PHRca California Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The Ralph C. Dills Act governs collective bargaining for which group of California workers?
- University of California employees
- California State University employees
- California state civil service employees (Correct answer)
- City and county government employees
Correct answer: California state civil service employees
The Ralph C. Dills Act covers California state civil service employees and establishes their right to collective bargaining with the state.
Question 2: Which board has exclusive jurisdiction over labor relations matters involving agricultural employees in California?
- National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
- Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) (Correct answer)
- Public Employment Relations Board (PERB)
- California Labor Commissioner
Correct answer: Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB)
The Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) was created by the ALRA to administer farm worker labor relations and has exclusive jurisdiction over California agricultural employees.
Question 3: What is 'card check' recognition in the context of union organizing?
- A process where employees use ID badges to vote in a secret ballot NLRB election
- A procedure where an employer voluntarily recognizes a union based on signed authorization cards showing majority employee support (Correct answer)
- A mandatory annual audit of union membership card records
- A background check process conducted on union organizers before an election
Correct answer: A procedure where an employer voluntarily recognizes a union based on signed authorization cards showing majority employee support
Card check recognition allows an employer to recognize a union voluntarily when a majority of employees sign authorization cards, bypassing the formal NLRB secret ballot election process.
Question 4: Under California law, which statement MOST accurately describes public sector strikes?
- All California public sector strikes are legal and protected without exception
- All California public sector strikes are prohibited under state law
- Most California public sector employees have a limited right to strike, but certain groups such as police and firefighters are prohibited from striking (Correct answer)
- Only University of California employees may legally strike in California
Correct answer: Most California public sector employees have a limited right to strike, but certain groups such as police and firefighters are prohibited from striking
California generally permits public sector strikes except for certain essential service workers like police, firefighters, and prison guards, where strikes are prohibited to protect public safety.
Question 5: In California collective bargaining, 'impasse' occurs when:
- Both parties have agreed to all terms of a new contract
- Good faith negotiations have been exhausted and the parties are deadlocked with no progress (Correct answer)
- A union files an unfair labor practice charge against the employer
- Management unilaterally changes wages without bargaining
Correct answer: Good faith negotiations have been exhausted and the parties are deadlocked with no progress
Impasse is reached when both parties have bargained in good faith but are deadlocked, typically triggering statutory impasse resolution procedures such as mediation or factfinding.
Question 6: Which of the following is a MANDATORY subject of bargaining under California public sector labor law?
- Location of the employer's administrative headquarters
- The employer's overall business strategy and mission
- Wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment (Correct answer)
- Selection of the employer's outside legal counsel
Correct answer: Wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment
Wages, hours, and working conditions are mandatory subjects of bargaining, meaning employers must negotiate these items with recognized employee organizations upon request.
Question 7: California's Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) was established in which year?
- 1959
- 1968
- 1975 (Correct answer)
- 1983
Correct answer: 1975
PERB was established in 1975 with the passage of the Educational Employment Relations Act (EERA) and has since expanded its jurisdiction to administer multiple public sector bargaining statutes.
PHRca California Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining 2
The Ralph C.
Dills Act governs collective bargaining for which group of California workers?