19 Trade Union

A request by a trade union for a pay rise for its members who work in a toy factory is likely to be successful if ...

• the productivity of workers in the toy factory has fallen.

• there is a large pool of people willing to work in the toy factory.

• there is a high demand for toys produced in the factory.

• there is a low inflation in the economy.

Which is a reason why a trade union may ask for a wage increase for its members?

• a higher rate of inflation

• higher unemployment in the economy

• lower productivity in the industry

• lower profits in the industry

Which is an example of action taken by a trade union?

• go-fast

• lie-in

• sit-down

• work-to-rule

The main aim of a trade union is to ...

• call its members out on strike action.

• cause disruptions to employers and the economy.

• gain publicity for its members.

• improve pay and working conditions for its members.

A group or workers in Bangladesh garment factory is concerned about the low pay, poor working conditions and extended hours work. They decide to work only for the contracted hours of work and put a ban on overtime. This type of industrial action is known as ...

• go-slow

• sit-in

• strike action

• work-to-rule

Which one of the following types of trade union represents engineers?

• a craft union

• general union

• industrial union

• white collar union

A trade union persuades an employer to raise the wage he pays his workers above the equilibrium level. What is the most likely outcome?

• More workers will be employed as it will be easier to recruit them.

• Some workers who retire or leave for other jobs will not be replaced.

• The firm will increase its output to raise the revenue needed to pay the higher wages.

• The firm will the wage rate higher to ensure demand equals to supply

Which characteristics would strengthen the power of a trade union?

• Demand for the product produced by the workers is elastic

• It is difficult to substitute the workers by machines

• Its members are unwilling to take industrial action

• The wages form a high proportion of the industry's total cost

Which of the following is not a function of a trade union?

• improving working conditions

• increasing shareholders' dividends

• raising members' wages

• representing members' interests

In which circumstance is a trade union most likely to be able to raise the wages of its members?

• it is easy to replace workers with machines

• it is easy to replace unionised labour with non-unionised labour

• the profits of the firms in the industry are low

• the share of labour costs in total costs is low