Collective Bargaining Part 2

Question 1

When a number of employees produce an increase in productivity, the _____ incentive plan involves rewarding them all with a monetary payment. This can cover the entire workforce, or may be limited to only a few employees.

Answer 1

group

Explanation:

These incentives help to improve productivity in addition to encouraging teamwork.

Question 2

One type of group incentive plan is the _______ plan. This plan is based on a system by which workers receive bonus pay that is worked out using a computed ratio of total labor costs to total production values.

Answer 2

Scanlon

Explanation:

Therefore, if workers reduce labor costs by working more efficiently and effectively, they can decrease the costs to values ratio. They are then rewarded by receiving a percentage of the savings as a bonus.

Question 3

The ______ plan is a group incentive plan that involves rewarding workers for reducing the ratio between dollar payroll and dollar value added.

Answer 3

Rucker

Explanation:

The dollar added is equivalent to the sales minus the purchased materials. Any gains from reducing the ratio between dollar payroll and dollar value added are spread amongst employees.

Question 4

One form of group incentive plan that is formed from increasing productivity via sharing is __________.

Answer 4

Improshare

Question 5

Using an improshare plan, the gains obtained from improved productivity are shared ________ between the company and employees.

Answer 5

equally

Question 6

_____-based pay is based on a scheme where pay is increased when the employee has learned the required skills.

Answer 6

Skill

Question 7

In skill-based pay, an employee is required to effectively demonstrate that they have learned the required skill ______ to receiving the pay increase.

Answer 7

prior

Question 8

When an employer wants to lower wage costs, an effective plan is the two-tier pay plan. This involves offering a _____ wage to new employees.

Answer 8

lower

Question 9

The _________ plan revolves around the idea that new employees are paid less, and take longer to receive the top pay, or are not expected to reach top pay. These types of plans are most effective when turnover is high or a company is planning expansion.

Answer 9

Two-tier

Question 10

____ determination may be influenced by many different factors that are not usually evaluated the same by management and unions. For example, during prosperous times, a union will emphasize the company’s ability to pay, while during recessions management will emphasize their lack of funding.

Answer 10

Wage

Question 11

There are a number of factors that affect determination of wages. The financial condition of the company, the living costs for the employees, productivity of employees, and wage _______________ all influence wages. Unions and management use these factors in different ways when trying to bargain changes to wages.

Answer 11

comparability

Question 12

Wage _____________ is an important argument often brought up during wage negotiations. The argument revolves around the idea that wage rates in one bargaining unit should be equal to or similar to wage rates in a similar bargaining unit.

Answer 12

comparability

Question 13

______________ are considered important in wage negotiations. Employees feel that they should have similar wage rates to employees in comparable jobs. However, it is difficult to effectively compare different jobs because although jobs may appear similar, they may differ in a number of factors such as job content, payment methods, employment regularity, and benefits.

Answer 13

Wage comparisons

Question 14

The _______ to pay refers to the financial conditions of a company and whether or not it is within their financial capabilities to pay wage changes.

Answer 14

ability

Explanation:

Unions push ability to pay when companies are in profitable times as it is more likely that they can bargain a pay increase. However, companies also use this tactic when they are in recession or financial depression in order to avoid paying a wage increase.

Question 15

One reason why the ability to pay tactic may not be used by a union during wage determination is because during times when a company is in a financial _____, employees would be required to take a wage reduction.

Answer 15

slump

Explanation:

If the ability to pay criterion was to be applied uniformly and consistently, not only would companies have to accept handing out wage increases during profitable times, employees would have to accept wage reductions during profit slumps.

Question 16

Wage ___________ are often included in wage determination agreements in order for the wages outlined in the agreement to be changed if necessary. One reason why wages may need changing could be if the cost of living increases.

Answer 16

adjustments

Explanation:

The adjustments that are normally included within a contract include cost of living adjustments, deferred wage increases, and contract re-openers. Therefore, the wage determined during the original contract settlement is open to negotiation at certain times during the life of the contract.

Question 17

There are a number of steps involved in job __________. This process is used to determine a suitable wage relationship among various jobs within a company.

Answer 17

evaluation

Explanation:

This process involves determining how important each job is to the outputs of the company and thus how each should differ in terms of wages.

Question 18

__________ is one step involved in job evaluation. This step involves collecting information and facts about a specific job which are then used to evaluate the job. This classifies the job, not the employee required to perform the job.

Answer 18

Job analysis

Explanation:

The collection of information used for job analysis is done systematically and does not involve collecting information about the employees. Therefore, the outcome of job analysis is an analysis directly related to the job without any influence from the type of employee currently holding the position.

Question 19

In addition to paying the wages of employees, employers are also required to ___________, which are additional entitlements of the employees.

