Deck 11: Enhancing Employee Management Relations

Question 1

Because of poor working conditions, workers began demanding improvements that resulted in the forming of labour unions in Canada. A lot of the rights workers see today can be attributed to the union movement. Which of the following is NOT one of those rights?

A) the right to refuse unsafe work
B) the right to be treated fairly without discrimination
C) the right to refuse poor working conditions
D) the right to have a union member on the board

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Fiona is upset when her employer reduces the number of paid holidays employees will receive each year. She contacts the union to see what she would have to do to get the union to represent employees at the company. Which of the following best reflects her objective in wanting to join a union?

A) defined grievance procedures
B) improved work rules and working conditions
C) higher compensation
D) power through solidarity

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which of the following is a written agreement setting forth issues between labour and management?

A) labour union
B) labour contract
C) jurisdiction
D) ratification

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Betsy works as a housekeeper for a large hotel chain. She would like the housekeepers to form a union because she heard that a Hyatt hotel recently replaced its entire housekeeping staff with temporary workers from a staffing agency. The formation of a union in this case would provide which objective of unionization?

A) higher compensation
B) improved work rules and working conditions
C) increased job security
D) defined grievance procedures

Question 5

When was job specialization first introduced into the workplace?

A) after World War II
B) during World War I
C) in the 1960s
D) during the Industrial Revolution

Question 6

Which of the following is an organization that represents workers in dealing with management over issues involving wages, hours, and working conditions?

A) labour union
B) labour committee
B) labour movement
C) labour consultants

Question 7

Belinda is unhappy with the fact that she and other employees in the company haven't received a raise in over two years, and the company has recently reduced their benefits. Several other employees have been talking about forming a union at the company, and she thinks this would be a good idea. What is likely to be Belinda's motivation for joining a union?

A) to combat her feelings of alienation
B) to improve her pay and benefits
C) because she must join to keep her job
D) to increase her job security

Question 8

Unionized workers for an electric and gas company in New Brunswick negotiated a contract with a no-layoff clause. What objective of unionization does this best illustrate?

A) increased job security
B) defined grievance procedures
C) higher compensation
D) improved work rules and working conditions

Question 9

Which of the following groups was the first to try to organize a national federation by an organized labour group in Canada?

A) Knights of Labour
B) Canadian Labour Union
C) Canadian Autoworkers Union
D) Trade and Labour Congress of Canada

Question 10

Which of the following was a contributor the poor working conditions during the Industrial Revolution?

A) The rapid growth in the Canadian economy, which spurred demand for more workers.
B) The Hawthorne studies, which indicated that many factories had poor lighting.
C) Rapid advances in machinery, which required educated and skilled workers.
D) A small labour supply, which meant workers performed multiple jobs.

Question 11

With which of the following is the Knights of Labour union MOST closely associated?

A) the goal to eliminate unions
B) the use of the strike weapon
C) the goal to overthrow capitalism
D) the promotion of economic and social democracy

Question 12

Which of the following involves the concept of being protected against the loss of employment?

A) union security
B) union shop
C) job security
D) agency security

Question 13

Which of the following was the second organized labour group in Canada?

A) Trades and Labour Congress of Canada (TLC)
B) Canadian Labour Union (CLU)
C) Canadian Auto Workers (CAW)
D) Canadian Plumbers Union (CPU)

Question 14

When Arthur heard about two line workers in another department being fired after a disagreement with their manager, he decided it was time to join the union: "I have a family to feed, and I can't risk losing my job because some manager has a bad day." What is Arthur's reason for joining a union?

A) to combat alienation
B) to increase his job security
C) to correct perceived deficiencies
D) to increase his salary

Question 15

Which of the following is a formally established course of action for resolving employee complaints against management?

A) grievance procedure
B) ratification
C) boycott
D) mediation

Question 16

In Canada what percentage of the workforce belong to unions?

A) 20%
B) 30%
C) 40%
D) 50%

Question 17

Huang is glad he is part of a union. His cousin Kai was recently complaining about his manufacturing job. Kai said he had been written up three times for reporting to work late, but several of his co-workers show up later than he does and haven't been disciplined. A union at Kai's company would help in which area?

A) improved work rules and working conditions
B) increased job security
C) defined grievance procedures
D) power through solidarity

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a reason for workers to start or join a union?

A) when one worker feels he or she is being unfairly paid
B) when workers are being discriminated against
C) when workers feel their working conditions are unsatisfactory
D) when workers feel they are being harassed or picked on by management

Question 19

Which of the following is characteristic of union members?

