Union Member Research Articles

Predicting Employees’ Loyalty through Organizational Justice: The Moderating Role of Union Effectiveness

Encouraging fair management practices can foster positive behaviors among employees, such as loyalty. Previous studies have shown that organizational justice is one of the many key drivers of organizational loyalty. However, most of these studies have been carried out in different countries and in non-unionized organizations, leaving an opportunity to fill a gap in the literature. Guided by the social exchange theory, the present undertaking will narrow the gap by examining the direct influence of organizational justice on organizational loyalty in unionized firms and introduces union effectiveness as a moderator variable to investigate the direction of this relationship. The participants are union members (n = 383) from various manufacturing companies in the third district of NCR, Philippines. Using PLS-SEM, the study found that different domains of organizational justice (procedural, distributive, informational, and interpersonal justice) have a significant and direct impact on organizational loyalty. Furthermore, the study revealed that union effectiveness moderates the direct relationship of procedural, distributive, and informational justice to organizational loyalty. However, union effectiveness does not moderate the relationship between interpersonal justice and organizational loyalty. Research implications and limitations are discussed in this study.

The evolution of the minimum wage in Poland and its consequences on labour market

Poland is one of the 22 European Union members with national minimum wage legislation. The minimum wage level in Poland is legislated by the Minimum Wage Act of 2002 as amended. The aim of the study is twofold: first, to show the evolution of the minimum wage level in Poland with respect to other EU countries in the period of 2003–2023, second, to use the review of the literature as a research tool to find out whether there is a consensus on the impact of minimum wage changes on various labour market outcomes in Poland, i.e. the level of employment, wages, profits, or prices. To the best of our knowledge it is the first study of this kind for Poland.

The role of the financial system in entrepreneurship trends in the European Union

ABSTRACT The current study examines the effects of financial systems and instruments on entrepreneurship trends and activities in the European Union member states. Results from panel data econometric procedures exhibit that financial markets and instruments exert statistically significant effects on the volume of both male and female entrepreneurial activities in the union. Results show that financial system mainly impacts male and female entrepreneurial intentions rather than their early stage entrepreneurial activities; furthermore, entrepreneurial intentions and activities are negatively linked to the financial system, which might be due to the lack of access to finance and regulatory barriers among the others, which are outlined at the end of this study.

EVOLVING LANDSCAPE OF INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE IN G20 NATIONS (1990-2019): A COMPREHENSIVE GLOBAL ASSESSMENT

Abstract BACKGROUND As pivotal players in the global economy, the G20 countries not only lead in economic dynamics but also in health challenges. Recent data reveals an escalating burden of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in these nations. Understanding this trend is crucial to frame healthcare strategies and ensure the well-being of a significant portion of the global population. METHOD We employed data on IBD prevalence, incidence, mortality, and DALYs for G20 countries from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 study. Using standardized statistical techniques, we analyzed by age, sex, year and location across G20 countries, estimating incidence and prevalence with the DisMod-MR 2.1 tool and mortality through the Cause of Death Ensemble Model (CODEm). RESULTS From 1990 to 2019, IBD prevalence figures in the G20 nations escalated from 2,999,730 (95%UI: 2,625,581-3,416,963) to 4,254,467 (3,809,445-4,751,041), marking a 42% (38-46) surge in the Annual Percentage Change (APC). Meanwhile, the incidence rose by 30% (26-35), mortality by 72% (49-97), and DALYs by 27% (15-43). Among these nations, China witnessed a striking 314% increase in incidence, closely followed by South Korea at 288%. Death rates were most pronounced in European Union members, with Portugal at the helm (441%), trailed by Italy (433%) and Germany (418%). Germany also led in DALYs growth with a 289% APC. Examining Age-standardized mortality rates, Germany again topped the list with a 244% increase, shadowed by Italy (186%) and the United States (147%). Over the past three decades, older populations demonstrated a rising IBD burden. In gender comparisons, males experienced a more significant incidence increase (32% vs. females at 28%) and DALYs (30% vs. females at 24%). Conversely, females had a steeper death rate growth, 77% as opposed to males at 67%. CONCLUSION In 2019, IBD was responsible for 2.02% of digestive disease-related deaths and 2.30% of associated disabilities in the G20 nations. The stark rise in IBD prevalence, especially in countries like China, South Korea, and European Union members, emphasizes a pressing need for targeted clinical approaches and proactive health policies to mitigate this escalating burden. Age-standardized rate (per 100,000 person years) of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in G20 Countries, 2019. A: ASIR, B: ASMR, C:ASDALR.

