Deck 21: Labor and the Law

Question 1

Mechanic lien laws grant property rights to labor.They allow labor to make claims against the real property of businesses for work completed or materials supplied.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The Clayton Act of 1914 was labeled "Labor's Magna Carta." This act recognized labor as property and deemed that it could not be treated as an article of commerce.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

When Hughes and Cain (2011)say that workers lacked an "economic identity" until the middle decades of the 19th century,they mean all of the following except

A) Earlier in U.S. history, most adults were self-employed and, therefore, did not think of themselves as having common interests with laborers possessing views that workers ?should position themselves against employers.
B) Earlier in U.S. history, production was carried out in shops within the guild structure. The tight relationships among apprentices, journeymen, and master encouraged workers to think of themselves as sharing interests with employers.
C) The establishment of the factory system and its large size increased the net benefits of separating the interests of the workers and employers.
D) Earlier in U.S. history, the laws forbade workers from organizing to promote their own interests and, therefore, labor could not achieve a recognized identity.

Answer 3

Earlier in U.S. history, the laws forbade workers from organizing to promote their own interests and, therefore, labor could not achieve a recognized identity.

Question 4

The value of labor is in skill,effort and knowledge.

Question 5

Why is the Clayton Act of 1914 considered to have been favorable to the interests of organized labor?

A) It restricted the application of the Sherman Antitrust Act and excluded labor unions from it.
B) It legalized collective bargaining for the first time.
C) It declared labor to be an article of commerce.
D) It forbade the use of injunctions by the courts to stop strikes.

Question 6

The labor movement has been largely an economic movement,not a political phenomenon.

Question 7

State mechanic lien laws

A) required licensing of mechanics.
B) permitted laborers to make claims against the assets of an employer or business ?if it fell into bankruptcy.
C) assured payment for value added by labor to property of third parties.
D) gave property owners with goods held "in bailkment" a guarantee of competent?repair work by mechanics.

Question 8

Commonwealth v Hunt was a pivotal case in labor history,since it marked the first time in which unions and some of their activities were not found illegal.

Question 9

In connection with laborers,the law of conspiracy meant that

A) employers had every right to organize or conspire to keep wages low and prices high.
B) workers had every right to organize or conspire to keep wages high and working ?hours short.
C) workers could organize unions to promote their own interests as long as they did it publicly ?and in fair dealings with employers and did not "conspire" to do it in secret meetings not ?open to the public.
D) worker organizations aimed at promoting the economic interests of the members ?were illegal.

Question 10

Forcing businesses to divert profits to improve job conditions,increase wages and salaries and broaden benefits fuels animosity toward labor unions.

Question 11

Employers resist organized labor because its activities threaten the rights of real property in business enterprise.

Question 12

World War II was the first event that provided the federal government with incentive to support ?labor unions and help them achieve some of their goals.

Question 13

Olson (1971)claims that unions strive for job monopoly to achieve their goals by coercion.

Question 14

Unions fight primarily for higher wages and better benefits.

Question 15

What causes the property owners and non-unionized workers in this country to be hostile toward organized labor?

A) The perception that unions will strive to make gains for unskilled labor at the expense of everyone else
B) The perception that unions have traditionally championed the rights of women
C) The fear that the government will take over corporate America
D) Jealousy and fear of organized labor's well-known ability to "deliver the votes" ?for candidates of its choice in national elections

Question 16

Labor unions create a rent when they succeed.This rent forces employers or management to return some of their profits to unionized workers in the form of improved working conditions,health benefits or increased wages.

Question 17

Under Samuel Gompers,the highly successful American Federation of Labor (AFL)restricted its membership to craftsmen,required members to pay high dues and garnered votes and campaign contributions for politicians supporting the labor movement.

Question 18

By the late 1880s,the main difference between the American Federation of Labor (AFL)and the Knights of Labor was

A) the relatively low dues charged members by their AFL locals.
B) the broader membership base of AFL locals compared to the Knights.
C) the AFL's commitment to "progressive" politics.
D) the narrow membership qualifications of AFL locals compared to ?the Knights.

Question 19

The lag in the political rights of women can be positively associated with the lag in female wages and skill acquisition according to Goldin (1990).

Question 20

The organized labor movement was held back by the law of conspiracy.

Question 21

What is Labor Day,and why is it celebrated?

Question 22

Modern union leaders are

A) generally much more conservative than their predecessors in the late 19th and early ?20th centuries.
B) generally more radical than their predecessors in the late 19th and early ?20th centuries.
C) neither more conservative nor more radical than their predecessors.
D) more radical on issues such as wages and working conditions but more ?conservative than their predecessors on issues such as abortion and the ?environment.

Question 23

Discuss the dispute over whether a union is a monopoly.

Question 24

Unions have been protected since 1935 by a federal law,the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA),which contains provisions for

A) elections by workers to choose their bargaining agents.
B) employers' recognition of union bargaining agents in interstate commerce for union representation and collective bargaining purposes.
C) arbitration of disputes that cannot be resolved through bargaining.
D) all of the above.

Question 25

How can union activities produce public goods and services? Identify some public goods and services produced by historical union activity from which all laborers benefit today.

