Chapter 13 Collective Bargaining and Unions in Today’s Workplace

Chapter 13  Collective Bargaining and Unions in Today’s Workplace

Complete Chapter Questions And Answers
 

Sample Questions

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. Nurses in a unionized hospital are paid “compensatory pay” when working holidays equal to the number of hours worked with no extra compensation. Although they have suggested changes during the annual survey of employee satisfaction, management refuses to consider another system for compensatory pay. A trained member listened to both nurses and management to make recommendations that were not legally binding. This type of settlement is termed:
a.
picketing.
b.
binding arbitration.
c.
mediation.
d.
grievance.

ANS: C
Mediation enlists the help of a trained person to listen to both sides; however, recommendations are not legally binding.
Picketing is a group of striking employees who congregate outside the workplace to draw attention or discourage others from entering the workplace.
Although binding arbitrations involve talks between all parties, the recommendations are compulsory.
A grievance is usually a single employee who feels he or she has been treated differently or unfairly than other employees.

DIF: Application REF: Page 283

2. A nurse has been asked to serve as the charge nurse on the evening shift. The agency where the nurse is employed is considering unionization. If the charge nurse position is accepted, this nurse:
a.
can be represented by the union because charge nurses are not considered part of the management team.
b.
is part of the management team so union participation would be a conflict of interest.
c.
can file a grievance that automatically will be arbitrated by the union.
d.
is ineligible for collective bargaining activities that deal with unfair labor practices.

ANS: A
Serving as charge nurse is part of a nurse’s professional role and not management.
The duty of assigning clients and coordination of care is not a management function.
A grievance deals with allegations by an employee that he or she has been treated unfairly.
This nurse is eligible for representation through collective bargaining.

DIF: Application REF: Page 291

3. A nurse has heard rumors that other nurses are interested in unionizing but knows little about the purpose of unions. The nurse’s first action is to:
a.
contact an arbitrator who has worked with other nurses in unions.
b.
picket the agency where employed to gain inside information as to why unionization is sought.
c.
sign the dual-purpose union authorization card.
d.
review the United American Nurses (UAN) website for collective bargaining information.

ANS: D
The UAN website gives information about collective bargaining for nurses.
An arbitrator is the person who negotiates for both sides and may provide information. However, to gain a foundation of understanding it is important that a nurse first contact either the UAN or the National Labor Relations Board.
Picketing the agency places the nurse in a position to join the union, and those picketing may resent having someone who does not truly support their cause as a representative.
Signing the dual-purpose union authorization card is a request for an election and indicates the nurse is applying for union membership, which without information may not be the best choice.

DIF: Application REF: Page 285

4. Nurses in a nonprofit hospital have expressed an interest in forming a union to secure fair wages and ensure client safety. To form a support group of nurses, the union organizer conducts meetings:
a.
away from the worksite with a group of managers to learn both sides of the situation.
b.
at the worksite with staff nurses.
c.
in homes or local businesses with staff nurses.
d.
within 24 hours of initial contact to conduct an official election.

ANS: C
The union representative meets with laborers (staff nurses) at a nonwork setting to gather information about grievances.
When initiating union efforts, meetings take place at nonwork settings with laborers to gather information about grievances.
Meetings are initially conducted at nonwork settings.
Several weeks prior to holding an election, union representatives meet with laborers to determine interest and grievances.

DIF: Application REF: Page 287