Social partnership, company-level collective bargaining and union revitalization in Ireland

This article explores recent trade union efforts in Ireland to re-engage activists and members and promote revitalization following the termination of a 22-year period of tripartite social partnership. It analyses four case studies of major unions’ strategies to involve activists and members in a workplace-anchored model of firm-level collective bargaining. The findings indicate that decentralized bargaining has become the preferred model of pay determination for Irish unions, and they express little interest in returning to national-level centralized bargaining. Union leaders are enthusiastic about company-level bargaining primarily for three reasons. First, it revitalizes unions by sustaining and expanding union membership at the workplace. Second, it supports local bargaining arrangements that produce tangible benefits for workers, showcasing the effectiveness of unions in advocating for their members. Third, workplace arrangements enhance union influence over management decision-making, both directly through firm-level collective bargaining and indirectly by fostering incentives for continuous dialogue and information exchange.

Multivariate risks assessment for complex bio-systems by Gaidai reliability method

Spread of novel coronavirus and other flu-like illnesses, periodically causing increased death and morbidity rates, places pressures on national health systems. In order to provide a reliable long-term forecast of the new coronavirus infection rate, this research employs novel Gaidai bio-system reliability technique, especially suitable for multi-regional biological, environmental and public health systems. The goal of this study was to directly apply state of art statistical techniques to unprocessed raw clinical data, utilizing a multicenter, population-based biostatistical methodology. Epidemiological risks have been accurately forecasted, specifically for European Union member states. Based on their clinical survey data, suggested spatiotemporal methodology may be applied in a variety of public biological and health applications.

Employee beliefs about the consequences of a union default: Implications for support and intention to remain in union membership

Union decline and the ‘representation gap’ are two commonly recognised and interrelated phenomena. Numerous proposals have been made to solve this double-sided problem. One of the most radical is to conceive of a union default, where the default position is union membership. This article seeks to understand how employee beliefs about the consequences of union membership, both positive and negative, would influence whether (i) workers would support or oppose a union default, and (ii) workers would maintain membership once defaulted into it given the availability of an opt-out. The findings show that workers’ beliefs about the consequences of a union default have a major impact on whether they support or oppose a default and would stay in membership or opt out. The article draws out the implications for public policy makers seeking to introduce a union default.

Cultural management: analysis of strategies, policies, and practices in Ukraine and the EU countries

The focus of this article is on the evolution of cultural policy and strategy within Ukraine in the context of its integration with the European Union. A historical investigation into the shared origins of the Ukrainian population and European peoples is conducted, emphasizing Slavic heritage and communal settlements. The regulatory framework governing the progress of Ukrainian culture in its independent state is delineated. The primary hypotheses and trajectories for the advancement of Ukrainian cultural policy, as articulated in the "Long-term Strategy for the Development of Culture until 2025," are expounded upon. In aggregate, it is ascertained that the outlined objectives within the Strategy currently fall short of addressing the imperatives incumbent upon the nation to affirm its national identity and align with the attainments of European civilization. It is discerned that the absence of a cultural diplomacy framework in Ukraine stands in stark contrast to the substantial outcomes achieved through this paradigm across the majority of European Union member states. Additionally, an exploration of both shared features and distinctions in cultural policy and strategy between the European Union as an entity and select member countries is undertaken. The European Union's strategy, characterized by its dynamic and targeted approach, is notable for its commitment to preserving the integrity of nations and ethnicities. This strategy places considerable emphasis on respecting the distinct national identities and traditions of each country and its constituent nations. Of particular significance is the instance of the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Italy, and Finland, wherein the cultivation of cultural diplomacy has been a focal point. These examples underscore the diverse routes undertaken to achieve cultural recognition and formulate distinct cultural strategies for each nation. This serves as an indication that cultural policy ought to evolve into a responsibility shared among the state, diplomatic representatives, and cultural stakeholders within Ukraine. The ongoing conflict instigated by Russia underscores once again the multi-dimensional trajectory characterizing Ukraine's cultural evolution. It underscores Ukraine's heightened dedication to unity and the rejuvenation of the European principles that were proclaimed during the twentieth century.

Biosecurity implementation on large-scale poultry farms in Europe: A qualitative interview study with farmers

Biosecurity is an essential tool for rearing healthy animals. Biosecurity measures (BMs) are well known in poultry production, but it is difficult to assess actual implementation on farms. The aims of this qualitative study were (1) to provide an overview of biosecurity implementation according to poultry farmers in Europe; and (2) to better understand the reported reasons and potential obstacles for not implementing the measures. In seven European Union Member States, 192 farmers (118 under contract with a company and 68 independents) working in seven different categories of poultry production were interviewed on 62 BMs to determine the frequency of implementation and the reasons for non-implementation. Most of the replies (n = 7791) concerning BM implementation were reported by the farmers as “always” implemented (81%), statistically higher for breeders (87%) and layers (82%) and lower for independent farms versus farms under contract with a company (79.5% and 82.5%, respectively). Regardless the poultry production category, the most frequently implemented BMs declared by the farmers were daily surveillance of birds, rodent control and feed storage protection. Standard hygiene practices were also mentioned as high-implementation measures for most production categories, with some deficiencies, such as rendering tank disinfection after each collection and, for meat poultry, disinfection of the feed silo and bacterial control of house cleaning and disinfection between each cycle. The entry of vehicles and individuals onto poultry farms, especially during critical points of eggs collection for breeders and layers, as well as the presence of other animals, such as the “all in/all out” practice, particularly in layers and ducks, were also reported as the least commonly practiced measures. The main reasons for not implementing the measures (n = 1683 replies) were low awareness and poor knowledge of the expected benefits of biosecurity (“no known advantages” 14%, and “not useful” 12%), the lack of training (“not enough training” 5% and “advice” 7%), lack of time (19%), and financial aspects (17%). Despite the good overall biosecurity mentioned by the farmers, these findings highlight certain deficiencies, suggesting room for improvement and the need for targeted and tailored support of poultry farmers in Europe.

A world systems analysis of union membership and support for government spending on environmental protection

This article contributes to debates about trade unions and the environment by studying international variation in the association between union membership and support for government spending on environmental protection. Building on research which demonstrates a positive membership effect on support for environmental protection, the article extends the geographical scope beyond the more economically developed contexts studied previously. Using World Systems Theory as a comparative framework, distinguishing between core, semi-periphery, and periphery states, the article explores whether the positive membership effect extends beyond more affluent core states and reveals an intriguing empirical puzzle: while public support for environmental spending is substantially weaker in core states relative to non-core states, the latter being subject to more extensive environmental threats, the reverse holds for the membership effect on environmental spending support which instead tends to be more positive in core states. Union membership thus tends to have the largest positive impact on environmental spending support in countries where public support for such spending tends to be lower. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings for the global effort to address an ongoing environmental crisis are discussed by considering the notion of a solidarity effect.

Exploding the Myth of Job Security

Unions are exceptionally masterful in perpetuating the notion that they can obtain job security for their members. This, of course, is a myth that must be torpedoed as soon as it surfaces. The employer should communicate to employees that unions are in no position to boast about achieving job security, since some of the most highly organized groups in the country have some of the highest percentages of unemployment. For example, in October 2023, the unemployment rate in the coal industry was approximately 50% higher than the national average. Moreover, a union‐free employer should have no difficulty in citing mass layoffs in the automobile, steel, and other unionized industries. Copies of news items reporting such layoffs, as well as historical declines in union membership, can be used to effectively support this position and to lend greater credibility to an employer's message.