Answer 19

pay benefits

Explanation:

A significant percentage of payroll costs go towards paying employee benefits. There is a wide range of benefits from paid rests to insurance.

Question 20

_____________ provided by employers tend to be expanding. Most employers are required to cover life and hospitalization insurance and health care such as medical expenses and surgery

Answer 20

Insurance benefits

Question 21

___________ is just one example of insurance that most employers are required to pay for. However, insurance coverage is expanding and some contract agreements involve more specialized care such as dental and optical care.

Answer 21

Health care

Question 22

In order to protect employees against loss of income, income ___________ benefits are included in a large percentage of labor agreements. Provisions may include work or pay guarantees, severance pay, and supplemental unemployment benefits.

Answer 22

maintenance

Question 23

______________ provisions are included as a benefit in order to ensure that an employee’s income is protected. For example, work or pay guarantees ensure that an employee is guaranteed a minimum pay or number of hours of work to ensure their income is secure.

Answer 23

Income maintenance

Question 24

_____________ tend to include specified working times such as eight-hour days, Monday to Friday. Work outside of these hours is then subject to premium pay. That is, employees who work overtime are entitled to an inflated pay rate during overtime.

Answer 24

Labor agreements

Explanation:

In addition to the incorporation of premium pay for overtime in labor agreements, there are also provisions that make overtime mandatory for employees in companies that rely on employees working overtime to meet deadlines. Therefore, this ensures that employees will work, even if they are reluctant, but also ensures they receive premium pay for the overtime.

Question 25

_________ benefits involve activities such as rest periods, waiting time, voting time, and travel time. However, holidays and vacations are also covered.

Answer 25

Non-work

Explanation:

Holidays and vacations tend to involve the largest payments required by a company. The number of holidays allowed and the length of vacation permitted tends to differ among companies.

Question 26

Most labor agreements involve an outline or detailed plan referring to a _______. The agreements tend to provide information concerning retirement age, the benefits available, and financial arrangements.

Answer 26

pension

Question 27

A _______ is offered to employees once they retire from employment. The mandatory age of retirement is dictated by the law as a company cannot force retirement before the mandatory age required by law. However, early retirement is possible, and many companies have plans that offer a number of choices for employees considering early retirement.

Answer 27

pension

Question 28

Once a tentative labor agreement contract has been drawn up by the negotiators, it is necessary for it to undergo ____________, during which union members usually vote on whether they are in favor of the contract.

Answer 28

ratification

Question 29

Ratification refers to a ________ vote in favor of the labor agreement contract. This vote is taken by the union members.

Answer 29

majority

Question 30

__________ of a tentative labor agreement may occur even if the union members are not entirely satisfied with it. However, this action is considered commitment to the contract, showing that the members are willing to be bound by the contract.

Answer 30

Acceptance

Explanation:

During the ratification process, a majority vote in favor of a contract leads to acceptance of the contract. This assures management that its employees are willing to be bound by the agreement.

Question 31

_________ factors sometimes lead to a tentative agreement being rejected.

Answer 31

Political

Explanation:

There are a number of reasons why a tentative agreement may be rejected. In addition to political reasons, it may also be due to members feeling that they are not receiving the best possible contract, especially if they are comparing it with other contracts within their field.

Question 32

_________ is part of the labor agreement negotiation process and involves a person not related to either management or union liaising between the two parties in order to pass information from one to the other, and also to help settle disputes.

Answer 32

Mediation

Question 33

________ are not related to either party and have a diverse role. Their tasks include organizing meetings, maintaining communication between the parties, and making suggestions. Although a mediator may be heavily involved in the negotiation process, they have no authority over the negotiating decisions.

Answer 33

Mediators

Question 34

It is important that a ________ maintains neutrality, objectivity, and professionalism.

Answer 34

mediator

Explanation:

Even if a mediator personally favors the stance of one party over another, they are required to maintain neutrality in order to effectively mediate between the two parties. Their role does not involve making decisions for either party, but rather to communicate between the parties, and provide advice and suggestions to each party.

Question 35

A ___________ is responsible for assessing all factual information presented during labor agreement negotiations and then presenting this information in an attempt to convince the parties to settle their disagreements.

Answer 35

fact-finder

Question 36

Fact-finding is a process used during labor agreement negotiations to provide both parties with the _________ information required to make decisions. However, this process involves a third party, the fact-finder, who is not directly involved with negotiations, but rather assesses and presents the facts of the negotiations.

Answer 36

relevant

Question 37

________________ arbitration is used to make a final decision about a negotiated agreement. It involves a third-party who, after listening to each party’s bargaining positions, decides what should be included in the agreement.

