Which of the following is a tactic of management in a labor dispute?

• A. Lock-Out
• B. Strike
• C. Boycott
• D. Mediation

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is distinguishing who uses a tactic and what that tactic involves in a labor dispute. A lockout is a management move where the employer temporarily closes the workplace and prevents workers from working, often during bargaining. The goal is to apply economic pressure, since workers won’t receive wages while the plant is shut down, in hopes of pushing for more favorable terms or concessions from the union.

This is different from a strike, which is when workers themselves stop working to pressure the employer. A boycott typically targets customers or suppliers to influence the company, rather than directly affecting the employer’s operation. Mediation involves a neutral third party helping the sides reach an agreement, not a tactic used by one side to coerce the other.

So, the tactic that comes from management in a labor dispute is the lockout.