Deck 8: Collective Agreement Administration

Question 1

Grievance procedures are included in collective agreements because they are required under common law.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Some collective agreements include preambles designed to establish the desired, positive relationship between the parties.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Appendices and schedules of a collective agreement often present pay scales.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Collective agreement language that explicitly states inappropriate grounds for discrimination is known as a legislative reference.

Question 5

A letter of understanding usually describes a specific practice the parties have agreed to follow.

Question 6

Collective agreements are divided into a number of articles.

Question 7

Overall, unions seek collective agreement language that gives the most flexibility to the organization to meet its needs.

Question 8

Given residual rights, management often seeks to add language to collective agreements that limits management's flexibility.

Question 9

Which of the following outlines the specific practices that can be the result of a grievance or arbitration settlement?

A) clauses
B) appendixes
C) sections
D) letters of understanding

Question 10

In which part of a collective agreement would you likely find detailed information about wages and benefits?

A) clause
B) appendix
C) article
D) section

Question 11

Who is represented in a collective agreement?

A) all workers at one location
B) all employees of the organization
C) all employees who are union members
D) all workers in the same bargaining unit

Question 12

Employers usually seek collective agreement language that provides increased flexibility in work assignment.

Question 13

The collective agreement is the agreement between the union representing all workers included in the bargaining unit and the employer.

Question 14

Which term refers to setting rules around workplace employee behaviours?

A) contradiction
B) clause
C) purpose
D) outcome

Question 15

Many collective agreements are printed in pocket-size format or are posted on the Internet so employees can use them at work. What purpose of a collective agreement does this support?

A) defines grievance procedure
B) defines work rules
C) meets environmental commitment
D) provides equal access to information

Question 16

Given that unionized employees often receive more training than nonunion employees, language about training is often included in collective agreements.

Question 17

Which part of a collective agreement examines a single workplace issue?

A) clause
B) appendix
C) article
D) section

Question 18

"Bumping" is a process whereby a union member with greater seniority who is about to be
laid off is allowed to use his or her seniority rights to remove a more junior employee.

Question 19

Because North American unionism is focused on "bread and butter," management rights is perhaps the most examined area of the collective agreement.

Question 20

Generally speaking, unions seek layoff language that limits the protection of the most senior employees.

Question 21

Grievance clauses are part of which grouping of clauses in collective agreement language?

A) organization of work
B) labour relations processes
C) union recognition
D) working conditions

Question 22

Unions often seek collective agreement language that provides some form of union security. Which of the following is an example of this?

A) dues check off
B) holidays
C) breaks
D) wages

Question 23

What is the name of the practice that allows employees to compound their shift premiums and overtime premiums to maximize their earnings?

A) filibustering
B) pyramiding
C) articling
D) red-circling

Question 24

A significant difference between common law and collective employment law relates to management's ability to exercise what right?

A) ability to assess work performance
B) ability to assign work duties
C) ability to terminate employees
D) ability to reward employees

Question 25

Which term refers to a process that protects an employee's pay at a level that is higher than the normal rate of his or her current job?

A) bumping
B) job security
C) pay security
D) red-circling

Question 26

What is another term for a subsection of a collective agreement that gives details about how to manage a workplace issue such as layoffs or leaves?

A) clause
B) article
C) appendix
D) condition

Question 27

In which grouping of clauses in a collective agreement would you expect to find language about a closed shop?

A) rights of management
B) education, training, and development
C) labour relations processes
D) rights of parties

Question 28

Which term refers to the idea that management retains all the rights it held before unionization except those changed by the collective agreement?

A) residual security
B) residual rights
C) management rights
D) management security

Question 29

What does the term "bread and butter" unionism refer to?

A) a focus on day-to-day issues, such as job security
B) union partnerships on apprenticeship programs
C) cooperative labour-management relations
D) Depression-era practices of providing meals for workers

Question 30

Many organizations employ team-based practices as part of their operations. In which grouping of clauses in a collective agreement would you find language that deals with this issue?

A) organization of work
B) rights of parties
C) working conditions
D) labour relations processes

Question 31

Why do collective agreements contain clauses on overtime and vacation leave when these issues are covered by provincial employment standards legislation?

