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