A right to union negotiated wages and working conditions is called:

• A. Mediation
• B. Arbitration
• C. Strike
• D. Collective bargaining

Answer: (D)

The concept being tested is collective bargaining—the process by which workers, represented by a union, negotiate with the employer over wages, hours, and working conditions. This is the mechanism through which negotiated terms are established and agreed upon, often resulting in a collective bargaining agreement that covers the bargaining unit.

It isn’t mediation, which involves a neutral third party helping negotiators reach an agreement without imposing terms. It isn’t arbitration, which resolves disputes by a third party who imposes a binding decision. It isn’t a strike, which is a work stoppage used to pressure negotiations. In a sheet metal shop, collective bargaining is the formal path used to set pay scales, overtime rules, safety standards, and other working conditions.