What is the economic weapon (tool) given to employers in collective bargaining?

• A. Lockout
• B. Strike
• C. Boycott
• D. Mediation

Answer: (A)

In collective bargaining, the employer’s economic leverage is the lockout. A lockout lets the employer temporarily close the workplace or bar employees from working, cutting off wages and production to pressure the union to accept concessions. This tool is distinct because it is controlled by the employer and directly affects the workers’ income and the company’s output, which is the essence of economic pressure in negotiations.

In contrast, a strike is initiated by workers to pressure the employer, a boycott is typically a consumer or third-party sanction rather than an in-house bargaining tactic, and mediation is a neutral process to help parties reach agreement rather than a coercive lever. The lockout stands out as the employer-controlled economic tool used in bargaining.