Answer 37

Conventional interest

Explanation:

This is also known as contract arbitration. The person chosen to arbitrate is a neutral party, but any decisions that they make are final and binding.

Question 38

The process in which an arbitrator is required to choose one party’s labor agreement proposal as the final contract is known as ___________ selection arbitration.

Answer 38

final offer

Explanation:

During final offer selection arbitration, each party presents the arbitrator with a labor agreement proposal. The arbitrator then chooses one proposal. This proposal becomes the contract, and no provisions are made.

Question 39

If negotiating parties do not make changes from their _______ proposals when handing over their final proposals to a final offer selection arbitrator, the arbitrator will be forced to choose an extreme proposal, which can cause increased tension between parties as one party is happy while the other is greatly dissatisfied.

Answer 39

initial

Explanation:

As the arbitrator is required to choose one proposal to which no changes can be made before it is made into the labor agreement, it is likely that while one party is happy with the proposal, the other will not be satisfied. This lack of satisfaction will be enhanced if the proposals are extreme, that is, greatly in favor of only one party.

Question 40

When parties agree that the contract language developed by either mediation or arbitration will be final and binding, they undergo the ________________ process. Therefore, there is generally no need for ratification by party board members in regards to the contract language.

Answer 40

mediation-arbitration

Explanation:

This process involves both mediation and arbitration. At first, a neutral person will act as mediator, and then as arbitrator for issues that cannot be settled via mediation.

Question 41

When a group of employees stops working in order to enforce their demands, or to express a grievance, it is referred to as a ______.

Answer 41

strike

Explanation:

A strike occurs when employees are unhappy with management and wish to express this unhappiness, or to force management to improve their situation. This involves a withholding of effort by the employees.

Question 42

When an employer wishes to enforce terms of employment during a labor dispute, they may use a _______ in which employees are prevented from working.

Answer 42

lockout

Question 43

_________ are a refusal of the employer to provide work for an employee or group of employees. This is usually in response to a labor agreement dispute.

Answer 43

Lockouts

Question 44

When employees wish to increase wages, pensions, or non-work benefits, they often use an ________ strike.

Answer 44

economic

Question 45

When an employer and employee fail to agree on terms of a contract, a union may call for a strike to attempt to ______ the employer to agree with the union’s terms.

Answer 45

force

Question 46

A _______ strike occurs when employees stop working without prior approval from the union.

Answer 46

wildcat

Explanation

Question 47

When an employer acts in an unfair manner, such as refusing to negotiate a labor agreement, or terminating employment of a union member, employees may react via an _______________ strike.

Answer 47

unfair labor practice

Question 48

If an employer has acted illegally, and performed unfair labor practice, employees are protected by the ______ if they decide to strike in protest to the employer’s actions.

Answer 48

NLRB

Question 49

When two unions conflict over work assignments, they may undertake a ______________ strike in reaction.

Answer 49

jurisdictional

Explanation:

Employees may undertake a jurisdictional strike when a work assignment they believe should have been assigned to them is given to another group of workers.

Question 50

When employees have no dispute with their own employers, but wish to show support for another union, they take part in a secondary strike. This is similar to a ________ strike.

Answer 50

sympathy

Explanation:

Unions may work in concert with each other and thus one union may call a secondary strike for the purpose of supporting their fellow union. These strikes tend to occur when, in the one establishment, more than one union represents the employees.

Question 51

_________ is an activity that normally accompanies a strike. It involves employees patrolling their employer’s premises, often holding signs expressing their opinions, or demands.

Answer 51

Picketing

Explanation:

Picketing is a strike activity that is usually encouraged by a union. Picketing is a way to express the concerns and demands of the union.

Question 52

Picketing is used by employees for various reasons. Sometimes it is used to get management to accept the union as the employees’ bargaining agent. In this case, it is known as _____________ picketing.

Answer 52

recognitional

Explanation:

If recognitional picketing does not sway management to accept the union as a bargaining agent within thirty days, the union must petition for an election. The union can then be voted in if a majority vote is received.

Question 53

When a union wishes to make known to the public that a labor dispute exists between employees and their employer, they instigate an _____________ picket.

Answer 53

informational

Explanation:

Picketing is an effective way to inform the public about labor disputes between employees and an employer as it involves the use of placards and handbills, which can be used to display information.

Question 54

When employees _______ a company, they urge the public to stop purchasing or using the employer’s products or services. This is done in an attempt to settle disputes between the employer and employees.

Answer 54

boycott

Question 55

__________ is a method used to get employers to agree to the demands of the employees, or to get them to listen to their opinions. Boycotting can cause negative impacts on the profits of a company and thus is possible to cause an employer to listen to the boycotters.

Answer 55

Boycotting