Question 26

Hughes and Cain (2011)argue that the U.S.regards highly hardworking people and possesses a strong disdain for idle people,especially the rich.These views fuel animosity toward labor unions because unions

A) threaten the private rights of business owners to utilize profits in those fashions they deem desirable.
B) force business owners to divert profits to conduct research and develop products.
C) prevent the emergence of a leisure class in the U.S.
D) all of the above.

Question 27

Which of the following labor organizations was limited to skilled craft workers and emphasized that unions should control the place of employment; stick to wages,hours,and working conditions in their negotiations; win strikes; and,in politics,"reward our friends and punish our enemies"?

A) The National Labor Union
B) The Knights of Labor
C) The American Federation of Labor
D) The American Labor Union

Question 28

An economic rent is created when

A) organized labor pushes its members' wages above those of unorganized labor.
B) market forces determine prices and output.
C) businesses take market prices as given.
D) laborers accept competitive wages.

Question 29

The main source of conflict between employers and their organized workers is over the

A) disparities in the wages and benefits between organized and unorganized labor.
B) disparities in the wages and benefits between employers and organized workers.
C) proceeds of selling goods and services made jointly between hired labor and ?business owners.
D) working conditions.

Question 30

Which of the following economic and/or political rights does the labor movement work toward gaining?

A) Property rights for women
B) The right to vote for women
C) The right to vote for non-owners of property
D) All of the above

Question 31

Briefly describe the history of unions and the labor movement in the U.S.

Question 32

Unions add costs to labor.Who ultimately absorbs the costs?

A) The employer
B) The union worker
C) The unorganized laborer
D) The consumer

Question 33

Between 1870 and 1920,the total labor force increased by threefold while

A) the total number of people employed in agriculture increased by almost twofold and the total number of people employed in manufacturing and other non- agriculture increased fivefold.
B) the total number of people employed in agriculture increased by almost fivefold and the total number of people employed in manufacturing and other non- agriculture increased?by threefold.
C) the total number of people employed in agriculture increased and the total number of people employed in manufacturing and other non- agriculture increased by threefold.
D) the total number of people employed in manufacturing and other non- agriculture increased?fivefold while agriculture decreased by twofold.

Question 34

In a political democracy,

A) only the voting majority is protected but the minority is coerced to protect the majority.
B) the population minority is free to organize and to lobby to achieve goals.
C) there is no unequal distribution of income or wealth.
D) the minority can elect officials.

Question 35

By the 1840s,

A) labor had achieved political power in the franchise, i.e., the right to vote.
B) unions per se were not considered by law to be conspiracies and therefore illegal.
C) peaceful picketing of businesses during strikes was considered to be legal.
D) all of the above were true.

Question 36

Who can create valuable output out of idle property?

A) labor
B) entrepreneurs
C) tenants making rental improvements
D) all of the above

Question 37

During the late 1800s and early 1900s,

A) American society clearly recognized the value of labor in the profit process.
B) U.S. legislation and courts of law appeared hostile to the interests of organized working employees.
C) society, at large, generally favored the efforts of workers to combine into unions to negotiate with employers.
D) organized labor had a stable and respected place in politics.

Question 38

Between the years 1870 and 1920,what happened to the agricultural labor force?

A) It nearly doubled in numbers but declined significantly in its share of the total labor force.
B) It remained about the same in numbers and declined significantly as a percent of the total?labor force.
C) It nearly doubled in numbers while remaining approximately the same percentage of the total labor force.
D) It declined both in numbers and as a percent of the total labor force.

Question 39

Citing the work of economic historians,present the economic arguments for and against unions.

Question 40

Which of the following best describes typical employer attitudes toward organized labor (unions)during the 19th century?

A) Positive-unions could promote cooperation with management to achieve ?more efficient operations
B) Negative-union-promoted labor gains seized profits and encouraged ?inefficient behavior
C) Indifferent-unions had little impact on business profitability
D) Mixed-about half of employers favored unions and half opposed them

Question 41

With regard to the development of organized labor,compare and contrast the goals and strategies?of the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor (AFL).Identify what they have in common.Then explain how they differ.

Question 42

Hughes and Cain (2011)describe the "labor movement" as a broad struggle to improve the conditions of labor.Labor's emergence into an improved status in American society was the outcome of a complex legal evolution.Discuss the main benchmarks in this evolution.

Question 43

Many employers claim that unions give laborers monopoly rights.Explain.

Question 44

Exactly how was the Sherman Act of 1890 used against labor? Why was the Clayton Act of 1914 labeled "Labor's Magna Carta"?

Question 45

Why did organized labor seek to achieve political legitimacy and to possess the legal right to boycott and strike after meeting certain conditions?

Question 46

What are mechanic lien laws? Why are they important to laborers?

Question 47

Explain why World War I provided the federal government with incentive to support labor unions and to help unions achieve some of their goals.

Question 48

Explain why labor historians emphasize the importance of the Philadelphia Journeymen Cordwainers' strike of 1805.

Question 49

Define economic rents.Explain why organized labor has incentive to create them.What are the benefits and costs for organized labor,unorganized labor,and business enterprises?

Question 50

Why was Commonwealth v Hunt a pivotal case in labor history? How did this case place employers at a disadvantage?

Question 51

Describe the economic history behind voting rights.Why was property ownership so important before 1860?