A) They sell their manufacturing labour skills.
B) They work across different industries.
C) They have the same specialization.
D) They are not concerned about working conditions as long as they get paid well.

Question 20

Which of the following is the federal agency that oversees unionization efforts in Canada?

A) Union Authorization Department
B) Federal Labour Board
C) Canada Industrial Relations Board
D) Canadian Union Management Agency

Question 21

Where do negotiations between labour and management usually take place?

A) at the workplace
B) at designated government facilities
C) at an offsite location
D) at union headquarters

Question 22

Efforts to unionize have been strongly opposed by some businesses that have banned strikes, picketing, and union membership drives by using which of the following?

A) court orders
B) lockouts
C) injunctions
D) strike breakers

Question 23

The union can immediately begin the process of collective bargaining to reach a labour contract with management after which step of the unionization process?

A) Canada Labour Code certification
B) authorization cards
C) organizing campaign
D) election

Question 24

Workers at a plant that produces household appliances are extremely unhappy with the state of their plant. They feel it is unsafe and an accident could happen at any time. Which of the following is a reason why the workers want to join a union?

A) they are unhappy with their working conditions
B) they want more job security
C) the workers feel alienated
D) they want more benefits

Question 25

Although Keith was getting a college degree, he planned to pursue the same occupation as his father after graduation. As a shop steward, his father made numerous contributions to other workers' situations in a Windsor plant and is now a leader in a national union. Keith wants to follow the same career path. What is Keith's reason for joining a union?

A) to increase job security
B) to correct perceived deficiencies
C) to keep his job
D) to reinforce his family's support for the union

Question 26

Which of the following athletes are represented by a union in Canada?

A) golfers
B) NHL hockey players
C) tennis players
D) curlers

Question 27

What is the first step in the collective bargaining process?

A) voting and ratification
B) debating
C) preparing for negotiations
D) a meeting between labour and management

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT one of the steps in the collective bargaining process?

A) conduct an organizing campaign to get other employees interested in forming a union
B) meeting between labour and management
C) reaching an agreement
D) voting and ratification of the agreement

Question 29

What is the final step in the collective-bargaining process?

A) voting and ratification
B) reaching an agreement
C) preparing for negotiations
D) meeting between labour and management

Question 30

For the past three years, Juan has worked on the line at a large tool manufacturing plant. His job is to arrange the tools in a holding tray and send them through the chrome bath to be plated. Juan has little contact with other workers and often finds his job to be tedious and dull. When he hears a union organizer is visiting the plant, he is one of the first in line to show support for the formation of a union. Which of the following is likely to be Juan's reason for wanting to join a union?

A) to combat feelings of alienation
B) to increase job security
C) to correct perceived deficiencies
D) to keep his job

Question 31

Which of the following government entities oversees and enforces labour relations in Canada?

A) Industry Canada
B) Department of Labour
C) Labour Board of Canada
D) Canada Industrial Relations Board

Question 32

Which of the following is the process of negotiating a labour contract with management?

A) ratification
B) stipulation
C) arbitration
D) collective bargaining

Question 33

Which of the following is one of the major longstanding reasons for employees considering joining a union?

A) rest periods
B) job security
C) union security
D) pension security

Question 34

What is the term for the approval of a labour contract by a vote of the union members?

A) collective bargaining
B) restitution
C) ratification
D) certification

Question 35

During the unionization process, which of the following are employees are asked to sign to indicate their support for the union?

A) election documents
B) authorization cards
C) contract documents
D) campaign materials

Question 36

What is the recent trend in length of labour contracts, which typically are in the range of three years?

A) more than three years
B) less than three years
C) staying the same at three years
D) one year

Question 37

There are many reasons why a worker would want to join a union. Which of the following is NOT one of those reasons?

A) increased job security
B) more potential bonuses
C) increased pay
D) improved working conditions

Question 38

Which of the following must happen before a union can be formed at a company?

A) the union must gain permission from the company's management
B) the union must gain permission from the federal government
C) some employees of the company must be interested in union representation
D) employees must demonstrate that management is unable to act in their best interests

Question 39

What was the main reason for the rapid growth of union membership in Canada?

A) public opinion turned against management
B) government passing of pro-union legislation
C) the press was behind union membership drives
D) influential celebrities backed the unions

Question 40

Marek testified against his company last year during an unfair labour practice hearing. Since then, he has had nothing but trouble. He believes management is after him because he is a leading union supporter. He confided in you, hoping you could suggest where to get relief. As a neutral party who knows a few things about employee rights, you suggested submitting a complaint to which of the following organizations?

