Deck 14: Collective Bargaining and Unions in Today’s Workplace

Question 1

A hospital is seeking a 2.5% wage reduction for all nurses as part of a new balanced budget plan; however, the plan provides for raises for upper-level management. This plan resulted in a call for a union to protect the nurses. When the union representative arrives, what questions should the nurses ask? (select all that apply)

A) Will the dues be used to support charity care when clients are unable to pay?
B) How effective has the union been in representing nurses' best interest?
C) What percent of dues pays union personnel salaries?
D) Are dues used to promote research for terminally ill clients?
E) If arbitration is unsuccessful and a strike occurs, will nurses receive compensation during the strike?

Answer 1

How effective has the union been in representing nurses' best interest?
What percent of dues pays union personnel salaries?
If arbitration is unsuccessful and a strike occurs, will nurses receive compensation during the strike?

Question 2

Mandatory overtime and reduction in RN staff have resulted in decreased client satisfaction and a sentinel event. Management is unwilling to discuss a change in staffing, and collective bargaining interest is sparked. A nurse is approached to sign a union authorization card. If signed, the card:

A) authorizes the union to serve as his or her legal representative.
B) indicates that the person is requesting additional information about collective bargaining.
C) indicates the nurse desires to share information about grievances.
D) gives permission for union dues to be deducted from pay.

Answer 2

authorizes the union to serve as his or her legal representative.

Question 3

Nurses in a nonprofit hospital have expressed an interest in forming a union to secure fair wages and ensure client safety. To form a core support group of nurses, the union organizer can conduct meetings to gather initial information:

A) away from the worksite with a group of managers to learn both sides of the situation.
B) at the worksite with staff nurses who are respected leaders.
C) in homes or local businesses with staff nurses.
D) after photographing management meeting to discuss their strategies to decrease interest in unionization.

Answer 3

in homes or local businesses with staff nurses.

Question 4

A hospital refused to purchase a better grade of utility gloves, even after learning that the cheaper utility gloves are easily punctured during routine use. This unsafe situation led nurses to seek unionization. During the pre-election phase for unionization, which actions by union representatives are prohibited by the National Labor Relations Board? (select all that apply)

A) Scheduling a meeting in the agency's cafeteria to determine employees' interest in unionization
B) Distributing nondocumented information that female nurses receive lower annual performance evaluations than do male nurses
C) Distributing information about the benefits of unionization and grievances in a public parking garage located across from the hospital
D) Suggesting to workers the likelihood of job loss should the union not win the election
E) Signing authorization cards for employees who are on leave

Question 5

Nurses in a unionized hospital are paid "compensatory pay" when working holidays equal to the number of hours worked with no extra compensation. Although they have suggested changes during the annual survey of employee satisfaction, management refuses to consider another system for compensatory pay. A trained member listened to both nurses and management to make recommendations that were not legally binding. This type of settlement is termed:

A) picketing.
B) binding arbitration.
C) mediation.
D) grievance.

Question 6

A group of RNs wish to seek union representation that would protect all workers in the agency including nonlicensed assistive personnel and non-nursing employees such as nutritionists and dietary workers. The type of union being sought is the strongest collective group and is known as a(n):

A) occupational union.
B) industrial union.
C) union shop.
D) right-to-work bargaining organization.

Question 7

A nurse has heard rumors that other nurses are interested in unionizing but knows little about the purpose of unions. The nurse's first action is to:

A) contact an arbitrator who has worked with other nurses in unions.
B) picket the agency where employed to gain inside information as to why unionization is sought.
C) sign the dual-purpose union authorization card.
D) review the National Nurses United website for collective bargaining information.

Question 8

Physical therapists are represented by a union, nurses are represented by a separate union, and pharmacists have yet another union within a single agency. This type of union representation is known as:

A) occupational unionism.
B) industrial unionisms.
C) union shop.
D) power sharing.

Question 9

It is important to realize that nurses may seek unionization if: (select all that apply)

A) physicians rotate on-call coverage among group members for complicated long-term clients.
B) scheduling is presented that provides adequate staffing on holidays by rotation of time off for holidays among nurses.
C) incident report trends indicate medication errors are caused by shift reports being taped and heard after nurses from the prior shift have left the unit.
D) physicians, nurses, nutritionists, and physical therapists visit concurrently with clients to plan care.
E) staff development activities are planned daily at 8 AM for 2 consecutive days to educate staff on new cardiac monitoring procedures while following normal staffing patterns.

