Labour Market 3

Question 1

Factors that may cause a gender pay gap

Answer 1

• breaks eg maternity leave
• access to education
• traditions

Question 2

In less developed and more developed countries what jobs are females in

Answer 2

Service occupations or vocational professions

Question 3

What do trade unions do

Answer 3

Use collective bargaining with employers to protect their members

Question 4

In 2013 how many people were registered as members of a trade union

Answer 4

7 million

Question 5

5 key roles for trade unions

Answer 5

1. Protecting and improving standards of work / real wages
2. Protecting workers against unfair dismissal
3. Improvements in working conditions
4. Better training and education
5. Protection of pension rights for union members

Question 6

I’d trade unions bid for employers to pay a premium wage above the normal competitive market wage what may occur

Answer 6

Excess supply of labour and a contraction of total employment

Question 7

When do unions have more success in raising wages for their members

Answer 7

If the demand for labour is relatively wage inelastic

Question 8

When are unions more influential

Answer 8

When they represent a high % of all workers in a given industry / occupation

Question 9

What kind of deal can be made to rise pay

Answer 9

If unions and employers agree a pay deal on success in lifting productivity

Question 10

Why has there been a long term decline in trade union memberships

Answer 10

• legislation reduced striking powers
• rise in flexible labour markets e.g. 0 hour contracts
• de-industrialisation
• impact of globalisation

Question 11

How has de-industrialisation resulted in a decline in trade union memberships

Answer 11

There are fewer jobs in industries where unions tended to be stronger e.g. heavy manufacturing

Question 12

How has globalisation resulted in the decline in trade union memberships

Answer 12

Reduce the bargaining power of employees - growing monopsony power of larger TNCs