Chapter 16

Question 1

What is a labor union?

Answer 1

an officially recognized association of employees practicing a similar trade or employed in the same company or industry who have joined together to present a united front and collective voice in dealing with management

Question 2

What is labor-management relations?

Answer 2

the ongoing interactions between labor unions and management in organizations

Question 3

What is a collective agreement?

Answer 3

a formal agreement between an employer and the union representing a group of its employees regarding terms and conditions of employment

Question 4

What is collective bargaining?

Answer 4

negotiations between a union and an employer to arrive at a mutually acceptable collective agreement

Question 5

What is a bargaining unit?

Answer 5

the group of employees in a firm, a plant, or an industry that has been recognized by an employer or certified by a Labour Relations Board (LRB) as appropriate for collective bargaining purposes

Question 6

What are some commonalities of different labor legislations?

Answer 6

certification procedures
minimum one year collective agreements
procedures preceding legal strike/lockout
no strikes/lockouts during life of contract
interpretation disputes settled by final and binding arbitration
prohibition of unfair labour practices

Question 7

What are some aspects of labor unions in Canada today?

Answer 7

Most unions today also become involved in broader political and social issues affecting their members.
Activities aimed at influencing government economic and social policies are known as social (reform) unionism

Question 8

What are different types of unions?

Answer 8

Type of workers eligible for membership: craft, industrial
Geographic scope: international, local, national
Labour congress afiliation: CLC, CSN, AFL-CIO

Question 9

What are some of the positions in the local union?

Answer 9

Local Officers
Elected officials who lead the union and serve on the bargaining committee for a new contract.
Union Steward
An employee, as a elected union official, represents the interests of members in their relations with management.

Question 10

What are some aspects of labor relations in a public sector?

Answer 10

Political nature of the labour management relationship
Alternate services are not available
Strikes in public sector- essential services

Question 11

What are some current challenges facing Canadian labor movements?

Answer 11

global competition
demographics
unionization of white-collar employees

Question 12

What are the steps in the labor relations process?

Answer 12

1. Employees decide to seek collective representation.
2. The union organizing can1paign begins.
3. The union receives official recognition.
4. Union and management negotiate a collective agreement.
5. Day-to-day contract administration begins.

Question 13

What are some common reasons for joining the union?

Answer 13

lack of job satisfaction
unfair administration of policies
perceived inequities in pay
lack of opportunity for advancement
lack of influence on work-related decisions
belief that unions can improve pay and working conditions

Question 14

What are the employer rights on union organizing campaigns?

Answer 14

express views on unions
state position on remaining non-union
prohibit union activity on company property/time
increase wages in normal course of business
gather employees to state company’s position if:
purpose stated in advance
attendance optional
no threats or promises

Question 15

What are two ways for union recognition?

Answer 15

Voluntary recognition: by the employer
Regular Certification:
labour union obtains a certificate from the relevant LRB declaring that the union is the exclusive bargaining agent for a defined group of employees

Question 16

What is decertification?

Answer 16

the process whereby a union is legally deprived of its official recognition as the exclusive bargaining agent for a group of employees

Question 17

What is a collective bargaining?

Answer 17

a process by which a formal collective agreement is established between labor and management
union and management must bargain in good faith
three steps:
preparation for bargaining
face-to-face negotiations
obtaining approval for the proposed contract

Question 18

What does preparation for negotiation involve?

Answer 18

Both union and management will:
gather data on general economic trends
analyze other collective agreements
conduct an analysis of grievances
review existing contract or union’s promises
conduct wage and salary surveys at competitor organizations
prepare cost estimates of monetary proposals
make plans for possible strike or lockout

Question 19

How to conduct face-to-face communications?

Answer 19

Location, Frequency and Duration of Meetings
negotiations are held at a neutral, off-site location, such as a hotel meeting room, so that there is no psychological advantage for either team and so that interruptions and work distractions can be kept to a minimum
each side generally has another room in which intra-team meetings, known as caucus sessions, are held
meetings are held as often as either or both parties consider desirable, and they last as long as progress is being made

Question 20

What is a bargaining zone?

Answer 20

the area defined by the bargaining limits (resistance points) of each side, in which compromise is possible, as is the attainment of a settlement satisfactory to both parties

Question 21

What is distributive bargaining?

Answer 21

a win-lose negotiating strategy, such that one party gains at the expense of the other

Question 22

What is Mutual Gains (interest-based) Bargaining?

Answer 22

a win win approach based on training in the fundamentals of effective problem solving and conflict resolution
interests of all stakeholders are taken into account

Question 23

What is Memorandum of Settlement?

Answer 23

a summary of the terms and conditions agreed to by the parties that is submitted to the constituent groups for final approval

Question 24

What is ratification?

Answer 24

formal approval by secret-ballot vote of the bargaining unit members of the agreement negotiated between union and management

Question 25

What is arbitration?

Answer 25

A process for employees such as police officers, firefighters, and others in jobs where strikes cannot be tolerated to reach an agreement.
Final and binding judgments

Question 26

What is mediation?

Answer 26

the use (usually voluntary) of a neutral third party to help an organization and the union representing its employees to reach a mutually satisfactory collective agreement
Non-binding judgments

Question 27

What is bargaining power?

Answer 27

Bargaining Power
The power of labor and management to achieve their goals through economic, social, or political influence
Union Bargaining Power
Strikes, pickets, work slowdowns and boycotts
Management Bargaining Power
Hiring replacement workers, where allowed
Lockouts
Continuing operations staffed by management

Question 28

What is a strike?

Answer 28

the temporary refusal by bargaining unit members to continue working for the employer

Question 29

What is a strike vote?

Answer 29

legally required in some jurisdictions, it is a vote seeking authorization from bargaining unit members to strike if necessary
a favourable vote does not mean that a strike is inevitable

Question 30

What is picket?

Answer 30

stationing groups of striking employees, usually carrying signs, at the entrances and exits of the struck operation to publicize the issues in dispute and discourage people from entering or leaving the premises

Question 31

What is the boycott?

Answer 31

an organized refusal of bargaining unit members and supporters to buy the products or use the services of the organization whose employees are on strike in an effort to exert economic pressure on the employer

Question 32

What is a lockout?

Answer 32

temporary refusal of a company to continue providing work for bargaining unit employees involved in a labour dispute, which may result in closure of the establishment for a time

Question 33

What is a wildcat strike?

Answer 33

a spontaneous walkout, not officially sanctioned by union leadership, which may be legal or illegal, depending on its timing

Question 34

What are the most common sources of disagreement?

Answer 34

Seniority
length of service in the bargaining unit
Discipline
most collective agreements restrict an employer’s right to discipline employees by requiring proof of just cause for the disciplinary action imposed
disciplinary issues must be handled in accordance with the terms of the collective agreement and backed by carefully documented evidence

Question 35

What are dues check-off?

Answer 35

Gives the employer the responsibility of withholding union dues from the paychecks of union members who agree to such a deduction.

Question 36

What kinds of “shop” agreements are there?

Answer 36

Closed shop – must be a union member before hire
Union shop – must join union upon hire (e.g.: within 30 days)
Rand formula shop – optional to join union but must pay dues if benefit from union negotiations
Open shop – completely optional to join or not

Question 37

What is a grievance?

Answer 37

a written allegation of a contract violation, filed by an individual bargaining unit member, the union, or management

Question 38

What is the impact of unionisation on HRM?

Answer 38

building effective labour-management relations
instituting an open-door policy
extending the courtesy of prior consultation
demonstrating genuine concern for employee well-being
forming joint committees, holding joint training programs
meeting regularly
using third party assistance