Overview of Labor Relations in the United States Part 1

Question 1

Throughout the labor relations process, management and an employees’ _____ decide on mutual terms and conditions of employment and these are enforced by both groups.

Answer 1

union

Question 2

The elements that are commonly found in the labor relations process can be applied to the labor activities of not only a single _____________ facility, but also entire industries.

Answer 2

manufacturing

Question 3

Single manufacturing facilities, multiple facilities, multiple facilities run by the one company, as well as entire industries can all apply _______ elements of the labor relations process to their labor relations activities.

Answer 3

common

Question 4

The labor relations process includes the following three phases:

I. Recognition of the rights of union representatives.

II. ___________ of the labor agreement, and

III. Administration of the negotiated labor agreement.

Answer 4

Negotiation

Explanation:

Even though all three phases are essential to the process, phase 2 generally receives the most media attention.

Question 5

___________ of the legitimate rights and responsibilities of union representatives is considered the most important phase of the labor relations process from the union’s perspective.

Answer 5

Recognition

Explanation:

Without successfully gaining legal recognition as the exclusive bargaining representative of employees in phase 1, the process does not proceed to phases 2 or 3.

Question 6

In the past, investigations and research into labor relations lacked a _____ point that would have allowed for the development of an analytical framework to properly analyze the labor relations process.

Answer 6

focal

Question 7

In order for investigations into labor relations to yield applicable insights, a focal point is necessary. With a focal point, observations could be analyzed and _______ findings discovered.

Answer 7

useful

Question 8

Following publication of Industrial Relations Systems, the negotiation of work _____ between management and union officials became a focal point in labor relations.

Answer 8

rules

Question 9

Work rules are rules that are negotiated between management and union officials in order to maintain _________ for both the employer and the employee.

Answer 9

fairness

Question 10

Work rules are generalized into two categories. One of the categories is rights and ___________, and these refer to those of both employer and employee.

Answer 10

obligations

Question 11

The two categories of work rules cover ____________, and rights and obligations. Examples include rules governing types of compensation payments such as overtime and vacation, as well as rules governing the rights and obligations of both the employer and employee.

Answer 11

compensation

Question 12

Work rules tend to be characterized into categories. One of these categories refers to rules that control ____________, such as overtime, vacations, and shift premiums.

Answer 12

compensation

Explanation:

The other generalized work rules category relates to job rights and obligations such as performance standards and job specifications.

Question 13

While many work rules are ______ to a number of occupations and industries, some rules are specific to particular industries.

Answer 13

common

Explanation:

While many jobs share similar work rules, some rules only apply to certain occupations. For example, rules that apply to baseball players or cemetery employees may not apply to other forms of employment.

Question 14

The participants in the labor relations process formulate work _____ by negotiating and then administer the rules according to certain influences and constraints.

Answer 14

rules

Explanation:

Rather than being developed without any influences, work rules are subject to negotiation prior to them being administered. This negotiation is undertaken by people involved in the labor relations process such as the employer and union representatives.

Question 15

While the development of work rules is undertaken by _______________ from unions and management officials, the actual outcome may not always represent a consensus attitude within each organization.

Answer 15

representatives

Explanation:

Often there are differing viewpoints amongst individuals in each group involved in the development of work rules. Therefore, while the outcome of the labor relations process may please some people, there is not always a consensus attitude among the group.

Question 16

Union _______ are required to provide the services and benefits that the union’s members believe are important as they are elected to their position by members of the union.

Answer 16

officers

Question 17

As union members choose their union officers, these union officers are bound to make decisions based on the desires and needs of the union members. This applies regardless of the union officer’s ________ on what is important.

Answer 17

opinion

Question 18

There are different participants within the labor relations process. _________ form one category as they may be loyal to both the management and the union.

Answer 18

Employees

Question 19

___________ are considered a participant in the labor relations process as their desires can influence the existence of, and the content of certain work rules. In some cases, employees may be loyal to both their management and their union, which can impact on their work desires.

Answer 19

Employees

Question 20

The development of work rules is also controlled in part by the __________ as work rules can only be implemented if they agree with current laws and legislation.

Answer 20

government

Question 21

Governmental laws and regulations must be adhered to when unions, managements, and employees decided to implement new rules. As a result, the ___________ is a fourth participant in the development of work rules.

Answer 21

government

Question 22

One major influence on work rules is __________, which refers to equipment involved in workplace operations, the pace and scheduling of work, and characteristics of the work environment and work tasks.

Answer 22

technology

Question 23

__________ is considered one of the most immediate and persistent influences on work rules. For example, the running of certain equipment may require an industry to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, resulting in the requirement for around-the-clock workers. This has an influence on work rules related to wages for shift work, overtime, and weekend work.

Answer 23

Technology

Question 24

__________ problems arise in certain occupations that have unusual work hours. Some businesses may require workers to work shifts split into blocks of two or three hours during the day.

