HR MGT Chapter 12 Practice – Flashcards

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1) About ________% of people working in the United States belong to unions. A) 5 B) 12 C) 20 D) 45 E) 62
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Answer: B Explanation: Just over 17.7 million U.S. workers belong to unions—around 12.4% of the total number of men and women working in this country.
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2) One of the earliest unions in the United States, the Knights of Labor, was formed by a group of ________. A) coal miners B) tailors C) carpenters D) railroad workers E) printers
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Answer: B Explanation: In 1869, a group of tailors met and formed the Knights of Labor. The Knights were interested in political reform.
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3) Who was responsible for forming the American Federation of Labor in 1886? A) Samuel Gompers B) Benjamin Franklin C) Frederick Taylor D) George Meany E) Alexander Hamilton
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Answer: A Explanation: In 1886, Samuel Gompers formed the American Federation of Labor (AFL). It consisted mostly of skilled workers and, unlike the Knights, focused on practical, bread-and-butter gains for its members.
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4) Which of the following was the primary goal of the American Federation of Labor? A) achieving political reform B) gaining a higher social status C) addressing immigrant labor D) improving work conditions E) creating labor legislation
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Answer: D Explanation: Gompers and the AFL aimed to raise day-to-day wages and improve working conditions.
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5) Which of the following best explains why union membership has fallen since the 1970s? A) Legislation provides workers with protections that were once exclusive to unions. B) Union members earn less on average compared to non-union members. C) Union membership is too expensive for most blue collar workers. D) Foreign-owned manufacturers will not hire union members. E) Unions are considered largely ineffectual.
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Answer: A Explanation: Union membership has fallen since the 1970s. Reasons include the shift from manufacturing to service jobs, and new legislation (such as occupational safety laws) provides the sorts of protections that workers could once only obtain from their unions.
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6) Which of the following is a false statement about union membership? A) Union members work in both blue-collar and white-collar industries. B) Insurance plan benefits are better for union workers than for nonunion workers. C) Union members have better long-term disability benefits than non-union workers do. D) Union workers receive more holidays and unpaid leave than nonunion workers do. E) Employers prefer nonunion workers, so they pay them higher wages than union members.
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Answer: E Explanation: Recent median weekly wages for union workers was $781, while that for nonunion workers was $612. Union workers also generally receive significantly more holidays, sick leave, unpaid leave, insurance plan benefits, long-term disability benefits, and various other benefits than nonunion workers do. Union membership is not exclusive to blue-collar workers.
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7) Which of the following was part of the New Deal and made union organization easier? A) Fair Labor Standards Act B) National Industrial Recovery Act C) National Labor Relations Act D) Occupational Safety and Health Act E) Labor Management Relations Act
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Answer: B Explanation: As part of his New Deal programs, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt passed the National Industrial Recovery Act, which made it easier for labor to organize. The FLSA provides for minimum wages and maximum hours. The National Labor Relations Act provides for secret-ballot elections in unions. The Labor Management Relations Act prohibits unfair union labor practices.
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8) Which of the following best describes the closed shop form of union security? A) A company can hire nonunion people if they agree to join the union. B) Union members receive higher wages than nonunion employees. C) Employees who do not belong to the union are required to pay dues. D) Union members receive preferential treatment in hiring. E) A company can hire only union members.
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Answer: E Explanation: Under the closed shop form of union security, the company can hire only current union members. Congress outlawed closed shops in interstate commerce in 1947, but they still exist in some states for particular industries (such as printing). They account for fewer than 5% of union contracts.
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9) The ________ form of union security means that the company can hire only union members. A) closed shop B) union shop C) agency shop D) preferential shop E) maintenance of membership
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Answer: A Explanation: Under the closed shop form of union security, the company can hire only current union members. Congress outlawed closed shops in interstate commerce in 1947, but they still exist in some states for particular industries.
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10) Which type of union security was outlawed in 1947? A) agency shop B) closed shop C) union shop D) preferential shop E) maintenance of membership
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Answer: B Explanation: Under the closed shop form of union security, the company can hire only current union members. Congress outlawed closed shops in interstate commerce in 1947, but they still exist in some states for particular industries.
