Chapter 14: The Dynamics of Labour Relations

Question 1

What are the steps of the labour relations process?

Answer 1

1. Workers desire collective representation
2. The union begins its organizing campaign which may lead to certification and recognition
3. Collective negotiations lead to a contract
4. The contract is administered

Question 2

What are some reasons employees unionize?

Answer 2

1. They see unions as a way to achieve results they can’t achieve acting individually
2. They are dissatisfied with wages, benefits, and working conditions
3. They perceive that managerial practices regarding promotion, transfer, shift assignment, or other policies are administered in an unfair or biased manner
4. Their needs for recognition and social affiliation are being frustrated

Question 3

What is a union shop?

Answer 3

A provision of a collective agreement that requires employees to join the union as a condition of their employment

Question 4

What is a card-check process?

Answer 4

The union submits to the labour board authorization cards from a majority of workers in order to certify the union

Question 5

What is a mandatory ballot?

Answer 5

The union obtains authorization cards for 40% or more of the workers in order to trigger a vote to unionize among all workers

Question 6

What is a bargaining unit?

Answer 6

A group of two or more employees who share common employment interests and conditions and may reasonably be grouped together for the purposes of collective bargaining

Question 7

What are unfair labour practices?

Answer 7

Specific employer and union illegal practices that deny employees their rights and benefits under federal and provincial law

Question 8

What is voluntary recognition?

Answer 8

A process where the employer simply agrees to recognize the union as the representative of the employees

Question 9

How can a union be decertified?

Answer 9

If a majority of employees indicate they want to be represented by a different union or if the union has failed to bargain, an application for decertification can be made to the labour relations board

Question 10

What are management rights?

Answer 10

Decisions regarding organizational operations over which management claims exclusive rights

Question 11

What is a craft union?

Answer 11

A union that represents skilled craft workers

Question 12

What is an industrial union?

Answer 12

A union that represents all workers (skilled, semiskilled, unskilled) employed along industry lines

Question 13

What is an employee association?

Answer 13

A labour organization that represents various groups of professional and white-collar employees in labour-management relations

Question 14

What is a union (shop) steward

Answer 14

An employee who, as a nonpaid union official, represents the interests of members in their relations with management

Question 15

What is a business agent?

Answer 15

A paid labour official responsible for negotiating and administering the collective agreement and working to resolve union members’ problems

Question 16

Is the right to strike limited in any way?

Answer 16

It is limited to specific groups of employees (those performing nonessential services) and the strike cannot endanger public health, safety, or welfare

Question 17

What is compulsory binding arbitration?

Answer 17

Binding method of resolving collective bargaining deadlocks by a neutral third party

Question 18

What is final offer arbitration?

Answer 18

A method of resolving collective bargaining deadlocks where the arbitrator has no power to compromise but must select one or another of the final offers submitted by the two parties

Question 19

What is the collective bargaining process?

Answer 19

A process of negotiating a collective agreement including the use of economic pressures by both parties

Question 20

What are the 4 steps of the collective bargaining process?

Answer 20

1. Prepare for negotiations
2. Develop strategies
3. Conduct negotiations
4. Formalize agreement

Question 21

What is included in preparing for negotiations?

Answer 21

Assembling data to support bargaining proposals and forming the bargaining team

Question 22

What is the bargaining zone?

Answer 22

The area in which the union and employer are willing to concede when bargaining

Question 23

What is interest-based bargaining?

Answer 23

Problem solving bargaining based on a win-win philosophy and the development of a positive long term relationship

Question 24

What is adversarial bargaining?

Answer 24

Negotiators start with defined positions and, through deferral, persuasion, trade, or power, the parties work toward the resolution of individual bargaining demands

Question 25

What is bargaining power?

Answer 25

The power of labour and management to achieve their goals through economic, social, or political influence

Question 26

What is an interest arbitrator?

Answer 26

A third-party neutral who resolves a labour dispute by issuing a final decision in the disagreement

Question 27

What is a grievance procedure?

Answer 27

A formal procedure that provides for the union to represent members and nonmembers in processing a grievance

Question 28

When is a grievance procedure initiated and by who?

Answer 28

Normally initiated by the union or an individual employee when it feels management has violated some article of the collective agreement

Question 29

What is rights arbitration?

Answer 29

Arbitration over interpretation of the meaning of contract terms or employee work grievances

Question 30

What is the purpose of rights arbitration?

Answer 30

To provide a solution to a grievance that a union and employer have been unable to resolve by themselves

Question 31

What is an arbitration award?

Answer 31

The final and binding award issued by an arbitrator in a labour management dispute