Exam 14: The Dynamics of Labour Relations

Assume that the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is representing essential workers in a hospital. The hospital's administration and the union are deadlocked in negotiations. What is a likely solution to this impasse?

Unions try to ensure that unionized employees get similar wages and benefits across unionized organizations. What is the effect of this strategy?

Employers are obligated to negotiate in good faith with the union.

Wilem Corporation is considering strategies to remain union-free. Which of the following is NOT a useful strategy in this respect??

As long as employers do not object to unionization, they can influence employees to vote for one union rather than another.

National unions retain most of the decision-making authority over local unions.

Which of the following groups are most likely to initiate organizing campaigns?

Collective bargaining may include the use of economic pressures in the form of strikes and boycotts by a union.

The full-time professors at McMaster University are usually represented by a group of nonunionized faculty in wage negotiations with management. What is this group of faculty called?

Explain the impact of unionization on managers.

Interest-based bargaining usually leads to suspicion and compromise.

ABC Inc. has exclusive rights, as reflected in the collective agreement, to hire senior staff. What is the term used for such exclusive rights?

The largest union in Canada is the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

During collective bargaining, each side normally places only their primary negotiator at the table.

According to Canadian labour relations legislation, which of the following employer actions is prohibited during an organizing drive?

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. Which step is NOT part of the organizing process before Boat Xpress employees can choose to become unionized?

A union was recently certified at ABC Corporation after 55 percent of the employees signed authorization cards for the union to represent them. There was no vote. What is this system called when unions are certified in this manner?

A boycott is a refusal to cross a union picket line.

Which of the following is a strategy that management can use to increase its bargaining power?

Which of the following conditions and/or actions may result in labour relations boards imposing a union on an employer in some Canadian jurisdictions, even with as few as 5 percent of the authorization cards signed?