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11) Which type of union security accounts for almost three-fourths of union contracts? A) maintenance of membership B) preferential shop C) closed shop D) union shop E) agency shop
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Answer: D Explanation: The union shop accounts for about 73% of union contracts. Closed shop and maintenance of membership both account for less than 5% of all contracts.
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12) The ________ form of union security means that the company can hire nonunion people, but those people must join the union within a prescribed period of time and pay dues. A) closed shop B) union shop C) agency shop D) open shop E) maintenance of agreement
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Answer: B Explanation: With the union shop, the company can hire nonunion people, but they must join the union after a prescribed period and pay dues. Under the closed shop form of union security, the company can hire only current union members.
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13) Which form of union security requires employees who do not belong to the union to pay union dues on the assumption that the union's efforts benefit all workers? A) closed shop B) union shop C) agency shop D) open shop E) maintenance of agreement
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Answer: C Explanation: With the agency shop, employees who do not belong to the union still must pay the union an amount equal to union dues on the assumption that the union's efforts benefit all the workers.
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14) Which of the following best defines the preferential shop form of union security? A) A company can hire nonunion people, but they must then join the union. B) A company can hire only current union members. C) Employees who do not belong to the union must still pay dues. D) A company gives hiring advantages to union members. E) Union members must maintain membership for the contract period.
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Answer: D Explanation: With preferential shop, union members receive preference in hiring. With the agency shop, employees who do not belong to the union still must pay the union an amount equal to union dues. Choice B describes the closed shop.
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15) With the maintenance of membership arrangement of union security, how long must union members employed by a firm maintain union membership? A) until the union disbands B) until negotiations are over C) until there is a wage increase D) for the contract period E) for at least one year
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Answer: D Explanation: With the maintenance of membership arrangement, employees do not have to belong to the union. However, union members employed by the firm must maintain membership in the union for the contract period.
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16) The term ________ describes statutory or constitutional provisions banning the requirement of union membership as a condition of employment. A) termination at will B) right to work C) open shop D) free labor E) yellow dog
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Answer: B Explanation: Right to work is a term used to describe state statutory or constitutional provisions banning the requirement of union membership as a condition of employment. Right to work laws don't outlaw unions, but they do outlaw any form of union security.
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17) Right to work laws inhibit union formation by ________. A) outlawing unions in right to work states B) prohibiting any form of union security C) making union membership a precondition for employment D) leaving the question of union affiliation up to each company E) leaving the question of union security up to each company
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Answer: B Explanation: Right-to-work laws don't outlaw unions. They do outlaw (within those states) any form of union security. Right to work is a term used to describe state statutory or constitutional provisions banning the requirement of union membership as a condition of employment.
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18) In which human resource activity does a typical labor agreement NOT give the union a role? A) recruitment B) selection C) compensation D) dismissal E) appraisals
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Answer: E Explanation: The typical labor agreement also gives the union a role in other human resource activities, including recruiting, selecting, compensating, promoting, training, and discharging employees. Unions typically play no role in performance appraisals.
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19) Which of the following best describes the AFL-CIO? A) voluntary federation of national and international labor unions B) local union for automobile workers in Detroit, Michigan C) political lobbying group for public school teachers D) federation of firms that fight unionization in their plants E) regional branch of the National Labor Relations Board
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Answer: A Explanation: The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) is a voluntary federation of about 56 national and international labor unions in the United States.
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20) Which of the following best describes a "yellow dog" contract? A) As a condition of employment, an employee agrees not to picket. B) Union members agree to the agency shop form of union security. C) Employers agree to give union members preference in hiring. D) As a condition of employment, an employee agrees to not join a union. E) Employers agree to abide by the guidelines of the local labor unions.
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Answer: D Explanation: "Yellow dog" contracts, whereby management could require nonunion membership as a condition for employment, were widely enforced.
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21) Prior to 1930, employers attempted to limit the influence of unions using all of the following methods EXCEPT ________. A) spies B) collective bargaining C) firing union agitators D) blacklisting union members E) requiring yellow dog contracts
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Answer: B Explanation: Until about 1930, there were no special labor laws. Employers were not required to engage in collective bargaining with employees and were virtually unrestrained in their behavior toward unions; the use of spies and firing of union agitators were widespread. "Yellow dog" contracts were widely enforced.
