Topic 12: Labor Law

Question 1

“Hot Cargo” Agreements

Answer 1

A voluntary agreement in which a neutral employer agrees to cease doing business with another employer who deals directly with the firm in question.

Question 2

Clayton Act

Answer 2

Enacted in 1914, it prohibits the elimination of unions.

Question 3

Closed Union Shop

Answer 3

An illegal requirement that an employee be a union member.

Question 4

Collective Bargaining

Answer 4

The negotiation process between unions and employers.

Question 5

Common Law Criminal Conspiracy

Answer 5

A combination of two or more individuals planning to accomplish an unlawful purpose.

Question 6

Community of Interests

Answer 6

A community of people who align themselves with a common interest.

Question 7

Concerted Activity

Answer 7

Any effort by employees to join together to seek improvement in working conditions.

Question 8

Economic Strike

Answer 8

A stoppage of work based upon a union’s frustration that management will not meet its demands for improvements in wages, hours, and benefits.

Question 9

Federal Anti-trust Law

Answer 9

A law that prevents anti-competitive behavior within local commerce.

Question 10

Federal Injunction

Answer 10

A legal remedy that allows a court to order individuals to refrain from harmful acts.

Question 11

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)

Answer 11

Established by Taft-Hartley, an agency to help management and laborers settle labor contract disputes.

Question 12

Free Riders

Answer 12

An employee who does not belong to a union, but benefits from union representation.

Question 13

Good Faith

Answer 13

A concept that requires a mutual obligation of both parties to participate actively in negotiations by demonstrating intent to resolve a dispute.

Question 14

Illegal Bargaining Subject

Answer 14

A bargaining subject that cannot legally be implemented into a collective bargaining agreement.

Question 15

Impasse

Answer 15

A deadlock reached by two bargaining parties whereby an issue cannot be resolved.

Question 16

Labor Management Relations Act of 1947

Answer 16

Enacted in 1947, it curbs union overreaching by protecting employee rights and prohibiting wildcat strikes.

Question 17

Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA)

Answer 17

Enacted in 1959, it creates a union member “bill of rights” in order to empower union members and reduce union corruption.

Question 18

Lock Out

Answer 18

An employer’s temporary work stoppage initiated during a labor dispute.

Question 19

Mandatory Bargaining Subject

Answer 19

A required bargaining subject that involves wages, benefits, hours, and layoff procedures.

Question 20

Mediation

Answer 20

A procedure for resolving collective bargaining impasses by a mediator (third party with no formal authority) who acts as a facilitator and go-between in the negotiations.

Question 21

National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)

Answer 21

Enacted in 1935, it establishes workers’ rights to form unions, collectively bargain, and strike.

Question 22

National Labor Relations Board

Answer 22

A federal administrative agency that administers the provisions of the NLRA.

Question 23

Norris-LaGuardia Act

Answer 23

Enacted in 1932, it governs the interplay between unions and businesses.

Question 24

Official Bargaining Unit

Answer 24

A group of workers represented by a union in collective bargaining.

Question 25

Permissive Bargaining Subject

Answer 25

A bargaining subject that either party may bring to the table, but over which the other party is not required to bargain.

Question 26

Right-to-work Laws

Answer 26

Laws that give employees the option to not join a union.

Question 27

Secondary Boycotts

Answer 27

A group’s refusal to deal with a business that is not directly involved in the dispute.

Question 28

Sherman Anti-Trust Act

Answer 28

Enacted in 1890, it prevents businesses from combining together to restrain trade and seeking monopoly business power.

Question 29

Strike

Answer 29

A work stoppage by mass refusal of employees to work.

Question 30

Unfair Labor Practice (ULP)

Answer 30

Action by an employer or a union that restrains or coerces employees from exercising their rights to organize and bargain collectively or to refrain from doing so.

Question 31

Unfair Labor Practices Strike

Answer 31

A stoppage of work in order to pressure management to follow the law.

Question 32

Union Shops

Answer 32

A bargaining clause that allows a condition that all employees must join the union once hired.