HR Test 6

Unions

Organizations formed to represent employees in resolving conflicts with employers, particularly regarding pay, benefits, and working conditions.

Labor Relations

The field emphasizing effective interaction and negotiation between employers, employees, and unions to address workplace conflicts and agreements.

Craft Union

A type of labor union organized around specific skills or trades, such as carpenters or electricians.

Industrial Union

A union that represents all workers, regardless of their specific role or skill, within a particular industry, such as manufacturing or transportation.

AFL-CIO

A large federation of U.S. unions that works to support and advocate for organized labor.

Union Steward

A union representative who assists employees in resolving disputes and ensures that the labor agreement is upheld.

Checkoff Provision

An arrangement where employers automatically deduct union dues from employees' paychecks and transfer them to the union.

Closed Shop

A workplace where only union members are hired, now illegal under U.S. law.

Union Shop

A workplace where employees must join the union within a specified time after being hired.

Agency Shop

A workplace where employees are not required to join the union but must pay union dues or fees.

Maintenance of Membership

A policy requiring union members to remain members for the duration of a labor agreement.

National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)

A foundational U.S. law that protects employees' rights to organize, join unions, and engage in collective bargaining, while prohibiting certain unfair labor practices by employers.

Right-to-Work Laws

State laws that prohibit agreements requiring union membership as a condition of employment.

National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)

The federal agency that enforces the NLRA, overseeing union elections and investigating unfair labor practices.

Associate Union Membership

A form of union membership that offers services and benefits without full collective bargaining representation.

Corporate Campaigns

Strategies unions use to pressure employers into concessions, often by targeting the company’s public image or stakeholders.

Collective Bargaining

The process of negotiation between union representatives and employers to establish agreements on wages, working conditions, and other employment terms.

Strike

A work stoppage initiated by employees to pressure the employer during disputes or negotiations.

Lockout

An employer-initiated work stoppage to exert pressure on employees during disputes.

Mediation

The involvement of a neutral third party to help resolve disputes between unions and employers.

Fact Finder

A neutral party who investigates a labor dispute and presents findings or recommendations.

Arbitration

A method of resolving disputes where a neutral third party makes a binding decision.

Grievance Procedure

A systematic process for resolving conflicts over the interpretation or application of a labor agreement.