Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining

Human Resource Management, 12e (Dessler)
Chapter 15 Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining

1) About ________% of people working in the United States belong to unions.
A) 5
B) 12
C) 20
D) 45
E) 62
Answer: B
Explanation: Just over 17.7 million U.S. workers belong to unions—around 12.4% of the total number of men and women working in this country.
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 544
Chapter: 15
Objective: 1
Skill: Concept

2) One of the earliest unions in the United States, the Knights of Labor, was formed by a group of ________.
A) coal miners
B) tailors
C) carpenters
D) railroad workers
E) printers
Answer: B
Explanation: In 1869, a group of tailors met and formed the Knights of Labor. The Knights were interested in political reform.
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 544
Chapter: 15
Objective: 1
Skill: Application

3) Who was responsible for forming the American Federation of Labor in 1886?
A) Samuel Gompers
B) Benjamin Franklin
C) Frederick Taylor
D) George Meany
E) Alexander Hamilton
Answer: A
Explanation: In 1886, Samuel Gompers formed the American Federation of Labor (AFL). It consisted mostly of skilled workers and, unlike the Knights, focused on practical, bread-and-butter gains for its members.
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 544
Chapter: 15
Objective: 1
Skill: Application

4) Which of the following was the primary goal of the American Federation of Labor?
A) achieving political reform
B) gaining a higher social status
C) addressing immigrant labor
D) improving work conditions
E) creating labor legislation
Answer: D
Explanation: Gompers and the AFL aimed to raise day-to-day wages and improve working conditions.
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 544-545
Chapter: 15
Objective: 1
Skill: Concept

5) Which of the following best explains why union membership has fallen since the 1970s?
A) Legislation provides workers with protections that were once exclusive to unions.
B) Union members earn less on average compared to non-union members.
C) Union