b.
Industrial unions
c.
Congresses
d.
Federations
18. Gloria, an active member of a local union and an employee of Bargello Inc., is elected as the first-line
representative of Bargello’s unionized workers. She discusses the grievances of the employees with
their supervisors and represents employees at the workplace. Gloria plays the role of an elected _____.
a.
union leader
b.
union officer
c.
union steward
d.
business agent
19. Monica, an active member of a local union, runs the local headquarters and provides assistance to all
union members. She helps employees negotiate contracts with their managements and actively works
toward increasing the union’s strength. Monica plays the role of a(n) _____.
a.
business agent
b.
administrative consultant
c.
union steward
d.
lobbyist
20. The Railway Labor Act (RLA) of 1926 was the result of a joint effort between railroad management
and unions to:
a.
regulate the wages and benefits of railroad workers.
b.
reduce the number of transportation strikes.
c.
break the monopoly of railroad “barons” who controlled the railway industry.
d.
allow the President to federalize railroads in case of emergencies.
21. In 1936 in the United States, airlines and their employees were added to those covered by the:
a.
Wagner Act.
b.
Taft-Hartley Act
c.
Airline Employment Act.
d.
Railway Labor Act.
22. In 1932, the U.S. Congress passed the _____ which guaranteed workers some rights to organize and
restricted the issuance of court injunctions in labor disputes.
a.
Landrum-Griffin Act
b.
Railway Labor Act
c.
Norris-LaGuardia Act
d.
Wagner Act
23. Which of the following laws has been called the Magna Carta of labor and was pro-union?
a.
The Wagner Act
b.
The Landrum-Griffin Act
c.
The Railway Labor Act
d.
The Taft-Hartley Act
24. The _____, which prohibited employers from using unfair labor practices, declared that the official
policy of the U.S. government was to encourage collective bargaining.
a.
Railway Labor Act
b.
Landrum-Griffin Act
c.
Wagner Act
d.
Taft-Hartley Act
25. Which of the following laws passed in 1947 is considered to be pro-management?
a.
The Norris-LaGuardia Act
b.
The Railway Labor Act
c.
The Taft-Hartley Act
d.
The Wagner Act
26. Right-to-work laws:
a.
promote full-employment in unionized industries.
b.
restrict compulsory union membership.
c.
require that all union members have legal visas.
d.
prohibit unions’ organizing efforts during work hours.
27. The Landrum-Griffin Act was passed in 1959 to:
a.
give workers the right to engage in union activities at any time except work hours.
b.
reduce strikes by developing third-party arbitration and mediation tools.
c.
prohibit unfair labor practices by employers and union officials.
d.
ensure that the federal government protects the democratic rights of union members.
28. Which of the following is a result of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978?
a.
Federal contractors cannot hire replacement workers during a strike.
b.
Pension funds of federal unions have been guaranteed by the government.
c.
Federal employees in all agencies are guaranteed the right to strike.
d.
It established the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA).
29. Before a union election can be called, _____ of the employees in the targeted employee group must
sign authorization cards of the union.
a.
a majority
b.
two-thirds
c.
more than 40 percent
d.
at least 30 percent
30. Which of the following is true in the context of a union representation election?
a.
The Railway Labor Act places certain restrictions on the activities of the unions and
managements before an election.
b.
Supervisors cannot be included in bargaining units for unionization purposes, except in
industries covered by the Railway Labor Act.
c.
A union should gain 50% of the votes to be named as the representative of all the
employees.
d.
The larger is the number of employees in a bargaining unit, the higher is the likelihood
that the union will win.
31. A union is removed as the representative of a group of employees by the process of:
a.
union busting.
b.
delisting.
c.
deunionization.
d.
decertification.
32. The process whereby representatives of management and workers negotiate over wages, hours, and
other terms and conditions of employment is called:
a.
joint decision making.
b.
collective bargaining.
c.
contract arbitration.
d.
bipartite negotiation.
33. Which of the following can be considered as a union security provision?
a.
Closed union shops
b.
Right-to-work laws
c.
No-solicitation policy
d.
No-layoff policy
34. During a contract negotiation, the negotiator for a union brings up the issue of changing the manner in
which work is scheduled. Which of the following is true of this situation?
a.
The management need not negotiate on this issue because it is a permissive issue.
b.
The management needs to negotiate on this issue as it is a mandatory issue.
c.
This is a non-negotiable issue because scheduling is part of the management’s rights.
d.
This is an illegal issue and the management may refuse to negotiate.
35. The process by which union members vote to accept the terms of a negotiated labor agreement is
called:
a.
authorization.
b.
certification.
c.
acceptance.
d.
ratification.
36. During a contract negotiation, the management of RMS, Inc. and its employee union fail to reach an
agreement on an issue related to night shift pay scales. A neutral third party is called in to actively
work with both sides and help them reach a settlement. This party suggests several ideas that could
help in solving the issue. The process used by the third party in the given scenario is referred to as:
a.
arbitration.
b.
mediation.
c.
fact finding.
d.
conciliation.
37. During a contract negotiation, the management of Wild Mist Inc. and its employee union fail to reach
an agreement on an issue related to retirement benefits. A neutral third party is called in to come up
with a solution, make the necessary decisions, and reach a settlement. The process used by the third
party in the given scenario is referred to as:
a.
fact finding.
b.
conciliation.
c.
arbitration.
d.
mediation.
