Exam 12: Dealing With Employeemanagement Issues

Women have become a ________ part of the labor force.

Identify and describe the major tactics used by unions and management when collective bargaining efforts break down.

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." -Ima, Boyd, and their fellow employees at Endrun work on an assembly line and do not have a specialized skill. If they are successful in their quest to set up a union, they would probably be represented by a(n) ________ union.

Since violence in the workplace rarely results in severe injury, it is likely not to be much of a problem in the future.

The process by which a union is recognized by the NLRB as the authorized bargaining agent for a group of workers is called collective bargaining.

Despite their high pay, most CEOs work far fewer hours per week than the average employee in their companies.

If a union is present in a firm that has a(n) ________ shop arrangement, workers may join the union if they wish, but they are not required to join or pay a union fee in order to keep their jobs.

Labor unions played a major role in establishing minimum wage laws, child-labor laws, and improvements in job safety.

The Wagner Act is best described as a(n)

Striking union workers are picketing near the entrance of the Bathtub Brewing Company's plant. The workers are acting peacefully and have not threatened anyone entering or leaving the company or damaged any property. Bathtub Brewing's management is seeking an injunction to prevent the workers from picketing. The courts are unlikely to issue an injunction under the current circumstances.

A comparison of compensation of CEOs in the U.S. with compensation of top executives in Europe shows that

Throughout most of American history, the relationship between managers and employees has been trouble-free.

A bargaining zone is the time period during which a third party is used to reach agreement on union disputes.

A court order directing someone to do something or to refrain from doing something is called a judicial citation.

The management at an auto manufacturer planned to terminate production due to labor issues that were consuming most of the profits. For years, the strong union at this facility did some tough negotiating with the company's corporate headquarters. In a companywide vote, employees agreed to walk away from union membership in order to keep the factory open and save their jobs. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) agreed that it was in the best interest of the employees. ________ was started to take away the rights of union representation at the factory.

One goal of the Landrum-Griffin Act was to

Under a(n) ________ shop agreement, workers must belong to the union before they are hired.

The Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) organized unskilled and semiskilled workers into

The main objectives of organized labor, better wages, and shorter hours, have remained remarkably stable over time.

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." -The steps Ima, Boyd and their fellow workers must take to get the union legally recognized as the authorized bargaining agent are parts of the ________ process.