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22) Which of the following guaranteed each employee the right to bargain collectively without interference, restraint, or coercion? A) National Labor Relations Act B) Norris-LaGuardia Act C) National Labor Relations Board D) AFL-CIO E) Taft-Hartley Act
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Answer: B Explanation: The Norris-LaGuardia Act of 1932 guaranteed to each employee the right to bargain collectively "free from interference, restraint, or coercion." The National Labor Relations Act added on to Norris-LaGuardia by banning certain unfair labor practices.
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23) Which of the following bans certain unfair labor practices and provides for majority rule and secret ballot elections? A) Landrum-Griffin Act B) Norris-LaGuardia Act C) Taft-Hartley Act D) Davis-Bacon Act E) Wagner Act
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Answer: E Explanation: Congress passed the National Labor Relations (or Wagner) Act to add teeth to Norris-LaGuardia. It did this by banning certain unfair labor practices and by providing for secret-ballot elections and majority rule for determining whether a firm's employees would unionize.
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24) Which of the following was established by the Wagner Act? A) National Labor Relations Committee B) Labor Management Relations Board C) National Labor Relations Board D) Knights of Labor E) AFL-CIO
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Answer: C Explanation: The Wagner Act created the National Labor Relations Board to enforce the provisions of the act.
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25) Which of the following was passed in 1935 to amend the Norris -LaGuardia Act? A) Taft-Hartley Act B) New Deal Act C) Wagner Act D) Landrum-Griffin Act E) Equal Pay Act
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Answer: C Explanation: In 1935, Congress passed the National Labor Relations (or Wagner) Act to add teeth to Norris-LaGuardia. It did this by (1) banning certain unfair labor practices, (2) providing for secret-ballot elections and majority rule for determining whether a firm's employees would unionize, and (3) creating the National Labor Relations Board.
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26) Which of the following best describes the purpose of the Wagner Act? A) guaranteeing each employee the right to bargain collectively free from interference and coercion B) banning unions from preventing employees from exercising their guaranteed bargaining rights C) allowing secret-ballot elections for determining whether a firm's employees would unionize D) making it illegal for a union to refuse to bargain in god faith with the employer E) protecting union members from possible wrongdoing on the part of their unions
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Answer: C Explanation: In 1935, Congress passed the National Labor Relations (or Wagner) Act to add teeth to Norris-LaGuardia. It did this by (1) banning certain unfair labor practices, (2) providing for secret-ballot elections and majority rule for determining whether a firm's employees would unionize, and (3) creating the National Labor Relations Board.
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27) The National Labor Relations Board was primarily established for the purpose of ________. A) establishing branches in right-to-work states B) negotiating contracts on behalf of local unions C) managing the membership of the AFL-CIO D) investigating unfair labor practice charges E) overseeing the establishment of local unions
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Answer: D
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28) Which of the following was NOT designated an unfair labor practice by the Wagner Act? A) bribing employees B) requiring yellow dog contracts C) using company spy systems D) moving businesses to avoid unionization E) black-listing union sympathizers
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Answer: B Explanation: Yellow-dog contracts were deemed unenforceable under the Norris-LaGuardia Act. The Wagner Act deemed it unfair to bribe employees, use company spy systems, move a business to avoid unionization, and black-list union sympathizers.
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29) Which of the following is the most likely reason for the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act? A) pressure from AFL-CIO B) high unemployment rates C) significant economic boom D) major shifts in the workforce E) numerous union strikes
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Answer: E Explanation: Largely because of a series of massive postwar strikes, public policy began to shift against what many viewed as union excesses. Passage of the Taft-Hartley Act occurred to limit the power of unions.
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30) The Taft-Hartley Act amended the Wagner Act in all of the following ways EXCEPT by ________. A) prohibiting unfair labor practices B) enumerating the rights of employers C) enumerating the rights of employees as union members D) limiting the power of the National Labor Review Board E) allowing the U.S. President to bar national emergency strikes
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Answer: D Explanation: The Taft-Hartley Act did not alter the power of the NLRB. The law prohibited unfair labor practices, enumerated the rights of employers and employees, and allowed the President to bar national emergency strikes on a temporary basis.
