Exam 12: Dealing With Union and Employeemanagement Issues

As an advisor to a company setting up its sexual harassment policy, which of the following tactics would you suggest?

In the next few years, unions are likely to find that they must adopt a tough, confrontational approach in order to get what they want from management.

A(n) ________ boycott is an illegal attempt by labor to convince others to stop doing business with a firm that does business with a company that is the subject of a primary boycott.

Mini-Case The workers at Endrun Corporation are not affiliated with a union. Until recently, the workers felt they were well paid and treated fairly by the company, so they had little interest in seeking union representation. However, worker morale at Endrun has declined steadily since the board of directors fired the old CEO last year and replaced him with Ty Runt, a no-nonsense, autocratic manager with a reputation for cutting costs. As soon as he took over, Ty fired other members of the old top management team and replaced them with people who shared his views. Together, the new management team made a series of moves that did not sit well with Endrun's workers. First, they announced changes in work procedures designed to speed up the production line. Many workers complained that the new methods cut corners and were unsafe, but management refused to listen. A few months after changing work methods, the company told workers that it was reducing their health benefits. This led to even greater worker unrest. Finally, just a few weeks ago, workers received word that the wages of all production-line employees would be cut by 6 percent. Many employees felt this was the last straw, especially since the company's board of directors recently approved big salary increases and more lucrative stock option plans for Ty and his management team. A spokesperson for the board explained that the raises were justified because of the management team's "outstanding efforts to reduce costs, increase productivity, and improve the company's profits." Several disgruntled employees, led by Ima Striker and Boyd Cotter, now believe it is time to obtain union representation. Top managers at the company have hinted that workers who actively participate in the union campaign may be among the first workers laid off if the company decides to downsize. Ima and Boyd are not intimidated by these management threats. "I wish we didn't have to do this," Ima recently told many of her fellow workers at the plant. "But someone has to stop Ty Runt and his team from ruining our jobs." -The plant where Ima and Boyd work is located in Illinois, which does not have a right-to-work law. If the workers approve the union as their bargaining agent, Boyd wants to get the greatest union membership that is legally possible. Boyd is likely to push for a(n):

Antonio received specific training to become an electrician. He belongs to a union with other skilled electricians. Antonio belongs to a(n):

The first national labor organization, the Knights of Labor, sought to gain enough political power to restructure the entire U.S. economy.

Labor and management at the Brookwood Company have reached an impasse in their efforts to negotiate an acceptable labor-management agreement. The two sides have agreed to bring in an arbitrator. If the arbitrator issues a ruling that the union does not like, it can veto the decision.

The main goal of the Knights of Labor was to:

Striking union workers are picketing near the entrance of the Bellandro Bay Brewery plant where they normally work. The workers are acting peacefully and have not threatened anyone entering or leaving the company or damaged any property. Bellandro's management is seeking an injunction to prevent the workers from picketing. The courts are unlikely to issue an injunction under the current circumstances.

In 1997, the Supreme Court rendered a decision on a case stipulating that sexual harassment law:

The "blue flu" refers to a situation in which union members (like firefighters) who are not allowed to strike refuse to work by calling in sick.

The purpose of the earliest recognized labor unions in the U.S. was:

The Taft-Hartley Act made the union shop agreement illegal in all states.

Today, over 80% of all companies require some type of drug testing.

A boycott occurs when workers collectively refuse to go to work.

The law protects both women and men from sexual harassment.

Under an agency shop agreement, only union members are represented at the bargaining table.

A union that consists of members who are all skilled specialists in a particular trade is called an industrial guild.

Union leaders at the Baadfathe Corporation are furious. Although the union is certified by the NLRB, its negotiating team has had little success in getting management to meet with them to work on a new labor contract. In fact, during the last three months, the management team has agreed to meet only twice, once on a weekend, and the other time after 8:00 p.m. Even during those two meetings, the management team was unwilling to offer serious proposals. Baadfathe's management team should review the legal rights of union members to participate in collective bargaining, as provided under the:

Today labor unions have seen a revitalization of support and union membership has increased significantly.