A) Most unionized workplaces are covered by federal legislation.
B) Collective agreements must duplicate the provincial language.
C) Employment standards legislation does not apply to unions.
D) Negotiated benefits often exceed the legislated minimums.

Question 32

Which of the following would be included with organization of work clauses?

A) overtime requirements
B) progressive discipline steps
C) introduction of flexible work practices
D) job classification changes

Question 33

Which term refers to an equity clause in a collective agreement that specifies which groups are covered by the language in question?

A) explicit reference
B) legislative reference
C) equity reference
D) employment equity reference

Question 34

Which grouping of collective agreement clauses includes rates of pay and holidays?

A) rights of parties
B) working conditions
C) labour relations processes
D) organization of work

Question 35

Which of the following would be found in conditions of work clauses in collective agreements?

A) job rotation
B) management rights
C) overtime
D) Rand Formula

Question 36

According to your textbook, which clause is the most referenced section of a collective agreement?

A) conditions of work
B) organization of work
C) education, training, and development
D) rights of parties

Question 37

"Machine operators are responsible for the safe operation of their equipment and will refer all breakdowns and troubleshooting to the maintenance crew." What type of clause is this statement an example of?

A) union security
B) employee security
C) distribution of work
D) technological change

Question 38

Which of the following is a form of union security?

A) residual rights
B) union shop
C) working conditions
D) letter of understanding

Question 39

Which of the following is often included in technology-change language?

A) employee being notified of tech change
B) union restrictions on the use of technology
C) restrictions concerning distribution of technical work
D) employee process for grieving tech change

Question 40

A clause in a collective agreement specifies the concerns of a grievance procedure. What is this an example of?

A) rights of parties
B) organization of work
C) labour relations processes
D) working conditions

Question 41

What is often included in collective agreement language concerning disciplinary action?

A) union steward participation in manager's meeting with employee
B) reasons the supervisor is dissatisfied with work
C) where employment records are kept
D) length and location of probationary periods

Question 42

Which provision would be used if the parties want to ensure that they have flexibility in their use of seniority as the basis for promotion decisions?

A) The most senior person normally receives the promotion.
B) The most senior person will receive the promotion.
C) The most senior person must receive the promotion.
D) The most senior person should receive the promotion.

Question 43

Which term refers to the warning process that tries to improve employee performance or behaviour?

A) punishment and reward
B) just-cause discipline
C) red-circling
D) corrective action

Question 44

What are common types of clauses in a collective agreement?

Question 45

What is the common layout of a collective agreement?

Question 46

Which statement is best recommends how to improve clarity in collective agreement language?

A) Put similar topics together in long text sections.
B) Use legal language for added certainty.
C) Use a phrase to explain single, simple words.
D) Break long sections of text into paragraphs.

Question 47

Which of the following examples of wording gives specific instructions regarding the parties' behaviour?

A) should
B) will
C) may
D) normally

Question 48

Present three reasons why union leaders are often given special protection from layoffs through super seniority clauses.

Question 49

List and briefly describe the typical elements (layout) found within a collective agreement.

Question 50

Just-cause clauses require employers to have a valid reason (just cause) before terminating an employee. Which group of employees are excluded from this clause?

A) apprentices
B) probationary employees
C) laid off employees
D) disciplined employees

Question 51

Which term refers to a process whereby senior unionized employees are kept employed while more junior union members' employees are laid off?

A) recall
B) bumping
C) seniority
D) super seniority

Question 52

Which term refers to a special provision in a collective agreement that gives union leaders special protection from layoffs while in office?

A) recall
B) seniority
C) super seniority
D) bumping

Question 53

Is union or management most likely to seek collective agreement language that provides flexibility in staffing, promotion, and layoff decisions? Why? Which party is most likely to seek less flexible language on these issues? Why?

Question 54

List and briefly explain five common types of clauses in a collective agreement?

Question 55

Why do employers and unions often choose to name the specific groups covered in equity-based collective agreement clauses (i.e., explicit reference) rather than just referencing the equity legislation (i.e., legislative reference)?

Question 56

Seniority clauses in collective agreements that protect workers from layoff are a response to which management goal?

A) operational efficiency
B) red-circling
C) right to terminate
D) pyramiding