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31) Which of the following terms refers to an unfair labor practice in which a union requires an employer to pay an employee for services not performed? A) coercing B) padding C) ballooning D) inflating E) featherbedding
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Answer: E Explanation: It is an unfair labor practice for a union to engage in featherbedding. Featherbedding involves requiring an employer to pay an employee for services not performed.
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32) The Taft-Hartley Act prohibits all of the following union labor practices EXCEPT ________. A) requiring an employer to pay an employee for services not performed B) forcing an employer to fire a worker for failing to attend union meetings C) refusing to bargain in good faith with an employer about wages and hours D) restraining or coercing employees from exercising their guaranteed bargaining rights E) demanding an employer to fire a worker who fails to pay union dues in a closed shop
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Answer: E Explanation: Where a closed or union shop prevails (and union membership is therefore a prerequisite to employment), the union may demand the discharge of someone who fails to pay his or her initiation fees and dues. Choices A, B, C, and D are considered unfair union labor practices under the Taft-Hartley Act.
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33) You are a manager at a manufacturing facility, and you tell your subordinates that unions are dangerous to the economy. Which law protects your right to express these views? A) Norris-LaGuardia Act B) Taft-Hartley Act C) Gompers Act D) Wagner Act E) Landrum-Griffin Act
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Answer: B Explanation: The Taft-Hartley Act explicitly gave employers certain rights, such as expressing their views concerning union organization.
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34) Which law sought to protect union members from possible wrongdoing on the part of their unions? A) Norris-LaGuardia Act B) Taft-Hartley Act C) Civil Rights Act D) Wagner Act E) Landrum-Griffin Act
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Answer: E Explanation: The Landrum-Griffin Act of 1959 was intended to protect union members from possible wrongdoing on the part of their unions.
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35) According to the Landrum-Griffin Act, national and international unions must elect officers at least once every ________ years. A) two B) three C) four D) five E) six
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Answer: D Explanation: The Landrum-Griffin Act laid out rules regarding union elections. For example, national and international unions must elect officers at least once every 5 years, using some type of secret-ballot mechanism.
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36) What is the first step in the union drive process? A) obtaining authorization cards from employees B) making initial contact with employees C) holding an initial organization hearing D) campaigning for employee votes E) holding a consent election
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Answer: B Explanation: During the initial contact stage, the union determines the employees' interest in organizing, and establishes an organizing committee. The initiative for the first contact between the employees and the union may come from the employees, from a union already representing other employees of the firm, or from a union representing workers elsewhere. Obtaining authorization cards, holding hearings, and campaigning for election votes occur later in the process.
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37) Which of the following is a union organizing tactic by which union members are placed on nonunion job sites? A) featherbedding B) union salting C) mediating D) bargaining E) picketing
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Answer: B Explanation: The National Labor Relations Board defines union salting as "placing of union members on nonunion job sites for the purpose of organizing." Featherbedding involves requiring an employer to pay an employee for services not performed.
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38) What percentage of eligible employees in a bargaining unit must sign authorization cards in order for the union to petition the NLRB for an election? A) 10 B) 20 C) 30 D) 40 E) 50
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Answer: C Explanation: Thirty percent of the eligible employees in an appropriate bargaining unit must sign before the union can petition the NLRB for an election
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39) Union authorization cards serve all of the following functions EXCEPT ________. A) authorizing a union election B) subjecting the employee to union rules C) stating that the employee has applied for membership D) enabling employers to modify employment conditions E) designating the union as a bargaining representative
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Answer: D Explanation: Union authorization cards authorize the union to seek a representation election and designate the union as a bargaining representative. They state that the employee has applied to join the union and is subject to union rules. The cards do not permit employers to modify employment conditions.
