CH12 MGMT 4306

True or false: Many employment conditions, especially employee benefits, in the United States are established by government regulations.

False

True or false: Mexican labor law mandates management to bargain with labor unions.

False

True or false: The social partnership agreements made by the four pillars of peak-level organizations in Ireland were legally binding contracts that addressed far-ranging economic and social issues.

False

Identify the characteristics of Stalinist economies in central and eastern Europe. (Check all that apply.)

Labor unions transmitted the Communist Party's agenda to the working class. Labor unions and managers of state-owned enterprises were controlled by the government.

All French union federations _____.

often have discrete political or ideological views

Match the countries (in the left column) with the descriptions of their approaches to designing labor relations system (in the right column).

A high-level tripartite or corporatist model A pluralist model with different combinations of political representation and collective bargaining A government control model

Which of the following are true according to the Mexican labor law? (Check all that apply.)

A labor union is controlled by the government. A labor union must consist of at least 20 employees and can be an industrial union, craft union, or enterprise union.

Which of the following are true of collective bargaining in France? (Check all that apply.)

A union has official representation status if a minimum of 10 percent of the employees support it in a periodic election. French law requires company-level bargaining irrespective of whether a majority of workers approve a single union as their representative.

Which of the following are true of labor strikes in Mexico? (Check all that apply.)

A union is legally obligated to protect raw materials and equipment at the workplace during strikes. A strike can happen when the legal standards for a strike are realized and mediation fails. Employers are forbidden from hiring permanent strike replacements.

Which of the following are true of the awards system in New Zealand? (Check all that apply.)

Above-award wage terms were established through collective bargaining. Awards for minimum conditions were issued by a federal arbitration commission.

Identify a true statement about the labor relations systems in the United States and Canada.

Bargaining structures and strategies and union contracts in the United States and Canada are similar.

Why does increasing decentralization give rise to divergent local labor relations practices? (Check all that apply.)

Because local practices are the result of bargaining processes in which companies, unions, and other institutions such as work councils have different degrees of influence Because of attempts to adapt employment practices to the individual needs and constraints of each workplace

Match the rights granted to German works councils (in the left column) with their descriptions (in the right column). Instructions

Before an employer changes the nature of its work, it should discuss the issue with its works council. A firm's works council must be given financial data about the firm's balance sheet, plans for investment and marketing, and other corporate intentions.

Centralized collective bargaining in Germany is complemented in the workplace by an institutionalized system of employee voice in which employees are entitled to participate in workplace decision making. This system is termed

CODETERMINATION

Which of the following are true statements that point to the fact that labor unions in Canada and the United States have similar structures? (Check all that apply.)

Canadian labor law is modeled on the U.S. Wagner Act. Many Canadian laborers are members of U.S. labor unions.

What are the differences between Canadian labor law and U.S. labor law? (Check all that apply.)

Canadian labor relations do not have right-to-work laws that prohibit union security agreements. It is easier to form and maintain a union under Canadian labor law.

Identify the possible reasons for the decline in labor union density in Great Britain. (Check all that apply.)

Changes in the economy structure Unfavorable changes in law

Identify the similar aspects of the labor relations systems in Germany and Sweden. (Check all that apply.)

Dual representation structure High contract coverage

Which of the following statements are true of the Japanese labor relations system of enterprise unionism? (Check all that apply.)

Enterprise unionism fits well with the strong enterprise identification among workers. An enterprise union is very concerned with the organization's performance and tailors demands and agreements accordingly.

In the context of labor relations, identify a true statement about France.

France is considered an example of political or ideological unionism.

Which of the following are the common attributes of the labor relations systems in the developing countries of Asia? (Check all that apply.)

Governments often exercise strict control over unions and labor relations. Labor relations is subordinate to these countries' strategies for industrial development.

Why did British labor relations develop a reputation of being adversarial and turbulent and therefore harmful to competitiveness and efficiency?

In the early 1960s, workplace shop stewards had significant leverage because of low unemployment, and many strikes were called to win grievances and other gains.

The major labor union federation of Ireland is the _____.

Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU)

In the context of the Irish labor relations system, identify a true statement about the social partnership agreement called the Programme for National Recovery (PNR).

It aimed at creating a fiscal and monetary climate that was conducive to economic growth and a reduction in government debt.

Match the labor laws of New Zealand (in the left column) with their descriptions (in the right column). Instructions

It created a voluntaristic system that allowed unions to negotiate collective contracts if they had explicit authorization from all workers and if the employer wanted to bargain. It obligated employers to bargain in good faith with a union if a group of employees requests it.

Identify the true statements about the awards system that traditionally characterized Australian labor relations. (Check all that apply.)

It determined minimum wages for unskilled workers that are essential to fulfill the basic needs in a civilized society. It was established in the early 1900s to avoid strikes.

Identify a characteristic of British voluntarism.

It encourages the use of economic force to resolve representation questions.

Identify a true statement about social partnership in the Irish labor relations system.

It facilitates the formal involvement of labor, business, and the government in the political decision-making process.

In the context of the British labor relations system, which of the following is true of the Trades Disputes Act?

It gives labor unions immunity from being sued for breach of contract and for striking.

Which of the following is true of British voluntarism?

It involves the use of economic power to bargain or abide by a contract.

Match the labor laws of the People's Republic of China that are aimed at benefiting workers (in the left column) with their descriptions (in the right column). Instructions

It mandates written employment contracts for individuals that meet specific protective standards. It provides for improved dispute resolution methods.

Which of the following are true of sector bargaining? (Check all that apply.)

It often takes place at a regional level under the tight coordination of the national organizations. It establishes a strong pattern for collective bargaining in other regions.

Match the boards that manage German corporations (in the left column) with their descriptions (in the right column). Instructions

It regulates the daily management of a company. It determines strategic policies and appoints upper-level managers.

How did the inclusion of a fourth pillar to the social partnership talks impact the Irish economy and labor relations in 1990s and early 2000s? (Check all that apply.)

It resulted in agreements that helped lay the ground work for the impressive economic growth of Ireland. It resulted in agreements that created stability and predictability in the economy and workplace labor relations.

Identify a characteristic that makes the U.S. labor relations system different from the labor relations systems of other industrialized, democratic nations.

Legal protection of individuals rather than unions

Which of the following characteristics make the U.S. labor relations system different from the labor relations systems of other industrialized, democratic nations? (Check all that apply.)

Low levels of backing for unionization Strong employer resistance to unions

Match the countries (in the left column) with the descriptions of their union certification process (in the right column).

National Labor Relations Board election procedure is mandatory. Some provinces sanction card check certification or instant elections.

Which of the following are true of German supervisory boards? (Check all that apply.)

One-third to one-half of the supervisory board members are employee representatives. They provide workers a voice in strategic decisions.

Industrywide bargaining that produces a contract for the entire sector is known as

SECTOR BARGAINING

Identify the typical characteristics of the Japanese labor relations system of enterprise unionism. (Check all that apply.)

Seniority- and firm-based wages Broad job classifications

What are the benefits of the participation of labor, business, government, and other groups in the socio-economic decision-making process? (Check all that apply.)

Stability Depoliticization of government policy A climate of consensus Predictability Inclusion

_____ characterized labor relations in the Soviet Union and the communist countries of central and eastern Europe after World War II.

Stalinist unionism

Match the countries (in the left column) with the characteristics of their labor laws (in the right column). Instructions

Strike replacements are allowed to vote during representation elections. Some provinces either prohibit strike replacements from voting or ban decertification elections during strikes.

Identify the true statements about labor relations in the People's Republic of China. (Check all that apply.)

The All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) is the only labor union organization that is legally recognized. The Communist Party of China has weakened its control over economic activities while permitting the growth of private ownership and market mechanisms.

In the context of the French labor relations system, match the types of bargaining agreements (in the left column) with their descriptions (in the right column). Instructions

They provide specific pay and working conditions provisions for a firm. They establish the broad parameters and minimum standards for individual firms to follow regarding issues such as working time and pay.

