Ece - Labor Relations

Front 1

Throughout the labor relations process, management and an employees' ________ decide on mutual terms and conditions of employment and these are enforced by both groups.

Back 1

Union. During this process, the management team of an employer work with a union to make decisions regarding the terms and conditions of employment under which employees will work. These conditions are then enforced by both union and management.

Front 2

The elements that are commonly found in the labor relations process can be applied to the labor activities of not only a single manufacturing facility, but also entire ______________.

Back 2

Industries. Single manufacturing facilities, multiple facilities, multiple facilities run by the one company, as well as entire industries can all apply common elements of the labor relations process to their labor relations activities.

Front 3

In the past, investigations and research into labor relations lacked a _________ point that would have allowed for the development of an analytical framework to properly analyze the labor relations process.

Back 3

Focal. In order for investigations into labor relations to yield applicable insights, a focal point is necessary. With a focal point, observations could be analyzed and useful findings discovered

Front 4

Following publication of Industrial Relations Systems, the negotiation of work _________ between management and union officials became a focal point in labor relations

Back 4

Rules. Work rules are rules that are negotiated between management and union officials in order to maintain fairness for both the employer and the employee

Front 5

Work rules are generalized into two categories. One of the categories is rights and ________________, and these refer to those of both employer and employee

Back 5

Obligations. The two categories of work rules cover compensation, and rights and obligations. Examples include rules governing types of compensation payments such as overtime and vacation, as well as rules governing the rights and obligations of both the employer and employee.

Front 6

Work rules tend to be characterized into categories. One of these categories refers to rules that control ________________, such as overtime, vacations, and shift premiums.

Back 6

Compensation. This category refers to all forms of compensation such as overtime, vacations, holidays, and shift premiums. The other generalized work rules category relates to job rights and obligations such as performance standards and job specifications.

Front 7

While many work rules are ____________ to a number of occupations and industries, some rules are specific to particular industries

Back 7

Common. While many jobs share similar work rules, some rules only apply to certain occupations. For example, rules that apply to baseball players or cemetery employees may not apply to other forms of employment

Front 8

The participants in the labor relations process formulate work rules by ________________ and then administer the rules according to certain influences and constraints

Back 8

Negotiating. Rather than being developed without any influences, work rules are subject to negotiation prior to them being administered. This negotiation is undertaken by people involved in the labor relations process such as the employer and union representatives

Front 9

While the development of work rules is undertaken by representatives from unions and management officials, the actual outcome may not always represent a ______________ attitude within each organization

Back 9

Consensus. Often there are differing viewpoints amongst individuals in each group involved in the development of work rules. Therefore, while the outcome of the labor relations process may please some people, there is not always a consensus attitude among the group

Front 10

Union officers are required to provide the services and benefits that the union's members believe are important as they are ______________ into their position by members of the union.

Back 10

Elected. As union members choose their union officers, these union officers are bound to make decisions based on the desires and needs of the union members. This applies regardless of the union officer's opinion on what is important

Front 11

There are different participants within the labor relations process. _______________ form one category as they may be loyal to both their management and union organizations.

Back 11

Employees. Employees are considered a participant in the labor relations process as their desires can influence the existence of, and the content of certain work rules. In some cases, employees may be loyal to both their management and their union, which can impact on their work desires

Front 12

The development of work rules is also controlled in part by the ________________ as work rules can only be implemented if they agree with current laws and legislation.

Back 12

Government. Governmental laws and regulations must be adhered to when unions, managements, and employees decided to implement new rules. As a result, the government is a fourth participant in the development of work rules.

Front 13

One major influence on work rules is _______________, which refers to equipment involved in workplace operations, the pace and scheduling of work, and characteristics of the work environment and work tasks

Back 13

Technology. Technology is considered one of the most immediate and persistent influences on work rules. For example, the running of certain equipment may require an industry to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, resulting in the requirement for around-the-clock workers. This has an influence on work rules related to wages for shift work, overtime, and weekend work.

Front 14

_______________ problems arise in certain occupations that have unusual work hours. Some businesses may require workers to work shifts split into blocks of two or three hours during the day

Back 14

Scheduling. Work rules need to be implemented to ensure that scheduling of a workday does not cause unfair conditions for the groups involved. For instance, rules exist that are related to the permissible number, length for split shifts, and the amount of possible compensation for these shifts

Front 15

Work rules may be influenced by the ________________ in which employees work, as well as by the type of tasks they are to perform. For example, safety equipment may be required to ensure that the health and well being of workers remains intact, particularly in the manufacturing and construction industries.

Back 15

Environment. To prevent employees from working in unsafe work environments, or from performing dangerous tasks, work rules are in place that stress safety in the workforce

Front 16

Provisions in labor agreements are also influenced by product _____________, which refers to whether a company sells its products or purchases key parts to develop the product. Changes to a company's ability to sell or manufacture its products will influence its labor agreements

Back 16

Market. If a company sells its products, the company would be most at risk of losing profit if employees were to strike during a time when major customer sales were expected. On the other hand, a company that purchases key parts will be most at risk when key parts become unavailable, making it harder for them to manufacture their product.

Front 17

Community composition and ______________ can influence the labor relations process. These influences can be from people or groups in the community, or from cultural and traditional values

Back 17

Attitudes. A community may have a large influence over the establishment of a union within the community. The composition and attitudes of the community can often influence whether or not a union will be welcome to establish within the community.