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40) Hyper-Tech Enterprises manufactures mechanical parts used in air conditioning and heating units. The company employs over 300 workers at its Alabama facility. None of the Hyper-Tech employees belong to a union; however, management believes that unionization is in the near future. A representative of a local union has recently visited Hyper-Tech in an attempt to solicit members and have them sign authorization cards. Enough eligible employees have signed authorization cards to petition the NLRB for an election. Hyper-Tech's top executives are considering fighting the unionization efforts. Which of the following questions is LEAST relevant to the decision by Hyper-Tech to fight unionization efforts? A) How many Hyper-Tech employees were hired within the last year? B) What percentage of Hyper-Tech employees signed authorization cards? C) Does Hyper-Tech qualify for coverage by the National Labor Relations Board? D) What is the opinion of Hyper-Tech's shareholders and creditors regarding unionization? E) What are the laws regarding what Hyper-Tech managers can and cannot do during a campaign?
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Answer: A Explanation: The number of newly hired employees is least relevant to the firm's decision to fight unionization. Choices B, C, D, and E are more relevant to the decision.
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41) Hyper-Tech Enterprises manufactures mechanical parts used in air conditioning and heating units. The company employs over 300 workers at its Alabama facility. None of the Hyper-Tech employees belong to a union; however, management believes that unionization is in the near future. A representative of a local union has recently visited Hyper-Tech in an attempt to solicit members and have them sign authorization cards. Enough eligible employees have signed authorization cards to petition the NLRB for an election. Hyper-Tech's top executives are considering fighting the unionization efforts. Which of the following, if true, best supports the argument that Hyper-Tech should contest the union's right to an election? A) Hyper-Tech has hired a labor relations consultant to provide advice on union campaign procedures and any relevant laws. B) Managers believe that they may have inadvertently hired union salts, who most likely instigated the unionization movement at Hyper-Tech. C) The process outlined at Hyper-Tech for filing employee grievances differs from the grievance procedures at other firms in the same industry. D) Hyper-Tech management believes that if employees are provided with additional information from the firm that they will revoke their authorization cards. E) Hyper-Tech managers will soon be conducting annual employee performance appraisals and determining what salary adjustments to make.
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Answer: D Explanation: If Hyper-Tech wants to contest the union's right, it can insist on a hearing to determine those issues. An employer's decision about whether to insist on a hearing is a strategic one. Management bases it on the facts of each case, and on whether it feels it needs more time to try to persuade employees not to elect a union.
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42) Which of the following terms refers to the group of employees the union will be authorized to represent? A) bargaining unit B) union delegation C) mediating group D) negotiating team E) grievance committee
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Answer: A Explanation: The bargaining unit is the group of employees that the union will be authorized to represent and bargain for collectively. If the entire organization is the bargaining unit, the union will represent all nonsupervisory, nonmanagerial, and nonconfidential employees, even though the union may be oriented mostly toward blue collar workers.
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43) The union becomes the employees' representative if it receives ________. A) a majority of the votes cast by stockholders B) a majority of the votes cast by the bargaining unit C) signed authorization cards from 30% of employees D) written approval from the employer E) a majority of the votes cast
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Answer: E Explanation: The union becomes the employees' representative if it wins the election, and winning means getting a majority of the votes cast, not a majority of the total workers in the bargaining unit.
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44) Which of the following situations would most likely improve a union's chances of winning a certification election at your firm? A) geographic area with low percentage of union workers B) high unemployment in the geographic area C) affiliation with the Teamsters union D) small bargaining units E) a large portion of workers voting
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Answer: D Explanation: Unions have a higher probability of success in geographic areas with a higher percentage of union workers. High unemployment seems to lead to poorer results for the union. The larger the bargaining unit, the smaller the probability of union victory. The more workers vote, the less likely a union victory. The Teamsters union is less likely to win an election.
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45) All of the following increase the likelihood that an employer will lose an NLRB election EXCEPT ________. A) focusing primarily on wage and benefits issues B) appointing a committee to manage the campaign C) distributing employee need and attitude surveys D) delegating personnel relations issues to plant managers E) focusing on salaried professionals instead of hourly workers
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Answer: C Explanation: Employers tend to lose elections when they focus too much on wages and benefits, appoint uniformed committees to manage campaigns, and delegate union issues. Employers are more likely to win if they address the attitudes and concerns of all workers by sending out surveys and responding to their needs.
