Deck 11: Unions and Industrial Relations

Question 1

Which of the following is the best description of a "wildcat strike?

A) A strike that turns violent.
B) An unauthorized strike during the term of a collective agreement.
C) A strike from which employees gain nothing.
D) A strike called by union leaders despite strong opposition from union members.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

In which of the following types of industries would Kerr and Siegel predict high strike rates, according to their "isolation hypothesis?"

A) Industries where social isolation keeps workers uninformed about the larger world.
B) Industries where social isolation and limited occupational hierarchies lead to cohesive work groups.
C) Industries where workers are isolated from social values encouraging consensus instead of conflict.
D) Industries that are isolated from labour laws and arbitration procedures designed to avoid conflict.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Leo Panitch and Donald Swartz use the phrase permanent exceptionalism to describe which of the following labour relations trends in Canada?

A) The shift from craft unions to industrial unions.
B) The Canadianization of formerly international unions.
C) Attempts to introduce "right-to-work" laws in Canada.
D) Repeated government intervention in collective bargaining over the past few decades.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which of the following statements best describes the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike?

A) It represents one of the few examples of open class warfare in Canada.
B) The strike was a significant event in Winnipeg, but was not really noticed elsewhere.
C) The government remained neutral, forcing unions and employers to negotiate.
D) The unions involved were fighting against new "right-to-work" laws being introduced by the provincial government.

Question 5

According to mainstream industrial relations theory, the rules and regulations regarding collective agreements have which of the following functions?

A) To ensure that the government does not have to get involved in labour relations.
B) To inject stability into employment relations by making sure unions don't have too much power.
C) To inject stability into employment relations by tilting the balance of power slightly away from management.
D) To discourage workers from joining unions.

Question 6

Which of the following best distinguishes craft unions from industrial unions?

A) Craft unions exist only in Quebec; industrial unions are active in all parts of Canada.
B) Craft unions represent specific occupations; industrial unions try to organize all the workers in a particular industry
C) Craft unions are mainly found in developing countries; industrial unions are most common in industrialized economies.
D) Craft unions are gaining members; industrial unions are declining in size.

Question 7

Despite relatively low levels of union density in western European countries like Germany and France, unions have a strong impact on wage settlements for a majority of workers. Which of the following statements best explains this situation?

A) Highly centralized collective bargaining in which national unions negotiate with employer federations.
B) Decentralized bargaining, whereby local unions negotiate with local employers.
C) European Union legislation that requires workers in all EU countries to receive similar wage settlements.
D) Union density is measured differently in these two countries.

Question 8

Which of the following scenarios would be an example of what C. Wright Mills had in mind when he said that unions were "managers of discontent?"

A) Union organizers signing up members in a nonunionized workplace.
B) Union leaders trying to convince their members that a new wage offer received from their employer was not good enough.
C) Union leaders trying to convince their members to not go on strike because their collective agreement had not yet expired.
D) Leaders of one union trying to encourage members of another union to leave that union and join theirs.

Question 9

Which of the following statements best defines "transnational union networks?"

A) Agreements between unions in different countries that allow members to easily transfer membership from one union to another.
B) Historical agreements between the Canadian Labour Congress and the American Federation of Labor.
C) Limitations on the rights of unions included in Free Trade Agreements between countries like Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
D) Linkages between unions in different parts of the world that allow them to pursue common goals like improved human rights.

Question 10

A large farm equipment manufacturing company sets up an employee association that provides workers with opportunities to consult on job redesign and the introduction of new production technologies. A large industrial union that has been trying to organize this factory is frustrated by this tactic. Which of the following is the best explanation of why the union might be frustrated?

A) Once an employee association exists in a workplace, unions cannot try to sign up the workers.
B) Workers are now less likely to see the need for a union in their workplace, and will be less likely to join.
C) Employee association members will not have to pay union dues, even if a union is formed.
D) Even if a union is formed, strikes will not be allowed because of the existence of the employee association.

Question 11

Which of the following statements best describes the difference between "union density" and "collective bargaining coverage?"

A) Because it includes agricultural workers, union density is usually a bit higher than collective bargaining coverage.
B) Union density describes the strength of unions in the private sector; collective bargaining coverage means the same thing in the public sector.
C) Collective bargaining coverage is usually a bit higher since some nonunion members still receive the wages and benefits negotiated by unions.
D) Collective bargaining coverage is the United States' term for what we refer to as union density in Canada.

