Deck 19: Public Sector Labor Relations

Question 1

The Civil Service Act of 1883,granted the sole authority to set wages,hours,and other terms and conditions of federal employment to the:

A) labor department.
B) Senate.
C) bargaining representative.
D) Congress.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

A union becomes the exclusive representative of an appropriate unit of employees when it has been selected by a majority of votes cast in a representation election under the:

A) National Labor Relations Act.
B) Fair Labor Standards Act.
C) Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act.
D) Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Act.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

If an impasse is not resolved under mediation of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCA),either parties may request that the _____ consider the dispute.

A) Federal Labor Relations Authority
B) Fair Labor Standards Board
C) National Labor Relations Board
D) Federal Service Impasse Panel

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The Civil Service Act passed in the year 1883 is also known as the:

A) Equal Pay Act.
B) Thurmond Act.
C) Pendleton Act.
D) Hatch Act.

Question 5

The central authority responsible for the administration of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Act (FSLMRA) is the:

A) Federal Labor Relations Authority.
B) National Labor Relations Board.
C) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
D) Homeland Security Labor Relations Board.

Question 6

Which of the following is not a significant difference in labor relations in private and public sector employers?

A) Limits of constitutional provisions
B) Right to strike
C) Sovereignty
D) Appointment of bargaining unit

Question 7

Employees of a cement manufacturing company run by the government negotiated with the employer for a hike in their wages through the collective bargaining unit of the company.Which of the following is correct regarding the federal employees' rights regarding collective bargaining on wage issues?

A) Wage issues are subject to collective bargaining because they are determined by collective bargaining agreement.
B) Wage issues are not subject to collective bargaining because they are determined by statute.
C) Wage issues are subject to collective bargaining because they are determined by the employment contract.
D) Wage issues are not subject to collective bargaining because they are determined by union's policy.

Question 8

Which of the following is not true of the various aspects of the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) with regard to representation of bargaining units?

A) It is empowered to determine the appropriateness of a representation unit of federal employees.
B) It undermines the FSLMRA in determining the bargaining unit.
C) It ensures a clear and identifiable community of interest among the employees.
D) It can determine the appropriateness of a unit on various bases.

Question 9

Consultation rights entitle the union to be informed of any substantive change in employment conditions proposed by the:

A) Secretary of Labor.
B) senate.
C) employer.
D) Court.

Question 10

The employees of the U.S._____ are not subject to the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Act (FSLMRA).

A) Transport Services
B) Judicial Service
C) Military Service
D) Postal Service

Question 11

The Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Act (FSLMRA) granted federal employees the right to organize and:

A) issue injunctions.
B) renew employment contracts.
C) bargain collectively.
D) file labor suits.

Question 12

The management-rights clause contained in the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Act (FSLMRA) state that decisions to assign work,contract out work,or select candidates to fill positions are:

A) subject to arbitration under the NLRA.
B) not subject to negotiation.
C) guided by fair labor practices.
D) restricted in the case of government employers.

Question 13

In National Federation of Federal Employees,Local 1309 v.Dept.of the Interior,the Supreme Court held that the Federal Labor Relations Authority had the power to determine whether federal employers were required to engage in "midterm" bargaining.Midterm bargaining is:

A) used to create a new collective agreement or to renew an existing agreement.
B) the bargaining during the term of a collective agreement over subjects that were not included in the agreement.
C) a process set up by a collective agreement to deal with complaints that arise under the collective agreement.
D) an arbitration that defines the rights and obligations of each party under the agreement.

Question 14

Wages for most federal employees are not subject to collective bargaining because they are determined by:

A) statutes.
B) principle of fairness.
C) precedents.
D) federal treatises.

Question 15

Nearly 30 percent of the bargaining unit members at Specialty Mills Company no longer wish to be represented by their exclusive representative union.When such a petition is filed,the representation question will be investigated by the:

A) International Labor Union.
B) National Labor Relations Board.
C) Federal Labor Relations Authority.
D) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Question 16

All collective agreements under the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Act must contain a grievance procedure.Within how many days may either of the parties appeal to the Fair Labor Relations Authority if arbitration is invoked?

A) 90
B) 15
C) 30
D) 60

Question 17

The Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Act elections allows for the holding of _____ to determine the exclusive representative of a bargaining unit.

A) contract negotiation
B) representation elections
C) neutral arbitration
D) consent elections

Question 18

What is the opinion given in Postal Clerks v.Bloun,regarding public sector employees' right to strike?
A) Public sector employees are entitled to their constitutional right to strike.

A)Public sector employees can strike with the permission of the Supreme Court.
B) Public sector employees have the right to strike subject to a time limit.
D) Public sector employees do not have the right to strike.

Question 19

When a complaint alleging unfair labor practices is filed with the Federal Labor Relations Authority,the General Counsel's Office of the FLRA investigates the complaint and attempts to reach a _____ settlement.

A) voluntary
B) temporary
C) persuasive
D) permanent

Question 20

The Lloyd-La Follette Act of 1912 gave _____ the right to join unions.

A) postal workers
B) paramedicals
C) paralegals
D) rail road workers.

Question 21

Ron joined a public sector enterprise and the company had an active union.Ron wished to join the union but was denied membership in the union.Which of the following acts makes it illegal to deny union membership to an employee?

A) Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Act
B) Wagner Act
C) National Labor Relations Act
D) Fair Labor Standards Act

Question 22

In City Of Madison Joint School District No.8 V.Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission,the Supreme Court reversed the Wisconsin Supreme Court's conclusion that Holmquist's terse statement during the public meeting constituted:
-expression of his constitutional rights.
-negotiation with the board.
-violation of the collective agreement.
-a violation of his role as the bargaining representative.

Question 23

In Professional Air Traffic Controllers (PATCO) Org.v.Fair Labor Relations Authority,PATCO and the Federal Aviation Authority(FAA) held a negotiation for a new agreement which was rejected by PATCO.Following the rejection,the parties resumed negotiation again,but when the negotiation failed to reach an agreement,PATCO went on strike against FAA.Is it illegal for PATCO to engage in a strike?

A) No, it is not illegal for PATCO to strike as the federal employees have constitutional right to strike.
B) Yes, it is illegal for PATCO to strike as it is a federal organization and federal employees are forbidden to strike.
C) No, it is not illegal for PATCO to strike because PATCO had been granted special permission to strike through court order.
D) Yes, PATCO being an exclusive collective bargaining representative has the right to strike.

Question 24

Discuss the role of a union with exclusive bargaining status.

Question 25

In National Treasury Employees Union v.Michael Chertoff,Secretary,United States Department of Homeland Security,the District Court held that the Department exceeded its authority in attempting to conscript the _____ into the HR system.

A) Federal Labor Relations Authority
B) Employment Relations Commission
C) National Labor Relations Board
D) Public Service Commission

Question 26

Briefly explain the role of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Act.

Question 27

The purpose of the restrictions on the political activities of federal employees through the Hatch Act is all of the following except:

A) avoid the appearance of political bias in government actions.
B) prevent the coercion of federal employees to engage or to support political actions.
C) avoid discriminating against political pressure groups within federal agencies.
D) avoid politicizing the federal civil service.

Question 28

In National Treasury Employees Union v.Michael Chertoff,Secretary,United States Department of Homeland Security,the Supreme Court of Wisconsin recognized that both the Federal and State Constitutions protect freedom of speech and the right to petition the government,but noted that these rights:
A) may be abridged in case it will bring about the substantive evils that the legislature has a right to prevent.

A)may not be abridged in case it will bring about the substantive evils that the legislature has a right to prevent.
C) may be abridged in its discretion even if legislature has the right to prevent.
D) may be abridged in case the Supreme Court permits; even if legislature has the right to prevent.

Question 29

Employees of Lacosin Postal Services had filed a grievance petition,under government authorization, against their employers for not reaching a bargaining agreement.Most of the state statutes authorizing public sector labor relations provide for exclusive bargaining representatives of the employees. To determine representation issues and unfair labor practice complaints the statutes generally create a:

A) Public Employee Relations Board.
B) National Labor Relations Board.
C) Federal Labor Relations Board.
D) Public Employees Representative Board.

Question 30

In State Ex Rel.Ozanne v.Fitzgerald,what law or act was violated?

A) Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Act
B) Wagner Act
C) Open Meetings Law
D) Taylor Law

Question 31

The Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Act provides that union dues may be deducted from an employee's pay only if authorized by the:

A) company.
B) employee.
C) NLRA.
D) arbitrator.

Question 32

In American Federation of Government Employees,AFL-CIO v.Robert M.Gates,Secretary of Defense,the issue arose out of a contentious dispute over the collective-bargaining rights of hundreds of thousands of civilian employees of the Department of Defense (DoD).What authority of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorizes the DoD to curtail collective bargaining rights that DoD's civilian employees otherwise possess under the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978?

A) Collective authority
B) Relative authority
C) Temporary authority
D) Absolute authority

Question 33

What do public sector labor relations statutes define?

Question 34

As observed in Garcetti v.Ceballos,the First Amendment limits the ability of a public employer to impose restrictions on employees in their capacities:

A) as public sector employees.
B) as private citizens.
C) as parties to a contract.
D) as members of the bargaining unit.

Question 35

How does the Postal Service Reorganization Act influence an impasse?

Question 36

Mediation is generally the first step in the:

A) grievance process.
B) impasse resolution process.
C) arbitration proceedings.
D) negotiation process.

Question 37

The Federal Labor Relations Authority has broad authority for fashioning remedial orders for:

A) fair representations.
B) unfair labor practices.
C) strikes.
D) whistle blowing.

Question 38

The Federal Labor Relations Act may also seek injunctions,restraining orders,or contempt citations in the federal courts against the:

A) federal employers.
B) independent contractors.
C) striking unions.
D) state employers.

Question 39

What does the collective bargaining for the public sector employees involve?

Question 40

The decisions of Federal Labor Relations Authority are subject to judicial review by:

A) the federal courts of appeals.
B) federal district courts.
C) the NLRB.
D) the Employment Relations Commission.

Question 41

Describe the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA).

Question 42

What is the duty of the Merit System Protection Board (MSPB)?

Question 43

What happens when a complaint alleging unfair labor practices is filed with the Federal Labor Relations Authority?

Question 44

Briefly explain the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Act.

Question 45

Name some of the unfair labor practices by agencies outlined under the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Act?

Question 46

What role does the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) play regarding employee relations?

Question 47

What does the Hatch Act prohibit?

Question 48

Discuss appropriate representation units under the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA).

Question 49

What is the importance of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service?

Question 50

Explain briefly the conditions of employment of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Act.