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46) Hyper-Tech Enterprises manufactures mechanical parts used in air conditioning and heating units. The company employs over 300 workers at its Alabama facility. None of the Hyper-Tech employees belong to a union; however, management believes that unionization is in the near future. A representative of a local union has recently visited Hyper-Tech in an attempt to solicit members and have them sign authorization cards. Enough eligible employees have signed authorization cards to petition the NLRB for an election. Hyper-Tech's top executives are considering fighting the unionization efforts. Which of the following, if true, best supports the suggestion that Hyper-Tech will lose an NLRB election? A) Hyper-Tech recently distributed employee surveys that indicated overall job satisfaction. B) Hyper-Tech executives have decided that a committee should manage the campaign. C) Hyper-Tech is focusing exclusively on employee wages and benefits in its campaign efforts. D) Hyper-Tech managers have been told to share their opinions about unions with subordinates. E) Hyper-Tech managers have been told to avoid making promises to their subordinates.
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Answer: B Explanation: Forming a committee to manage a campaign is usually detrimental to firms because of the slow nature of committees in making decisions. Experts suggest giving full responsibility to a single, decisive executive. Sharing opinions about unions is acceptable. Focusing too much on wages and benefits can also be detrimental as many employees want to feel fairly treated.
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47) According to research, which of the following variables has the greatest influence on NLRB elections? A) bargaining unit demographics B) employer tactics C) election background D) union tactics E) employer characteristics
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Answer: D Explanation: The union's tactics explained "more of the variance in election outcomes than any other group of variables, including employer tactics, bargaining unit demographics, organizer background, election background, employer characteristics, and election environment."
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48) Hyper-Tech Enterprises manufactures mechanical parts used in air conditioning and heating units. The company employs over 300 workers at its Alabama facility. None of the Hyper-Tech employees belong to a union; however, management believes that unionization is in the near future. A representative of a local union has recently visited Hyper-Tech in an attempt to solicit members and have them sign authorization cards. Enough eligible employees have signed authorization cards to petition the NLRB for an election. Hyper-Tech's top executives are considering fighting the unionization efforts. Which of the following, if true, supports the argument by the NLRB that Hyper-Tech has conducted unfair labor practices? A) Hyper-Tech managers prohibited union representatives from soliciting employees who were on duty. B) Hyper-Tech managers intervened when pro-union employees solicited other employees while both were on duty. C) Hyper-Tech managers barred nonemployee union representatives from entering the firm's building. D) Hyper-Tech managers prevented nonemployee union representatives from the parking lot for safety reasons. E) Hyper-Tech managers prohibited distribution of union literature in the company cafeteria.
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Answer: E Explanation: The NLRB has ruled that the act of prohibiting distribution of the literature is an unfair labor practice. Most employers can bar nonemployees from the building's interiors and work areas as a right of private property owners. They can also sometimes bar nonemployees from exterior private areas—such as parking lots—if the reason is not just to interfere with union organizers.
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49) ________ is the process of legally terminating a union's right to represent employees. A) Union salting B) Featherbedding C) Certification D) Decertification E) Collective bargaining
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Answer: D Explanation: The same law that grants employees the right to unionize also gives them a way to terminate legally their union's right to represent them. The process is called decertification.
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50) When representatives of Ford's management and autoworkers union meet to negotiate a labor agreement, which of the following is most likely occurring? A) certification B) union salting C) featherbedding D) decertification E) collective bargaining
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Answer: E Explanation: Collective bargaining is the process through which representatives of management and the union meet to negotiate a labor agreement.
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51) Which of the following is a characteristic of good faith bargaining? A) overlooking bargaining items B) making counterproposals C) making unilateral changes in conditions D) bypassing the union representative E) imposing unreasonable conditions
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Answer: B Explanation: Good faith bargaining is characterized by both parties making every reasonable effort to arrive at an agreement. Proposals are matched with counterproposals in good faith bargaining. Choices A, C, D, and E indicate that bargaining is not in good faith.
