Employee & Labor Relations

Question 1

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR)

Answer 1

Umbrella term for the various approaches and techniques, other than litigation, that can be used to resolve a dispute.

Question 2

Arbitration

Answer 2

Method of dispute resolution by which disputing parties agree to be bound by the decision of one or more impartial persons to whom they submit their dispute for
final determination.

Question 3

Constructive discipline

Answer 3

Form of corrective discipline that implements increasingly severe penalties for employees.

Question 4

Grievance procedure

Answer 4

Orderly way to resolve differences of opinion.

Question 5

Industrial actions

Answer 5

Various forms of collective employee actions taken to protest work conditions or employer actions.

Question 6

Labor union

Answer 6

Group of workers who coordinate their activities to achieve common goals in their relationship with an employer or group of employers; also called trade union.

Question 7

Lockout

Answer 7

Action of an employer to shut down operations to prevent employees from working.

Question 8

Mediation

Answer 8

Method of nonbinding dispute resolution by which a neutral third party tries to help disputing parties reach a mutually agreeable decision; also called conciliation.

Question 9

Picketing

Answer 9

Positioning of employees at a place of work targeted for the action for the purpose of protest

Question 10

Policy

Answer 10

Broad statement that reflects an organization’s philosophy, objectives, or standards concerning a particular set of management or employee activities

Question 11

Project labor agreement (PLA)

Answer 11

Agreement that requires specific contractors to accept certain conditions in project contracts, such as paying a fair wage and contributing to health insurance, pension,
and training funds.

Question 12

Secondary action

Answer 12

Attempt by a union to influence an employer by putting pressure on another employer, for example, a supplier.

Question 13

Sit-down strike

Answer 13

Refusal by workers to work; also refusal by workers to leave their workstations, making it impossible for the employer to use replacement workers.

Question 14

Sympathy strike

Answer 14

Action taken in support of another union that is striking the employer.

Question 15

Trade union

Answer 15

Group of workers who coordinate their activities to achieve common goals in their relationship with an employer or group of employers; also called labor union.

Question 16

Unfair labor practice (ULP)

Answer 16

Violation of employee rights; act prohibited under labor relations statutes.

Question 17

Whistleblowing

Answer 17

Reporting of an organization’s violations of policies and processes by employees.

Question 18

Wildcat strike

Answer 18

Work stoppages at union contract operations that have not been sanctioned by the union.

Question 19

Work-to-rule

Answer 19

Situation in which workers slow processes by performing tasks exactly to specifications or according to job or task descriptions.