Exam 12: Dealing With Employeemanagement Issues

Recently a disgruntled employee walked into a large grocery chain's Midwest distribution center and opened fire on his fellow workers. He killed or injured several people before being killed by the local police. The grocery chain is very concerned about the threat of workplace violence in the future. One way to deal with this threat is for management to hold focus groups to invite employee input. Another way is to make certain that the company hires managers with good interpersonal skills.

Membership in the Knights of Labor was

Mini-Case The workers at Endrun Corporation are not affiliated with a union. Until recently, the workers felt they were well paid and treated fairly by the company, so they had little interest in seeking union representation. However, worker morale at Endrun has declined steadily since the board of directors fired the old CEO last year and replaced him with Ty Runt, a no-nonsense, autocratic manager with a reputation for cutting costs. As soon as he took over, Ty fired other members of the old top management team and replaced them with people who shared his views. Together, the new management team made a series of moves that did not sit well with Endrun's workers. First, they announced changes in work procedures designed to speed up the production line. Many workers complained that the new methods cut corners and were unsafe, but management refused to listen. A few months after changing work methods, the company told workers that it was reducing their health benefits. This led to even greater worker unrest. Finally, just a few weeks ago, workers received word that the wages of all production-line employees would be cut by 6 percent. Many employees felt this was the last straw, especially since the company's board of directors recently approved big salary increases and more lucrative stock option plans for Ty and his management team. A spokesperson for the board explained that the raises were justified because of the management team's "outstanding efforts to reduce costs, increase productivity, and improve the company's profits." Several disgruntled employees, led by Ima Striker and Boyd Cotter, now believe it is time to obtain union representation. Top managers at the company have hinted that workers who actively participate in the union campaign may be among the first workers laid off if the company decides to downsize. Ima and Boyd are not intimidated by these management threats. "I wish we didn't have to do this," Ima recently told many of her fellow workers at the plant. "But someone has to stop Ty Runt and his team from ruining our jobs." -After gaining union representation, any workers with complaints regarding promotions, layoffs, and job assignments will file a(n) ________ with their shop steward.

The first federal minimum wage was established in 1938 by the

Small firms often offer innovative child care programs as a way of competing for qualified employees.

Antonio is an assembly line worker for a major automobile manufacturer. When he was first hired for the job, he did not have any specific training or skill. Antonio joined a union with other assembly-line workers who perform a variety of jobs that do not require a highly specialized skill. Antonio belongs to a(n)

Yadier believes that an agency shop is the most desirable union security arrangement. Which of the following statements would be most likely to represent Yadier's views?

Sean believes that management is treating him unfairly because of his efforts to organize a vote for union representation. Which organization should he contact to report his concerns?

The "blue flu" refers to a situation in which union members (like police and firefighters) who are not allowed to strike refuse to work by calling in sick.

Explain the difference between closed, open, union, and agency shop agreements. What impact did the Taft-Hartley Act have on the use of closed and union shop arrangements?

Labor unions were largely responsible for

Hiring strikebreakers to replace striking workers was historically a common management tactic during labor disputes, but it is seldom used today.

The ________ guaranteed the rights of individual union members when dealing with their union.

The vast majority of grievances filed by union members are negotiated and resolved by shop stewards and supervisory managers.

The Labor-Management Relations Act (Taft-Hartley Act) strengthened unions by giving them the right to engage in featherbedding and secondary boycotts.

Mini-Case The workers at Endrun Corporation are not affiliated with a union. Until recently, the workers felt they were well paid and treated fairly by the company, so they had little interest in seeking union representation. However, worker morale at Endrun has declined steadily since the board of directors fired the old CEO last year and replaced him with Ty Runt, a no-nonsense, autocratic manager with a reputation for cutting costs. As soon as he took over, Ty fired other members of the old top management team and replaced them with people who shared his views. Together, the new management team made a series of moves that did not sit well with Endrun's workers. First, they announced changes in work procedures designed to speed up the production line. Many workers complained that the new methods cut corners and were unsafe, but management refused to listen. A few months after changing work methods, the company told workers that it was reducing their health benefits. This led to even greater worker unrest. Finally, just a few weeks ago, workers received word that the wages of all production-line employees would be cut by 6 percent. Many employees felt this was the last straw, especially since the company's board of directors recently approved big salary increases and more lucrative stock option plans for Ty and his management team. A spokesperson for the board explained that the raises were justified because of the management team's "outstanding efforts to reduce costs, increase productivity, and improve the company's profits." Several disgruntled employees, led by Ima Striker and Boyd Cotter, now believe it is time to obtain union representation. Top managers at the company have hinted that workers who actively participate in the union campaign may be among the first workers laid off if the company decides to downsize. Ima and Boyd are not intimidated by these management threats. "I wish we didn't have to do this," Ima recently told many of her fellow workers at the plant. "But someone has to stop Ty Runt and his team from ruining our jobs." -Ty Runt has always taken a hard line against unionization efforts. Two years ago, when workers at his previous company tried to obtain union representation, the company closed down the plant and refused to let employees work until they abandoned their efforts to form a union. This management tactic is called a(n)

At Newport Pharmaceuticals Group, union reps strongly discouraged the firm's union employees from buying the company's products. Recently, they also took out an ad with an important message for consumers: "Don't give Newport your money. They don't share it with their employees!" What do these actions best describe?

Critics of labor unions argue that unions are no longer needed to protect workers from abusive and unfair treatment because

Postal workers and other employees of the federal government who provide important services are allowed to form unions, but are denied the right to strike.

Though workplace violence is decreasing, workplace bullying is increasing.