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52) Which of the following terms refers to items in collective bargaining over which bargaining is neither illegal nor mandatory? A) group bargaining items B) permissible bargaining items C) conditional bargaining items D) benefits-related bargaining items E) wage-related bargaining items
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Answer: B Explanation: Voluntary (or permissible) bargaining items are neither mandatory nor illegal; they become a part of negotiations only through the joint agreement of both management and union. Neither party can compel the other to negotiate over voluntary items.
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53) All of the following are examples of mandatory bargaining items EXCEPT ________. A) employee security B) shift differentials C) profit-sharing plans D) indemnity bonds E) employee drug testing
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Answer: D Explanation: Mandatory bargaining items are items in collective bargaining that a party must bargain over if they are introduced by the other party, such as employee security, shift differentials, profit-sharing plans, and drug testing. Voluntary bargaining items, such as indemnity bonds, become a part of negotiations only through the joint agreement of both management and union.
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54) All of the following are examples of permissible bargaining items EXCEPT ________. A) cafeteria prices B) use of union label C) severance pay D) scope of bargaining unit E) pension benefits for retired employees
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Answer: C Explanation: Mandatory bargaining items are items in collective bargaining that a party must bargain over if they are introduced by the other party, such as severance pay. Permissible bargaining items become a part of negotiations only through the joint agreement of both management and union. Choices A, B, D, and E are permissible bargaining items.
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55) Which of the following is an illegal bargaining item? A) membership of bargaining team B) discriminatory treatment C) employee drug testing D) continuance of past contract E) employment of strikebreaker
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Answer: B Explanation: Illegal bargaining items are items in collective bargaining that are forbidden by law, such as discriminatory treatment. Choices A, D, and E are permissible items, and Choice C is a mandatory item.
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56) Managers from Ford and representatives from United Auto Workers are in the first stage of collective bargaining over benefits and wages. Which of the following is most likely occurring? A) Subcommittes are forming to create alternatives. B) Each side is trading some of its demands. C) Each side is checking terms with superiors. D) Each side is presenting its demands. E) Both parties are signing an agreement.
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Answer: D Explanation: In the first stage of bargaining, each side presents its demands. At this stage, both parties are usually quite far apart on some issues. Choices A, B, C, and E are other steps in the bargaining process.
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57) Which of the following terms refers to a collective bargaining situation that occurs when the parties are not able to move further toward settlement? A) impasse B) picketing C) arbitration D) fact finding E) wildcat strike
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Answer: A Explanation: In collective bargaining, an impasse occurs when the parties are not able to move further toward settlement. An impasse usually occurs because one party is demanding more than the other will offer.
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58) Negotiators use all of the following types of third-party interventions to overcome an impasse EXCEPT ________. A) binding arbitration B) nonbinding arbitration C) mediation D) fact finding E) picketing
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Answer: E Explanation: Negotiators use three types of third-party interventions to overcome an impasse: mediation, fact finding, and arbitration. Arbitration may be either binding or nonbinding. Picketing is not a third-party intervention method.
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59) Which third-party intervention uses a neutral third party to assist the principals in reaching agreement? A) fact finding B) mediation C) binding arbitration D) interest arbitration E) non-binding arbitration
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Answer: B Explanation: With mediation, a neutral third party tries to assist the principals in reaching agreement. The mediator usually holds meetings with each party to determine where each stands regarding its position, and then uses this information to find common ground for further bargaining.
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60) Which intervention method listed below is the most definitive of all third-party interventions? A) fact finding B) mediation C) binding arbitration D) interest arbitration E) non-binding arbitration
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Answer: C Explanation: Arbitration is the most definitive type of third-party intervention, because the arbitrator often has the power to determine and dictate the settlement terms. Unlike mediation and fact finding, arbitration can guarantee a solution to an impasse. With binding arbitration, both parties are committed to accepting the arbitrator's award, but with nonbinding arbitration, they are not.
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61) Fact finding seeks to end an impasse by ________. A) assisting the principals in reaching an agreement B) studying the issues and making a public recommendation C) determining and dictating the settlement terms D) interpreting and analyzing existing contract terms E) communicating assessments of the likelihood of a strike
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Answer: B Explanation: A fact finder is a neutral party who studies the issues in a dispute and makes a public recommendation for a reasonable settlement.