A) Canada Industrial Relations Board
B) Better Business Bureau
C) CUPE
D) Labour Industry Canada

Question 41

A labour contract is negotiated through which of the following processes?

A) mediation
B) arbitration
C) ratification
D) collective bargaining

Question 42

When the National Basketball Association players were not able to negotiate a suitable contract, they stopped playing until an agreement could be reached. This is an example of which of the following?

A) embargo
B) strike
C) boycott
D) walkout

Question 43

Which of the following is the most extreme technique labour can use during a disagreement with management?

A) strike
B) slowdown
C) boycott
D) picket

Question 44

Which step in the collective bargaining process involves proposals and counterproposals?

A) voting
B) preparing for negotiations
C) ratification
D) reaching an agreement

Question 45

Negotiations over certain key provisions of a new labour contract have become heated, and before tensions escalate even more, management has proposed bringing in a neutral third party who will hear both sides and suggest ways in which the parties might be able to compromise and reach a mutually satisfactory agreement. What is this third party called?

A) negotiator
B) arbitrator
C) mediator
D) ratifier

Question 46

Which of the following tactics involves marching back and forth in front of a place of employment with signs informing the public that a strike is in progress?

A) boycotting
B) a slowdown
C) strikebreaking
D) picketing

Question 47

Which of the following is a goal that picketers hope to achieve by picketing?

A) that the public will be sympathetic to the strikers and will not patronize the company
B) that they will get on television and be interviewed about the issues at hand
C) that they can relax a little bit because holding a sign is easier than working
D) that other employees will continue to go to work

Question 48

To increase its bargaining power and add force to its demands, a union may engage in a temporary work stoppage or which other tactic?

A) picketing
B) strike
C) boycott
D) a lockout

Question 49

What is it called when a company refuses to allow union employees to enter the workplace?

A) lockout
B) securing action
C) boycott
D) injunction

Question 50

Most labour contracts cover the agreement between the union and employer on various items. Which of the following is NOT one of those items?

A) employee compensation
B) grievance procedures
C) bonuses
D) working hours and conditions

Question 51

All of the following are negotiating tactics that the union can take EXCEPT which of the following?

A) a strike
B) picketing
C) a lockout
D) a boycott

Question 52

Since the expiration of the last labour contract, union workers at Royalty Products have been working without a contract. However, after management cancels negotiations with the union, workers walk off the job. What negotiating tactic does this represent?

A) strike
B) picketing
C) boycott
D) lockout

Question 53

A union urges consumers to stop buying goods from a local retailer because of its anti-union stance. This is an example of which of the following?

A) an injunction
B) a boycott
C) a lockout
D) a work slowdown

Question 54

What is the ultimate goal of collective bargaining?

A) ratification of a labour contract agreeable to all parties
B) to improve management union relations
C) to avoid a strike
D) to raise the workers' wages

Question 55

Union members at Whirlpool are meeting today to determine how to prioritize the issues they are bringing to management. These workers are in which stage of the collective bargaining process?

A) meeting between management and labour
B) preparing for negotiation
C) reaching an agreement
D) ratification

Question 56

After negotiations between the union and the company break down, they agree to bring in a neutral third party who will conduct a formal hearing and decide on a solution. What is this third party called?

A) arbitrator
B) mediator
C) interventionist
D) ratifier

Question 57

In Canada what piece of legislation does a union become certified under?

A) Certification Code
B) Union Forming Law
C) Labour Relations Law
D) Canada Labour Code

Question 58

In response to a request filed by the management of a medical centre, a judge issued a court order limiting the number of union employees that can strike against the medical centre, citing concerns about patient care. What negotiating tactic is illustrated in this example?

A) lockout
B) boycott
C) injunction
D) publicity

Question 59

Because they were involved in a labour dispute with the company, employees refused to buy its products and encouraged their friends, families, and members of the public to do the same. What is the action called?

A) lockout
B) boycott
C) rejection
D) blackball

Question 60

After hammering out a tentative contract with the company, the union representatives present the agreement to union members to be voted on. What is this step in the collective bargaining process known as?

A) mediation
B) ratification
C) the grievance procedure
D) arbitration

Question 61

In some jurisdictions, the unions must issue notice 10 days before workers head to the picket lines. This is a result of which of the following?