Front 18

Work rules can be governed by the skills and wage levels of individuals within a ___________ labor market. As a result, management are interested in the skill level of employees in the community, and the wage rates for comparably skilled employees

Back 18

Local. By determining the skills level within a local labor market, a company can determine whether they will need to implement a training program in order to increase the skill base of their employees. Similarly, by determining the wage rates in the market, they can determine what wages they will need to supply.

Front 19

Work rules may be influenced by the state of the economy, in particular the rate of ______________ often has an impact.

Back 19

Inflation. Inflation rates often cause a union to insist upon an increase in wages to offset the increase in living costs.

Front 20

One example of the state of the economy influencing work rules is when unions insist on provisions within a labor agreement to provide increased wages when there are increases in the cost of _____________.

Back 20

Living. Increases in the cost of living can arise when the rate of inflation in either local or national areas causes it to rise. To offset the effect this will have on employees, unions tend to insist upon a suitable increase in wages.

Front 21

Compared with other industrialized nations, the United States has a ____________ proportion of white-collar union members than blue-collar union members.

Back 21

Smaller. Difference between white and blue-collar employees, such as education levels, and identification with their management, is thought to influence the extent to which each of these groups feel inclined to belong to a union. White-collar employees in general are thought to have less faith in a union achieving their work desires.

Front 22

One subgroup of white-collar employees are _____________, who are required to supervise other individuals. While there appears to be interest from this group for the development of a union, the chances of one developing are remote.

Back 22

Managers. Little is known in regards to managers' desire for labor unions, although investigations into this issue suggest that there may be a role for a managerial union.

Front 23

There are a number of levels of unions but the _________ union tends to be the most common point of contact for an individual employee.

Back 23

Local. There are about four levels of unions and the local level tends to be the level on which employees most often identify with.

Front 24

During a strike, local union workers liaise directly with the strikers on the ___________ line.

Back 24

Picket. While employees are striking on the picket lines, local union workers are the ones who intercede directly at the picket lines.

Front 25

Operation of the local union occurs in accordance with the constitution, bylaws, and rules of the ____________ union.

Back 25

National. The local union is a branch of the national union that has a constitution, bylaws, and rules by which the local union abides by.

Front 26

Over the years, authorization has been centralized by the national union causing the operation ______________ of the local union to be greatly decreased.

Back 26

Flexibility. As the local union is a branch of the national union, the centralization of authority by the national union has led the local unions to have less authority, leading to a decrease in their operational flexibility.

Front 27

While industrial unions are organized according to the type of industry of their members, _________ unions are organized according to the members' skills.

Back 27

Craft. Craft unions are organized according to the types of crafts or skills its members have. This includes bricklayers, electricians, and carpenters. On the other hand, industrial unions are based on the type of industry, for example, Autoworkers, Rubbers workers, and Textile workers.

Front 28

While industrial members tend to not require much training prior to starting employment, craft members are highly skilled and usually have training in the form of an ________________.

Back 28

Apprenticeship. As a result of having formal training, craft members generally perceive themselves as of a higher status than industrial union members.

Front 29

______________ workers tend to be hired by one company for whom they continue to work exclusively for until their employment is terminated.

Back 29

Industrial. Industrial workers tend to be hired by, and work for, one company for the duration of their employment. On the other hand, craft workers tend to operate under conditions in that the union organizes jobs for the workers, and when a worker reports to the union, they are given a new job each time. Therefore, a craft worker may be working at a new location, and for a new employer each time.

Front 30

The key administrative official of the craft union, the ______________ agent, is responsible for leading local union negotiations.

Back 30

Business. The business agent in a craft union is a full-time administrator who leads local union negotiations in addition to other tasks such as grievance administration, union hiring hall administration, and watching over the union agreement.

Front 31

In a craft union, the person responsible for liaising with the business agent and for handling employee issues is the _________ steward.

Back 31

Shop. In addition to handling employee grievances and liaising with the business agent, the shop steward also represents the business agent on the job. The shop steward may be a senior employee, or the first person on the job.

Front 32

The _______________ of the local industrial union is responsible for ensuring that the union agreement is followed by management and they also assist with grievance administration as well as participate in local negotiations.

Back 32

President. The president of a local industrial union may be either full or part-time. This position entails taking care of union administration as well as participating in union negotiations.

Front 33

Union _____________ attendance usually sits around 5-10 percent, but this increases when members receive a payoff for participating, or when critical issues are being addressed.

Back 33

Meeting. Attendance at formal union meetings is often very low, around 5-10 percent. However, a better measure of membership participation would be informal interactions between employees, friends, or the shop steward and members during rest times, or lunch breaks during which union business is discussed.

Front 34

The national or international union has a large influence in _______________ bargaining, which has strengthened its position in organized labor.

Back 34

Collective. The national, or international, union of the United States is considered to be at the highest position in organized labor due to its influence in collective bargaining. The size of the national union gives it a very strong influence. As a result, the national union has developed labor agreements under which millions of people work.

Front 35

Representative members from local unions developed a _______________ by which the national union operates.

Back 35

Constitution. A constitution is in place to authorize the functions of the national union, as well as to protect the rights of union members and local unions. A constitution is decided upon by representatives from local unions who attend national union meetings.