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HRIR 3450 Final Questions
and Verified Answers
Question: 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.
Ans: False: non unionized workers can only file a law suit against the employer and
in most jurisdictions the court does not have the right to force the employer to
rehire the worker
Question: 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.
Ans: True: it comes under duty of accommodation
Question: Some employers attempt to avoid unionization by paying non-union employees
wages that are equivalent to the wages paid unionized employees.
Ans: True : this can be explained by what is known as "threat effect" of the unions
Question: 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.
Ans: False: govt can pass legislation to bring back the workers in both public and
Private sector
Question: Over the past 30 years the percentage of employees who are represented by
unions has dramatically declined in both Canada and the United States.
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Ans: False: it has drastically declined in US ( from about 30% to12% unionized
workers today ) but in Canada it fell from all time high of 33% to about 28% so not
a very drastic decrease
Question: 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.
Ans: False: there are some jurisdiction where representation vote is not required
(as long as a certain percent of workers sign a union card)
Question: 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.
Ans: True: it happens in unionized firms with "union shop "mandate ex Univ of
Manitoba
Question: 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.
Ans: False: the ownership of the complaint lies with the union and they can refuse
to take up the complaint of an employee in that case unionized employee can file a
complaint against the union with labour relations board claiming discrimination
etc
Question: 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.
Ans: True: concept of "bargaining in good faith"
Question: 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.
Ans: True: because the strike will effect all of them
, Page | 3
Question: Some public sector employees have the right to strike, provided essential
services are maintained for the public by having some employees continue to work.
Ans: True: known as designated strike example postal workers of Canada
Question: Unions reduce productivity and profitability.
Ans: Depends though unionized firms have lower profitability that does not mean a
causal relationship exists may be the mgt is weak and that is why it let the union get
certified and that is why because of its weakness it can not compete
Question: IS their any relation between lower interest rate and job security? yes/no why?
Ans: Yes: low interest rate mean it will encourage people to save less or buy more
that means demand will increase that means production and services will increase
that means more employees need to remain in their jobs and higher job formation
and security
Question: What happens (to job security concern) when the inflation is high and govt
wants to control inflation?
Ans: Control inflation means fed bank will increases interest rate and monetary
tightening policies are introduced which will increase saving and reduce demand
which will lead to lower production which will lead to lay offs and reduced job
security
Question: Society will support a strike in economic down turn. True/false why?
Ans: False: as society will say you should be happy you have a job and by striking
you are being thankless
Question: Society in general may support a strike during economic boom. true / false,
why?
Ans: True: as companies are making more money and society will say it is justified
that the firms should share some of the extra profits with workers
HRIR 3450 Final Questions
and Verified Answers
Question: 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.
Ans: False: non unionized workers can only file a law suit against the employer and
in most jurisdictions the court does not have the right to force the employer to
rehire the worker
Question: 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.
Ans: True: it comes under duty of accommodation
Question: Some employers attempt to avoid unionization by paying non-union employees
wages that are equivalent to the wages paid unionized employees.
Ans: True : this can be explained by what is known as "threat effect" of the unions
Question: 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.
Ans: False: govt can pass legislation to bring back the workers in both public and
Private sector
Question: Over the past 30 years the percentage of employees who are represented by
unions has dramatically declined in both Canada and the United States.
, Page | 2
Ans: False: it has drastically declined in US ( from about 30% to12% unionized
workers today ) but in Canada it fell from all time high of 33% to about 28% so not
a very drastic decrease
Question: 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.
Ans: False: there are some jurisdiction where representation vote is not required
(as long as a certain percent of workers sign a union card)
Question: 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.
Ans: True: it happens in unionized firms with "union shop "mandate ex Univ of
Manitoba
Question: 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.
Ans: False: the ownership of the complaint lies with the union and they can refuse
to take up the complaint of an employee in that case unionized employee can file a
complaint against the union with labour relations board claiming discrimination
etc
Question: 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.
Ans: True: concept of "bargaining in good faith"
Question: 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.
Ans: True: because the strike will effect all of them
, Page | 3
Question: Some public sector employees have the right to strike, provided essential
services are maintained for the public by having some employees continue to work.
Ans: True: known as designated strike example postal workers of Canada
Question: Unions reduce productivity and profitability.
Ans: Depends though unionized firms have lower profitability that does not mean a
causal relationship exists may be the mgt is weak and that is why it let the union get
certified and that is why because of its weakness it can not compete
Question: IS their any relation between lower interest rate and job security? yes/no why?
Ans: Yes: low interest rate mean it will encourage people to save less or buy more
that means demand will increase that means production and services will increase
that means more employees need to remain in their jobs and higher job formation
and security
Question: What happens (to job security concern) when the inflation is high and govt
wants to control inflation?
Ans: Control inflation means fed bank will increases interest rate and monetary
tightening policies are introduced which will increase saving and reduce demand
which will lead to lower production which will lead to lay offs and reduced job
security
Question: Society will support a strike in economic down turn. True/false why?
Ans: False: as society will say you should be happy you have a job and by striking
you are being thankless
Question: Society in general may support a strike during economic boom. true / false,
why?
Ans: True: as companies are making more money and society will say it is justified
that the firms should share some of the extra profits with workers