Match the countries (in the left column) with the requirements for dismissing employees (in the right column). Instructions

The employment-at-will doctrine allows an employer to discharge its employees at any time. Employees who have completed the mandatory probationary period can be dismissed only for socially justified causes. The doctrine of abusive dismissal provides employees immunity against unjust dismissals.

Which of the following distinguishes the Irish labor relations system from that of Great Britain?

The inclusion of social partnership

Which of the following are true of enterprise unionism in Japan? (Check all that apply.)

The main type of enterprise union represents all regular employees within a company. Management and the union leadership share close ties.

Identify the significant changes that occurred in the labor relations systems in eastern Europe after the end of the Cold War. (Check all that apply.)

The rise of independent unions led to significant competition between unions. Collective bargaining, economic strikes, and independent labor unions were given legal recognition.

Which of the following is true according to the Mexican labor law?

To bargain collectively, a labor union does not need to represent a majority of employees.

Which of the following are emphasized by the "solidaristic work policy" that is part of the Swedish labor relations system? (Check all that apply.)

Training, job, and skill development Self-directed work teams Compensation for skills and responsibilities

Identify the characteristics of the Swedish labor relations system. (Check all that apply.)

There is a dual system of high-level industry or sectoral bargaining followed by company-specific negotiations. The Swedish labor relations system has high union density.

How does the administrative requirements for labor unions in Mexico lead to abuse?

They allow protection contracts in which sham unions and management act together to limit workers' rights.

What are the characteristics of works councils in German companies? (Check all that apply.)

They are legally distinguished from unions. They have codetermination, consultation, and information rights concerning several workplace issues.

Identify the true statements about the labor unions in Stalinist economies in central and eastern Europe. (Check all that apply.)

They facilitated the state's production goals. They administered various social benefits of the government, such as housing.

In the context of the British labor relations system, identify the true statements about the pieces of labor legislation passed by the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. (Check all that apply.)

They mandated that labor unions follow certain democratic procedures for electing officers and determining membership support for a strike. They restricted labor's ability to conduct secondary boycotts and prohibited the closed shop.

True or false: French law permits the extension of industry agreements to all companies within a sector regardless of the number of union members at a specific company.

True

True or false: Mexican labor law facilitates government control over labor unions, which ultimately leads to abuse.

True

True or false: The Stalinist model left behind a legacy of unions that are weak at the enterprise and workplace levels with no experience in collective bargaining and with little rank-and-file involvement.

True

How is the Canadian labor relations system different from that of the United States in terms of the present-day labor relations processes?

Union density has remained relatively stable in Canada.

Which of the following is true of the present-day labor relations processes in Canada?

Unions are favoring a social unionism philosophy that emphasizes a highly militant, social activist role for labor.

The labor relations system in Great Britain illustrates the concept of

VOLUNTARISM

Which of the following are the characteristics of the French labor relations system? (Check all that apply.)

Weak collective bargaining Mechanisms for workplace-level representation

In the context of the codetermination rights of works councils in Germany, identify the issues on which companies are required to make joint decisions with works councils. (Check all that apply.)

Work rules and discipline Overtime, safety, and health Daily working hours Leave schedules Training and personnel selection methods Performance-based pay and bonuses

Match the groups (in the left column) with their concerns about social partnership in socio-economic decision-making processes (in the right column). Instructions

Workers may view a union's social partnership arrangements with management, government, and other groups as "selling out." The centralized nature of social partnership in labor relations is not conducive to flexibility and other efficiency-enhancing measures.

Match the labor relations systems (in the left column) with their features (in the right column). Instructions

Workplace representation is culturally established in the form of workplace-level unions. Workplace representation is legally established in the form of works councils.

Identify the constituents of codetermination in the German labor relations system. (Check all that apply.)

Works councils Employee representation on corporate supervisory boards

In contrast to the Irish social partnerships, the French unions _____.

compel the government to enact policies favorable to the unions' agendas

One of the major constituents of British voluntarism is that _____.

contracts are not enforceable by law

Canadian labor law is different from U.S. labor law in that the former _____.

provides first contract arbitration in some provinces when newly formed unions are unable to reach a first contract