38. After a series of failed negotiations with its union, Sinclair Processing Inc. shuts down its
manufacturing unit in order to prevent union members from working. Sinclair Processing is using a
_____ to put pressure on the union.
a.
pre-emptive strike
b.
counter strike
c.
vandalism
d.
lockout
39. The responsibilities of a human resources unit while handling grievances in a unionized company
include:
a.
operating within provisions of the grievance procedure.
b.
documenting grievance cases for grievance procedures.
c.
engaging in grievance prevention efforts.
d.
monitoring the trends in grievance rates.
40. Amanda is suspended by her manager for refusing to work on night shifts. She decides to file a
grievance with the human resources unit in her company. Which of the following should be Amanda’s
first step?
a.
Contacting the grievance division of the company’s national union
b.
Filing a written complaint with the national union of the company
c.
Discussing the grievance with her union steward and supervisor
d.
Applying for arbitration to settle the grievance
41. _____ is a means by which a third party settles disputes arising from different interpretations of a labor
contract.
a.
Interest arbitration
b.
Grievance mediation
c.
Grievance arbitration
d.
Contract mediation
42. Which of the following is true regarding international union membership?
a.
In Europe, workers use technology to reform the way work gets done in factories.
b.
Child labor is one of the major labor concerns in the Unites States.
c.
The highest percentage of union membership is in the Scandinavian countries.
d.
Codetermination is increasingly being practiced in developing countries.
43. The practice whereby union or worker representatives are given positions on a company’s board of
directors is called:
a.
collusion.
b.
cooperation.
c.
codetermination.
d.
tripartite negotiation.
TRUE/FALSE
1. A major reason for employee unionization in the United States is the hiring of immigrant workers for
low wages by employers.
2. In the United States, employees in the public sector are more likely to be union members than
employees in the private sector.
3. The retirement of union members in older manufacturing firms has led to union membership decline.
4. A union steward is a full-time union official who operates the union office and assists union members.
7. The Wagner Act established the National Labor Relations Board as an independent entity to
enforce the provisions of the act.
8. The Taft-Hartley Act allows the U.S. Senate to declare that a strike presents a national emergency.
9. Right-to-work laws allow a person the right to work without having to join a union.
10. The Landrum-Griffin Act appointed the U.S. Secretary of Labor to act as a watchdog of union
conduct.
11. The Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 prohibits postal workers from striking and has
established a dispute-resolution process for them to follow.
12. Mailing antiunion letters to employees’ homes is an illegal union prevention method.
13. Hiring “union busters” during the organizing campaign of a union is an unfair labor practice.
14. It is illegal for employers to forbid distribution of union literature during work hours in work areas.
15. Presenting employees with information about unions is an unfair labor practice.
16. At least two-thirds of the employees in the targeted group in a company must sign
authorization cards before an election can be called.
17. Issues pertaining to safety rules and profit-sharing plans are mandatory subjects for bargaining.
18. It is common for wages and benefits to be higher in unionized firms.
19. The process of conciliation is intended to resolve collective bargaining impasses by proposing
potential solutions to the involved parties.
20. “Interest” arbitration is used extensively in the private sector in the United States.
21. The Wagner Act does not contain prohibitions against employer-dominated labor organizations.
22. Unions in some situations have encouraged workers to become partial or complete owners of
the companies that employ them.
23. It is the responsibility of an operating manager, and not the human resources unit, to engage in
grievance prevention efforts in a company.
24. In most European countries, employee wages are set by government negotiations with employers
rather than through collective bargaining between unions and management.
25. Codetermination refers to the practice whereby union or worker representatives are given
positions on a company’s board of directors.
SHORT ANSWER
1. Explain a few strategies that employers use to prevent unionization from occurring in their
organizations.
2. How have unions attempted to counteract the overall decline in the U.S. union membership?
3. Describe the two basic types of unions that have developed over time in the United States.
4. What was the significance of the Railway Labor Act of 1926?
5. What is a “community of interest”? What are the different areas in which employees should have
mutual interests in so as to constitute a bargaining unit?
6. Describe two union security provisions that organizations commonly provide.
7. What is codetermination?
ESSAY
1. Describe why employees want to unionize.
2. What is the current state of labor union activity in the United States?
3. How do national and international unions differ from local unions in their structures and functions?
4. Describe the major national laws of the United States. What has been their impact on labor–
management relations?
5. An employee is given a union leaflet that asks employees to sign a card while leaving the company
premises after work. Discuss the significance of the card that the employee has been asked to sign. Is
the distribution of such leaflets by a union is legal?
6. The National Labor Relations Board has defined collective bargaining issues by dividing them into
three categories. Explain these three categories.
7. What is the role of collective bargaining in union/management relations? Describe the collective
bargaining process.
8. How have employee involvement programs affected organizations over time? What are the advantages
and disadvantages of employee ownership programs?
9. George, a unionized employee, is suspended from work after a conflict with his supervisor. George
decides to file a grievance complaint. Whom should George approach with his problem? Who handles
the responsibilities of grievance management in an organization? What are the different steps that
George is likely to undergo in the grievance management procedure?