A) a boycott held by the teachers
B) a strike held by the teachers
C) an injunction issued by a court of law
D) a lockout from school administrators

Question 62

All of the following have been given as possible reasons for a gradual decline in union membership EXCEPT which one?

A) federal laws make union membership difficult
B) companies have shifted production to countries where the cost of labour is lower
C) workers do not share the need to unionize because management satisfies their needs better today
D) heavily unionized industries have not been growing as rapidly as non-union industries

Question 63

Organized labour has had a significant impact on the workplace in Canada over the last 100 years. What has organized labour gained for the average worker in Canada?

A) improved working conditions
B) better benefits
C) job security
D) lockout protection

Question 64

Which of the following is NOT a trend in the future of labour-management relations in Canada?

A) increased responsiveness of management
B) increased partnership between employers and private-sector unions
C) pressure on public-sector unions
D) more government support of unions

Question 65

The labour contract for union employees at Caterpillar has expired, and the negotiators have been unable to come up with a new contract. While negotiations continue, the workers have agreed to continue working without a contract. Which of the following is another option to consider in this situation?

A) the union files a lawsuit against the company
B) both union and management replace their current negotiators with new representatives
C) the union goes on strike
D) management threatens to fire union employees to force them to agree to their terms

Question 66

What is one reason that has attributed to the decline of union membership?

A) the relocation of factories and production facilities to non-unionized areas
B) work conditions remain poor in factories and unions did not help improve conditions
C) the decline of service industries, which were traditionally unionized industries
D) the decline of unionized industries and growth of non-unionized industries

Question 67

What is one of the biggest differences between the unions of the 1950s and unions of today?

A) A weaker economy and increased global economy prompt unions to more often seek partnership rather than confrontation.
B) Unions are more confrontational today than they were in the 1950s, when they chose to work as partners with employers.
C) Whereas unions mainly looked out for their own interests in the 1950s, they look out for the interests of their members more so today.
D) Whereas unions mainly looked out for the interests of their members in the 1950s, they look out for their own interests more so today.

Question 68

Which direction are unionization rates trending in Canada?

A) increasing
B) decreasing
C) staying the same
D) rapidly decreasing

Question 69

What has been the trend in union membership over the last 30 years?

A) decreased with the trend of decreasing employee benefits
B) increased as unions have spread to the service sector
C) decreased with the growth of high-tech and service industries
D) remained at a fairly constant level

Question 70

Which of the following are governing bodies that regulate ethical standards and encourage career and professional development of the membership?

A) unions
B) associations
C) clubs
D) regulatory bodies

Question 71

Which of the following statements is true regarding unions today?

A) they are not nearly as prominent and thus not as powerful as they were in the 1950s
B) they are used less today because they have proven to be ineffective
C) they have grown in size but have not been effective in helping their members
D) they will play a smaller role in the public sector

Question 72

Which of the following is NOT a negotiating tactic that labour can use before and during the bargaining process?

A) picketing
B) slowdown
C) boycott
D) lockout

Question 73

As the expiration date of an existing contract draws near, union leaders are likely to take which of the following to put pressure on management to negotiate a new contract?

A) majority vote
B) strike vote
C) majority election
D) ratification vote

Question 74

Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada and the CFA Societies Canada are which of the following?

A) unions
B) clubs
C) professional associations
D) accredited financial experts

Question 75

Last year, members of the union at a steel company knew their negotiations with management were not going well. Fearing a lockout, union members took several steps to ensure that if a lockout did occur, the company would suffer. Still wanting to receive wages, workers engaged in which of the following tactics, intended to result in a lack of inventory for the company to rely on during the lockout?

A) a strike
B) a picket
C) a work slowdown
D) a court injunction

Question 76

A large medical supplies company released a statement saying, "The production and supply of the medical supplies that we produce have been severely disrupted due to an illegal strike and the actions of the union. We had no other option but to issue a lockout. We appeal to union leaders to reach an agreement so that we may continue producing medical supplies that so many in our community need." Which tactic does this statement exemplify?

A) a strike, a union negotiation tactic
B) a lockout; a union negotiation tactic
C) publicity; a management negotiation tactic
D) an injunction; a management negotiation tactic

Question 77

With the growth of service industries in the last decade, what might one expect regarding union membership?

A) it would increase, as service industries are typically unionized
B) it would decrease, as service industries are typically non-unionized
C) it would increase, as the growth of service industries indicates overall economic growth
D) it would not be impacted