Answer 24

Scheduling

Question 25

Work rules need to be implemented to ensure that scheduling of a workday does not cause unfair conditions for the groups involved. For instance, rules exist that are related to the permissible number, length for split shifts, and the amount of possible ______________ for these shifts.

Answer 25

compensation

Question 26

Work rules may be influenced by the ___________ in which employees work, as well as by the type of tasks they are to perform. For example, safety equipment may be required to ensure that the health and well being of workers remains intact, particularly in the manufacturing and construction industries.

Answer 26

environment

Question 27

To prevent employees from working in unsafe work environments, or from performing dangerous tasks, work rules are in place that stress _______ in the workforce.

Answer 27

safety

Question 28

___________ in labor agreements are also influenced by product market, which refers to whether a company sells its products or purchases key parts to develop the product. Changes to a company’s ability to sell or manufacture its products will influence its labor agreements.

Answer 28

Provisions

Explanation:

If a company sells its products, the company would be most at risk of losing profit if employees were to strike during a time when major customer sales were expected. On the other hand, a company that purchases key parts will be most at risk when key parts become unavailable, making it harder for them to manufacture their product.

Question 29

Community composition and _________ can influence the labor relations process. These influences can be from people or groups in the community, or from cultural and traditional values.

Answer 29

attitudes

Question 30

A ____________ may have a large influence over the establishment of a union within the community. The composition and attitudes of the community can often influence whether or not a union will be welcome to establish within the community.

Answer 30

community

Question 31

Work rules can be governed by the skills and wage levels of individuals within a local labor market. As a result, __________ is interested in the skill level of employees in the community, and the wage rates for comparably skilled employees.

Answer 31

management

Question 32

By determining the skills level within a local labor market, a company can determine whether they will need to implement a _________ program in order to increase the skill base of their employees. Similarly, by determining the wage rates in the market, they can determine what wages they will need to supply.

Answer 32

training

Question 33

Work rules may be influenced by the state of the economy, in particular the rate of _________ often has an impact.

Answer 33

inflation

Question 34

Inflation rates often cause a union to insist upon an increase in ______ to offset the increase in living costs.

Answer 34

wages

Question 35

One example of the state of the economy influencing work rules is when unions insist on provisions within a labor agreement to provide increased wages when there are increases in the cost of ______.

Answer 35

living

Question 36

Increases in the cost of living can arise when the rate of __________ in either local or national areas causes it to rise. To offset the effect this will have on employees, unions tend to insist upon a suitable increase in wages

Answer 36

inflation

Question 37

Compared with other industrialized nations, the United States has a _______ proportion of white-collar union members than blue-collar union members.

Answer 37

smaller

Question 38

Difference between white and blue-collar employees, such as __________ levels, and identification with their management, is thought to influence the extent to which each of these groups feel inclined to belong to a union. White-collar employees in general are thought to have less faith in a union achieving their work goals.

Answer 38

education

Question 39

One subgroup of _____-collar employees are managers, who are required to supervise other individuals.

Answer 39

white

Explanation:

While there appears to be interest from this group for the development of a union, the chances of one developing are remote.

Question 40

There are a number of levels of unions but the local union tends to be the most common point of contact for an __________ employee.

Answer 40

individual

Question 41

There are about _____ levels of unions and the local level tends to be the level on which employees most often identify with.

Answer 41

four

Question 42

During a strike, local union workers liaise directly with the strikers on the ______ line.

Answer 42

picket

Question 43

Operation of the local union occurs in accordance with the ____________, bylaws, and rules of the national union.

Answer 43

constitution

Question 44

The ______ union is a branch of the national union that has a constitution, bylaws, and rules by which the local union abides by.

Answer 44

local

Question 45

Over the years, authorization has been centralized by the national union causing the operation ___________ of the local union to be greatly decreased.

Answer 45

flexibility

Question 46

As the local union is a branch of the national union, the centralization of authority by the national union has led the local unions to have less __________, leading to a decrease in their operational flexibility.

Answer 46

authority

Question 47

While industrial unions are organized according to the type of industry of their members, _____ unions are organized according to the members’ skills.

Answer 47

craft

Question 48

______ unions are organized according to the types of crafts or skills its members have. This includes bricklayers, electricians, and carpenters. On the other hand, industrial unions are based on the type of industry, for example, Autoworkers, Rubbers workers, and Textile workers.

Answer 48

Craft

Question 49

While industrial members tend to not require much training prior to starting employment, craft members are highly skilled and usually have training in the form of an ______________.

Answer 49

apprenticeship

Explanation:

As a result of having formal training, craft members are generally perceived as having higher status than industrial union members.

Question 50

The American Railway Union (ARU) was one of the first unions organized on an ________ rather than a craft basis.

Answer 50

industry

Question 51

The American Railway Union ARU was founded by _____________ in 1843.