Question 12

Which of the following is a unique feature of the labour movement in Quebec?

A) Many contemporary unions were originally organized by the Roman Catholic Church.
B) A much lower degree of centralized bargaining than elsewhere in Canada.
C) Despite a high level of nationalism in Quebec, unions in the province have avoided getting involved in debates about separatism and sovereignty.
D) The willingness of unions to accept provincial legislation allowing strike-breaking by employers.

Question 13

Union X represents the 1,200 workers employed in a Canada Bicycle Corporation (CBC) factory in a large Canadian city. The union has not been all that successful in negotiating higher wages for its workers, but it has been able to convince management to allow workers to make decisions about how to do their jobs and to listen to workers' suggestions for improving health and safety in the factory. Which of the following perspectives on unionism is Union X highlighting, according to Richard Freeman and James Medoff?

A) The "managers of discontent" perspective.
B) The "social unionism" perspective.
C) The "monopoly face" of unionism.
D) The "collective voice" face of unionism.

Question 14

Feminist scholars have contributed which of the following insights about Canadian unions?

A) Women began to become active unionists once they started working in the same occupations as men.
B) Despite growing female membership in unions, women have still never held key leadership positions.
C) While company managers have often exhibited patriarchal attitudes, male union members have generally not done so.
D) There is a long history of collective action in predominantly female occupations.

Question 15

Which of the following statements best explains why Canada's strike record was higher than that of many western industrialized countries in the last few decades of the 20th century?

A) Canadian workers have typically been more politically radical.
B) Canadian employers have been much more aggressive in fighting unions.
C) Union negotiations in Canada are much more fragmented and decentralized.
D) Canadian labour legislation made it much easier for workers to go on strike.

Question 16

Which of the following would be evidence in support of Robert Michels's "iron law of oligarchy?"

A) Union leaders manipulating union activities in order to stay in power.
B) Strong worker groups opposing the decisions of union leaders.
C) High levels of attendance by members at union meetings.
D) Corporate managers influencing how union members vote during union elections.

Question 17

Which of the following statements best describes results of research on the economic impact of unions?

A) Overall, unions lead to reduced productivity in unionized workplaces.
B) At the societal level, unions are associated with lower wage inequality.
C) On average, they have virtually no effect on employees' wages.
D) They generally lead to higher wages for members, but have no other real effect on working conditions or employment relationships.

Question 18

Which of the following descriptions best defines an "industrial union?"

A) Unions with membership in the manufacturing industries.
B) Unions with their head offices in the United States.
C) Unions that focus mainly on improving wages and working conditions.
D) Unions that try to organize all the workers in a particular industry.

Question 19

Unionization in Canada has been characterized by which of the following trends?

A) Overall, union membership has declined somewhat since the 1980s.
B) Newfoundland and Labrador has the lowest rate of unionization.
C) Women are still less likely to be union members than men.
D) The rate of unionization is lower in the public sector than in the private sector.

Question 20

Which of the following statements describes the "Rand Formula"?

A) It is used to determine what percentage of an employee's earnings can be deducted for union membership dues.
B) It identifies the public sectors in which workers are not allowed to strike because of the percentage of citizens who might be negatively affected.
C) It requires employers to deduct union dues from all employees in a workplace that is unionized, whether or not they belong to the union.
D) It is used to determine whether or not an international union can be forced to allow Canadian workers to set up their own union.

Question 21

C. Wright Mills once described unions in North America as "managers of discontent." In a few sentences, explain what he meant by this term.

Question 22

Define and briefly discuss the concepts of "business unionism" and "social unionism."

Question 23

In a few sentences, explain the significance of the Rand Formula for Canada's system of industrial relations.

Question 24

"Unionism is essentially a 20th century phenomenon, and will likely not be a significant factor in the 21st century." Critically discuss this statement with reference to current and past unionization trends in Canada and elsewhere.

Question 25

In the Canadian industrial relations system, the state (government) is meant to act as an "impartial umpire." Discuss what is meant by this concept, and some of the key mechanisms employed by the state in attempting to achieve this goal. In your opinion, how

Question 26

Workers face a number of dilemmas when deciding whether to join a union and, if already a member, whether to become an activist. Describe the "free rider" problem and the "exit vs. voice" methods that workers can use to express discontent with unsatisfactory working conditions and employment contracts.

Question 27

How have Canadian unions changed over the past century? In your opinion, what are some of the key challenges they face today?