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62) The National Air Traffic Controllers Association and the Federal Aviation Administration have reached an impasse during collective bargaining. Which of the following will most likely be used to reach a settlement? A) fact finding B) mediation C) binding arbitration D) interest arbitration E) non-binding arbitration
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Answer: A Explanation: Presidential emergency fact-finding boards have successfully resolved impasses in certain critical transportation disputes. Choices B, C, D, and E are less likely to be used during this national emergency strike.
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63) Which of the following terms refers to a strike that takes place when one union strikes in support of another union? A) wildcat strike B) economic strike C) unfair labor practices strike D) bargaining strike E) sympathy strike
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Answer: E Explanation: A sympathy strike occurs when one union strikes in support of the strike of another union. A wildcat strike is an unauthorized strike occurring during the term of a contract.
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64) A strike that results from a failure to agree on the terms of a contract, such as wages and benefits, is known as a(n) ________ strike. A) arbitrary B) wildcat C) economic D) sympathy E) unfair labor practices
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Answer: C Explanation: An economic strike results from a failure to agree on the terms of a contract. Unions call unfair labor practice strikes to protest illegal conduct by the employer. A wildcat strike is an unauthorized strike occurring during the term of a contract.
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65) Employers dealing with an unfair labor practice strike can use all of the following responses EXCEPT ________. A) shutting down the affected area until the strike ends B) contracting out work to other operations C) continuing operations with supervisors filling in D) hiring temporary replacement workers E) hiring permanent replacement workers
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Answer: E Explanation: Employers cannot permanently replace strikers who are protesting unfair labor practices. However, Choices A, B, C, and D are options in such a situation.
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66) Union tactics designed to impede or disrupt production by encouraging employees to slow the pace of work, refuse to work overtime, and participate in sick-outs are called ________. A) espionage B) inside games C) lockouts D) injunctions E) strikes
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Answer: B Explanation: Inside games are union efforts to convince employees to impede or to disrupt production, such as by slowing the work pace, refusing to work overtime, and filing mass charges with government agencies. Inside games are basically strikes in which the company continues to pay the employees.
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67) Which of the following terms refers to the formal process for addressing any factor involving wages, hours, or conditions of employment that is used as a complaint against the employer? A) negotiation B) collective bargaining C) court injunction D) grievance procedure E) arbitration method
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Answer: D Explanation: The grievance procedure provides an orderly system whereby both employer and union determine whether some action violated the contract. The grievance process allows both parties to interpret and give meaning to various clauses, and transforms the contract into a "living organism."
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68) Jeff is a manager at a paper mill. He has received a grievance from a group of employees who are union members. The grievance claims that a plant rule barring employees from eating during unscheduled breaks is arbitrary and unfair. What should Jeff do? A) Discuss the case privately with the union steward. B) Respond to the grievance with long, written answers. C) Agree to make informal changes to the rules. D) Examine the grievants' personnel records. E) Make special arrangements with the grievants.
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Answer: D Explanation: It is appropriate for Jeff to review the employees' personnel files. However, Choices A, B, C, and E are considered inappropriate methods for handling grievances.
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69) All of the following most likely explain the decline in union membership EXCEPT ________. A) legislative protections for workers B) improved wages and benefits C) increased global competition D) technological improvements E) just-in-time production systems
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Answer: B Explanation: Laws like OSHA and Title VII reduced the need for union protection. Increased global competition and new technologies like the Internet and just-in-time production systems forced employers to reduce inefficiencies and cut costs. Changes in salaries and wages are less likely to be a cause.
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70) If passed, the Employee Free Choice Act would ________. A) ban union membership for federal employees B) allow mass union e-mails at the work place C) allow the formation of global unions D) institute a card check system E) overturn the Wagner Act
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Answer: D Explanation: Unions are pushing Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. This would make it more difficult for employers to inhibit workers from organizing. Instead of secret-ballot elections, the act would institute a "card check" system. Here, the union would win recognition when a majority of workers signed authorization cards saying they want the union.
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