Question 10

A group of nurses are assembling outside a hospital protesting the use of foreign nurses after several nurses were terminated due to what the hospital called recurring "decreased census." The nurses carry signs with messages asking potential patients to seek care elsewhere. The local newspaper picked up the story, and the hospital is receiving negative press. The nurses are participating in:

A) picketing.
B) collective bargaining.
C) a strike.
D) arbitration.

Question 11

A nurse is interested in working in a large trauma center that is unionized but does not want to join the union or pay fees. She accepts the position but is not required to join or pay fees to the union based on which law?

A) National Labor Relations Act
B) Right-to-work law
C) National Labor Relations Act
D) Taft-Hartley Act

Question 12

A nurse has been asked to serve as the charge nurse on the evening shift. The agency where the nurse is employed is considering unionization. If the charge nurse position is accepted, this nurse:

A) can be represented by the union because charge nurses are not considered part of the management team.
B) is part of the management team, so union participation would be a conflict of interest.
C) can file a grievance that will be arbitrated automatically by the union.
D) is ineligible for collective bargaining activities that deal with unfair labor practices.

Question 13

A concern that nurses were being asked to perform tasks that went beyond the state's nurse practice act was brought to the union's attention. Nurses were informed that either mediation or binding arbitration will be used to resolve the issue. A novice nurse asks about the difference between these techniques and is informed that:

A) mediation is sanctioned by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to formally discuss concerns with management and labor.
B) binding arbitration is a formal discussion between labor and management in which the arbitrator's recommendations are compulsory.
C) mediation uses a trained person to negotiate a legally binding plan.
D) binding arbitration requires both labor and management to participate in discussions on the least destructive approach to allow self-governance by employees.

Question 14

Mandatory overtime and reduction in RN staff have resulted in decreased client satisfaction and a sentinel event. Management is unwilling to discuss a change in staffing, and collective bargaining interest is sparked. During the pre-election period, what actions by management are prohibited? (select all that apply)

A) Seek individuals to spy on coworkers who are possible union supporters.
B) Photograph employees participating in information sessions about unionization.
C) Visit managers outside work to gain their perception of popularity of unionization.
D) Threaten that, should the union win, the company will relocate when there is no intention to relocate.
E) Require employees to declare their position on unionization prior to pick up paychecks.

Question 15

A group of nurses interested in unionizing decides to contact the largest union in the United States representing registered nurses, which is the:

A) American Nurses Association.
B) United American Nurses.
C) National Nurses United.
D) National Labor Relations Board.

Question 16

A large corporation employs nurses all over the United States. Nurses in one agency learned that fellow nurses in another agency are striking because they are required to work 16-hour shifts to cover for nurses who have left due to unsafe staffing practices. The union of the nonstriking agency nurses decides to stop work to support the nurses who are striking; thus, this union:

A) is placing nurses at risk for a lawsuit because their direct employer did not cause the strike.
B) must be an industry union representing both parties.
C) is participating in a sympathy strike, which, if done correctly, is legal.
D) must pay for any losses incurred by the agency during the strike.

Question 17

In recent Gallop Polls, nurses were voted as the most honest with the highest ethical standards of all professions. How does this degree of professionalism affect nurses' desire to participate in organized strikes?

A) Nurses most often turn to collective bargaining strategies such as strikes to emphasize client safety initiatives.
B) Nurses use evidence-based studies that reflect both management and labor views to support participation in unionization.
C) Nurses often find union activities such as strikes in conflict with the need to serve and protect clients and their profession.
D) Nurses who strike can be legally punished for abandonment and negligence, considered to be professional misconduct.

Question 18

Historically, what movement most influenced unionization in American health care agencies/hospitals?

A) Immigration laws protected foreign employees from discrimination in hiring or discharge on the basis of national origin and citizenship status.
B) Women entered the workforce, gaining voice to support unions.
C) The Industrial Revolution led to poor working conditions and the need to protect workers.
D) Nurses were exposed to communicable diseases, which led to death and disability.