HC15 Collective Bargaining and Labor Relations

Negotiating contracts involves day-to-day activities in which union members and the organization’s managers may have disagreements.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Contract negotiations in a union setting involve decisions about pay structure, job security, work rules, workplace safety, and many other issues. Administering contracts involves day-to-day activities in which union members and the organization’s managers may have disagreements.

The union steward helps investigate complaints and represents employees to supervisors.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The union steward helps to investigate complaints and represents employees to supervisors and other managers when employees file grievances alleging contract violations.

Labor unions’ goals are made to increase the organization's profits by restraining pay for their members.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Labor unions have the goals of obtaining pay and working conditions that satisfy their members and of giving members a voice in decisions that affect them.

To meet its objectives in union organizing, a union need not convince workers that they should receive better pay or other employment conditions because those are rights for all workers.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

To meet its objectives, a union needs to convince a majority of workers that they should receive better pay or other employment conditions and that the union will help them do so.

Under arbitration, the arbitrator hears the views of both sides and facilitates the negotiation process.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Under arbitration, the most formal type of outside intervention, an arbitrator or arbitration board determines a settlement that is binding, meaning the parties have to accept it. Under mediation, the mediator hears the views of both sides and facilitates the negotiation process.

According to new approaches to labor-management relations, there seems to be wider acceptance of the view that greater cooperation can increase employee commitment.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Since at least the 1980s, there seems to be wider acceptance of the view that greater cooperation can increase employee commitment and motivation while making the workplace more flexible.

Management goals are to increase the organization’s _____ and raise output.

• input

• value

• profits

• work force

Answer explanation

Management goals are to increase the organization’s profits. Managers tend to prefer options that lower costs and raise output.

Which statement expresses a common societal concern about unions?

• Unions are so weak that they make it impossible for businesses to remain competitive.

• Unions in some industries are so strong that they interfere with employers’ ability to compete.

• Clashes between workers and management often become violent.

• Unions enable unenlightened employers to take advantage of workers on working conditions.

Answer explanation

As long ago as the late 1800s and early 1900s, industrial relations scholars saw unions as a way to make up for individual employees’ limited bargaining power. Since then, observers have expressed concern that unions in certain industries have become too strong, achieving their goals at the expense of employers’ ability to compete or meet other objectives.

Some managers at Speedy Operators hear that some employees are talking about organizing a union to represent the customer service agents, who are at the core of the company’s operations. The managers are concerned and ask Emily, the HR manager, what they can do to make a union less likely. Which statement would be best for Emily to include in her advice?

• Threaten to fire anyone who stirs up trouble among the customer service agents.

• Be responsive to employees’ problems, and treat them all with respect.

• Ask a friendly worker to keep an ear out and report what the organizers are saying.

• Meet one-on-one with each employee to find out each one’s attitudes toward unions.

Answer explanation

Supervisors have the most direct contact with employees. Thus, it is critical that they establish good relationships with employees even before there is any attempt at union organizing. This includes actions such as solving employee problems and treating all employees with dignity and respect.

The management of Log Cabin Inc. allows employees to participate in decision making, maintains transparency of certain business information, and encourages the development of self-managed teams. In this scenario, what is Log Cabin implementing?

• negotiation

• arbitration

• cooperation

• mediation

Answer explanation

Cooperation between labor and management may feature employee involvement in decision making, self-managing employee teams, labor-management problem-solving teams, broadly defined jobs, and sharing of financial gains and business information with employees.