Ch 1
Which of the following are true?
1. A non-union employee might file a complaint with the appropriate Labour Relations Board,
and the Board might order the employer to reinstate the employee.
2. A collective agreement provides that any work done on a Sunday will be paid at the overtime
rate. A union might be required to waive this term of the agreement to meet its obligations under
human rights legislation. That is, the union might be required to agree to an employee working
on Sunday and not be paid overtime if the employee cannot work on Saturday because of his or
her religious belief.
3. Some employers attempt to avoid unionization by paying non-union employees wages that
are equivalent to the wages paid unionized employees.
4. A government may pass back-to-work legislation ordering an end to a strike in the public
sector; however, strikes in the private sector cannot be ended by back-to-work legislation.
5. Over the past 30 years the percentage of employees who are represented by unions has
dramatically declined in both Canada and the United States.
6. When a union attempts to organize employees there is always a vote held to determine if the
employees wish to be represented by the union.
7. Collective agreements can provide that employees are required to become union members.
Accordingly, an employer could be forced to terminate an employee who refused to join the
union.
8. When an employee takes a complaint to his or her union—for example, the employee alleges
termination without cause—the union is required to pursue the matter with the employer.
9. In the course of negotiation of a collective agreement the employer may be required to reveal
information to the union even though the union has not requested it.
10. When a vote is held to authorize a strike, all employees in the group that would be on strike
are entitled to vote. That is, both union members and employees who are not union members are
entitled to vote.
11. Some public sector employees have the right to strike, provided essential services are
maintained for the public by having some employees continue to work.
12. Unions reduce productivity and profitability.
Ch 2
1. IS their any relation between lower interest rate and job security?yes/no why?
2. What happens (to job security concern) when the inflation is high and govt wants to
control inflation?
3. Society will support a strike in economic down turn. True/false why?
4. Society in general may support a strike during economic boom. true / false, why?
5. In a situation when the business is booming and the demand is growing the bargaining
power of union will increase in general true / false why?
6. What are the implications of NAFTA for unions and employers?
7. Monetary policy aimed at lowering unemployment by stimulating demand through
interest rate changes will require interest rates to go up ? true /false why?
8. High level of government spending will reduce unemployment. True/false why?
9. In times of increased demand do you think the unions gain more power?
10. If the price elasticity of demand is high how does it effect union management relational
dynamics
11. Lab mkt changes such as the ones given below will force the employers and unions to
deal with what issues
Aging workforce
Younger employees
Female participation
Diversity
Non standard work
12. What is the most important concern the employees face during merger
13. Globalisation will mean high or lower bargaining power for the unions?
14. Effect on Union Management relation because of
Deregulation; Deindustrialisation; Downsizing
Legacy cost; Trade liberalisation
15. Technology might be able to
Increase productivity; Increase the skill requirements
Decrease the skill requirements; Increase telework
Better communication capabilities of the employer; how does these effect the bargaining
power of the union
16. Write very quickly and without thinking --- do you like labor unions
17. What words can you associate with labour unions?
Ch 3 LR EMPLOYER
1 Would you be interested in working for Nucor why/ why not?
Factors affecting unionisation are given below
Workplace Factors
1.Compensation
2.Fairness, Equity
3.Job Security
4.Working Conditions
5.Workload
6.Voice in Policymaking
7.Inadequate Managers
8.Complaint Mechanism
9.Employer Policies
Attitude towards unions and economic factors
2 Analyse the factors given above from Nucor steel employee’s point of view?
3 Why do you think Nucor steels employees are not interested in unionisation? If an employer
does not want to get unionised then what should it do?
4 What is/are the major advantage/s of non unionised workforce?
Generic Strategies
1) Cost leadership (eg. Walmart)
2) Differentiation ( Bay, Sears)
3) Both Cost leadership and differentiation ( very difficult to implement eg. Toyota)
4) Focus Cost leadership ( eg corner pizza parlour)
5) Focused Differentiation ( eg BMW)
5 In case of Nucor steel what is the best possible generic strategy?
Four Unionisation strategies are
1) Union Opposition
2) Union Avoidance
3) Union Acceptance
4) Union Resistance
5) Union Removal
6 What is the most suitable unionisation strategy for Nucor steel in light of generic strategy
identified above?
7. Wal-Mart is a firm that appears to be opposed to its employees joining a union. What
are the possible reasons for this organization’s approach toward unions?
8. Contrast the likely desire and ability of the following two employers to oppose
unionization:
(a) a fast food outlet
(b) a publicly owned nuclear power facility
Ch 4 LR
1) What is the impact of weak union movement in US on labour relations in Canada. Union
density in US is about 12% whereas it is about 31% in Canada.
2) Why some communities do not allow formation of unions?
3) Why is union density low in food restaurant industry?
4) Some unions get involved with community and charity work, why?
5) What is the principle of unionisation?
6) Rise in the exchange rate of Canadian dollar and its impact on labour relations
7) Why do unions get involved in politics
8) What are the disadvantages of fragmented nature of union movement in Canada?
9) Union density in Canada is high because
10) United auto workers union in U.S. agreed to a lump-sum payments linked to the
employers profitability instead of traditional upfront wage increase (G.M.). Is this good
for productivity?
11) Four things union do or should do are
12) Canada Mail Post employee was charged with theft after they left mail in their
garage instead of delivering it. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers referred to
the incident as a sign of increasing workloads. Do you think that this was a good
approach for the union to take: