Construction Management Workforce Management & Labor Relations 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the Davis-Bacon Act require on federally funded construction projects?
- Payment of prevailing wages to workers (Correct answer)
- Mandatory drug testing for all workers
- Use of union labor exclusively
- A minimum crew size of 10 workers
Correct answer: Payment of prevailing wages to workers
The Davis-Bacon Act requires contractors on federal and federally assisted construction projects to pay workers the locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits.
Question 2: Which of the following best defines 'prevailing wage' in construction?
- The federal minimum wage set by FLSA
- The wage rate most commonly paid to workers in a specific trade in a given area (Correct answer)
- The average salary of a construction manager
- The negotiated rate in a union contract
Correct answer: The wage rate most commonly paid to workers in a specific trade in a given area
Prevailing wage is the wage rate, including benefits, most commonly paid to workers in a particular trade or occupation in a specific geographic area.
Question 3: Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), non-exempt construction workers must receive overtime pay at what rate for hours worked over 40 in a week?
- 1.25 times the regular rate
- 1.5 times the regular rate (Correct answer)
- 2 times the regular rate
- Double time plus benefits
Correct answer: 1.5 times the regular rate
FLSA requires that non-exempt employees receive overtime pay at a rate of not less than one and one-half (1.5x) their regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 in a workweek.
Question 4: What is a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in the construction industry?
- A contract between two subcontractors on a shared project
- A legally binding contract negotiated between a union and an employer covering wages, hours, and working conditions (Correct answer)
- An agreement between the owner and general contractor
- A government mandate for hiring practices
Correct answer: A legally binding contract negotiated between a union and an employer covering wages, hours, and working conditions
A CBA is a written contract between an employer and a labor union representing employees, covering terms such as wages, hours, benefits, and working conditions.
Question 5: What does 'open shop' mean in the construction labor context?
- A job site that operates 24 hours a day
- A project where union membership is not required for employment (Correct answer)
- A facility open to public tours
- A procurement method with no bid restrictions
Correct answer: A project where union membership is not required for employment
An open shop is a workplace where employees are not required to join or pay dues to a union as a condition of employment.
Question 6: What federal agency is primarily responsible for enforcing the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)?
- Department of Labor (DOL)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) (Correct answer)
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Correct answer: National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
The NLRB is the independent federal agency that enforces the NLRA, which protects the rights of employees to organize and bargain collectively.
Question 7: Which of the following is an example of a jurisdictional dispute on a construction site?
- A disagreement between the owner and architect over design
- Two unions arguing over which trade has the right to perform a specific task (Correct answer)
- A contractor disputing a code violation citation
- An argument over property boundary lines
Correct answer: Two unions arguing over which trade has the right to perform a specific task
A jurisdictional dispute occurs when two or more unions claim the right to perform the same type of work on a job site, which can halt construction activities.
Construction Management Workforce Management & Labor Relations 1
What does the Davis-Bacon Act require on federally funded construction projects?