Exam 14: The Dynamics of Labour Relations

What do we call the actions of a third party who has the power to impose a settlement when the issue relates to the administration of the collective agreement?

Briefly describe the six steps in the organizing process.

Which of the following is the strongest reason to join a union?

The collective bargaining process may include activities such as strikes and boycotts.

In Canada, who is responsible for administering union certification elections?

A grievance procedure is a formal process that is often considered the heart of a bargaining agreement.

What is the basis of interest-based bargaining?

Canadian employers tend to be supportive of union organizing drives.

Unions that represent unskilled and semiskilled workers employed along industry lines are known as industrial unions.

Scenario 14.1 Boat Xpress, a Canadian shipping firm, has been treating employees unfairly for decades. Employees work full-time hours but are hired as part-timers with no benefits other than 4 percent vacation pay. Health and safety standards are non-existent, and the list goes on. Employees have tried to organize before, but management fired them and threatened the remaining workers. A new employee decided that the working conditions are intolerable and wants to get other employees organized in order to obtain union representation. All employees now believe that their interests will be better served with collective agreements. -Refer to Scenario 14.1. Management does not have the right to fire employees for organizing. The right of workers to join unions was established back in 1948 by which of the following?

Pickets may further disrupt an employer's business because one union member, such as a truck driver, may refuse to cross the other's picket line.

Most labour relations activity comes from the day-to-day administration of the collective agreement.

Good faith bargaining requires that employers and union counterparts be willing to meet at any time and reasonable place to discuss proposals.

Unionization may restrict the freedom of management in many areas.

In the collective bargaining model, what is the area within which the union and employer are willing to concede when bargaining?

Which of the following groups do labour boards generally have representatives from?

Labour relations in Canada are regulated by federal and provincial laws.

Scenario 14.1 Boat Xpress, a Canadian shipping firm, has been treating employees unfairly for decades. Employees work full-time hours but are hired as part-timers with no benefits other than 4 percent vacation pay. Health and safety standards are non-existent, and the list goes on. Employees have tried to organize before, but management fired them and threatened the remaining workers. A new employee decided that the working conditions are intolerable and wants to get other employees organized in order to obtain union representation. All employees now believe that their interests will be better served with collective agreements. -Refer to Scenario 14.1. Employees are very concerned about the repercussions of the company finding out that they are seeking union representation. Which of the following can Boat Xpress legally do?

Grievance handling is more successful when supervisors are trained formally in resolving grievances.

Mediation is the only form of third-party resolution that results in binding recommendations.