Answer 51

Eugene Debs

Question 52

Union leader ___________ ran for President in 1920 while an inmate in a federal prison.

Answer 52

Eugene Debs

Explanation:

He was a candidate five times, the last time in 1920 when he ran against Warren G. Harding while an inmate in a federal penitentiary, where he was sent because of his pacifism during World War I. As the Socialist candidate Debs received almost 1 million votes.

Question 53

Industrial workers tend to be hired by one company for whom they continue to work ___________ for until their employment is terminated.

Answer 53

exclusively

Question 54

Industrial workers tend to be hired by, and work for, one company for the duration of their employment. On the other hand, ______ workers tend to operate under conditions in that the union organizes jobs for the workers, and when a worker reports to the union, they are given a new job each time. Therefore, a craft worker may be working at a new location, and for a new employer each time.

Answer 54

craft

Question 55

The key ______________ official of the craft union, the business agent, is responsible for leading local union negotiations.

Answer 55

administrative

Question 56

The _________ agent in a craft union is a full-time administrator who leads local union negotiations in addition to other tasks such as grievance administration, union hiring hall administration, and watching over the union agreement.

Answer 56

business

Question 57

In a craft union, the person responsible for liaising with the business agent and for handling employee issues is the ____________.

Answer 57

shop steward

Explanation:

In addition to handling employee grievances and liaising with the business agent, the shop steward also represents the business agent on the job. The shop steward may be a senior employee, or the first person on the job.

Question 58

If negotiated into a contract, super seniority rewards the union’s ____________ by giving him (or her) the most seniority in the department or factory.

Answer 58

shop steward

Explanation:

This means that, if there is a lay off, the shop steward would be the last one to be laid off (less senior employees would be laid off first) and the first to be called back.

Question 59

The _________ of the local industrial union is responsible for ensuring that the union agreement is followed by management and they also assist with grievance administration as well as participate in local negotiations.

Answer 59

president

Question 60

The president of a local industrial union may be either full or part-time. This position entails taking care of union administration as well as participating in union ______________.

Answer 60

negotiations

Question 61

Union meeting attendance usually sits around 5-10 percent, but this increases when members receive a ______ for participating, or when critical issues are being addressed.

Answer 61

payoff

Question 62

Attendance at formal union meetings is often very low, around 5-10 percent. However, a better measure of membership participation would be _________ interactions between employees, friends, or the shop steward and members during rest times, or lunch breaks during which union business is discussed.

Answer 62

informal

Question 63

The national or international union has a large influence in __________ bargaining, which has strengthened its position in organized labor.

Answer 63

collective

Question 64

The national, or international, union of the United States is considered to be at the highest position in organized labor due to its influence in collective bargaining. The size of the national union gives it a very strong influence. As a result, the national union has developed labor agreements under which _________ of people work.

Answer 64

millions

Question 65

Representative members from local unions developed a __________ by which the national union operates.

Answer 65

constitution

Explanation:

A constitution is in place to authorize the functions of the national union, as well as to protect the rights of union members and local unions. A constitution is decided upon by representatives from local unions who attend national union meetings.

Question 66

A __________ held annually or biannually by the national union serves many purposes for the national union such as an assembly for the constitution, a supreme court for judicial decisions, and for the nomination and sometimes election of officers.

Answer 66

convention

Question 67

The number of delegates from each local union allowed to attend the national union’s convention depends on the number of _______ in each local union and is organized using the delegate system.

Answer 67

members

Question 68

The delegate system is used to determine how many delegates from each local union is allowed to attend the national union convention. Although larger unions tend to have more delegates, the number of delegates is not in direct ___________ to the size of the local union.

Answer 68

proportion

Question 69

Each year many issues are discussed at the national union’s convention. Internal __________, which refers to issues such as dues, financial matters, and authority rights, is brought up every year.

Answer 69

government

Question 70

The convention is a meeting in which the local unions bring up issues to be discussed by the national union. Several issues are brought up every year, but some continue to be discussed every year. These include issues such as internal government, ___________ bargaining, and resolutions concerning public policies.

Answer 70

collective

Question 71

An _________ board governs the national union in between conventions. Members on this board are elected by union members.

Answer 71

executive

Question 72

In most cases, the __________ of the executive board has almost unrestricted authority to direct the affairs of the national union. This situation requires an internal system to ensure the president does not misuse this power. However, the executive board may be set up so that the president directs the affairs of the national union, subject to the board’s approval. Either way, a strong executive and president are needed to run the union.

Answer 72

president

Question 73

The national union is made up of a number of departments, one of which is _________ staff. This department is primarily responsible for providing support and advice to the local unions.

Answer 73

technical

Explanation:

National unions typically have departments for executive and administration, financial and auditing, organizing and servicing, and technical. The technical department covers areas such as law, education, research, and public relations.