Challenges against the Achievement of Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies in African States

Disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies play a pivotal role in formalizing and enhancing the efficacy of disaster risk reduction efforts. The overall objective of this study was to assess the progress the African Union member states are making in developing DRR strategies as required by Target E of the Sendai Framework. The study used both qualitative and quantitative approaches where an in-depth desk review of DRR strategies and online questionnaires were administered to 53 respondents. The findings shows about 68 % of the AU member states have national strategies and 35% have sub national strategies but generally there is sluggish progress in updating DRR strategies in accordance with Sendai Framework Target E. An array of formidable challenges has come to light, casting a shadow over the seamless execution of these strategies. Weak technical and institutional capacities, paucity of financial resources, limited decentralization of DRR initiatives, and governance deficiencies emerge as pivotal obstacles that warrant immediate attention. In light of these findings, it is imperative for African governments and their collaborative partners to expedite the development of risk-informed strategies. By doing so, they can successfully actualize the visionary objectives set forth within the Sendai Framework.

Thought Communities and Pre‐conditions for Polity Formation in the European Union: Evidence From Six EU Member States

AbstractHow do citizens in European Union (EU) member states think about the EU? And what are the implications of different ‘thinking styles’ for citizens' preferences regarding formation of policies, politics and polity in the EU? The current article uses relational class analysis (RCA) and analyses perceptions of the EU as a political order by citizens in six selected member states. These are France, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia – three founding/large member states and three members of the Visegrád group (two of which represent the most notorious examples of the ongoing ‘sovereignist’ backlash). Using RCA, we identify two thought communities in the selected EU member states: statists and pragmatists. These are the communities of citizens sharing thinking styles that would suggest their support for particular polity types in the EU.

Uncovering gender dimensions in energy policy using Natural Language Processing

There is a lack of empirical analysis of macro-level energy policy through a gender lens, and there exists a research gap in tools for such analysis. This paper proposes a novel empirical approach to explore the gender dimension of the language used in energy policy documents such as the National Energy and Climate Action Plans (NECPs) of European Union (EU) member states. We first review the literature to identify existing approaches that analyse the energy/gender nexus. We then describe how we adapt Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques to quantify the degree to which the language used in the NECPs is male or female associated. Our work shows the gap in suitable tools. We demonstrate using NLP that all EU NECPs tend to use more male associated language than female. In a ranking of EU member states, the Portuguese NECP demonstrated the most bias, while the Slovenian demonstrated the least. Our work provides novel insights using NLP to understand the genderised use of language, and contributes a methodology to conduct empirical analysis of energy policy documents.

Expansion without mandates: Border and asylum agencies in European Union migration governance

AbstractThe European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) have experienced increases in available resources and have conducted joint operations with European Union (EU) Member States in recent years. They may be regarded as examples of agencification in border protection and asylum policy, but this paper argues that agencification has proceeded without an expansion in agency mandates. Using Frontex and EASO operations in two Southern European border countries, Cyprus and Greece, as comparative case studies, I show that the two agencies have employed their growing technical, performative, legal and moral resources to legitimize efficient processing of asylum applications in reception centers, and coordinated border protection and more/swifter returns. At the same time, the absence of mandates on final decision‐making has diluted policy accountability and weakened monitoring vis‐à‐vis Member States, with respect to fundamental rights violations and the implementation of EU law. This resource expansion without mandates has allowed EU agencies to resolve long‐standing tensions among Member States and the European Commission in a contested policy area. The analysis has broader implications for the role of agencies in multilevel migration governance.

Systems of innovation: Path of economic transition and differences in institutions in central and Eastern Europe?

AbstractAgainst the backdrop of the current political developments in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, such as Ukraine, Poland, and Romania, the question arises as to the role played by economic transformation and the resulting innovation linkages in these countries over the last 20 years. The main purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of economic and institutional dimensions on the development of CEE countries, explicitly distinguishing between European Union (EU) members and non‐members, and thus reflecting the differences in institutions and path dependency. Furthermore, the paper contrasts the performance of CEE countries with that of Western European countries. To achieve these objectives, the impact of factors such as innovation, institutions, and political practices on the economic development of 37 European countries from 2000 until 2020 is followed using fixed effects regression and Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. The results of the analysis show the importance of institutional factors such as low levels of corruption, political freedoms, and intellectual property. The effect of institutional variables was particularly pronounced in the case of non‐EU countries, which indicates the particular importance of the development of stable institutions for achieving higher levels of economic development for this category of countries.

Health Policy for Prostate Cancer Early Detection in the European Union and the Impact of Opportunistic Screening: PRAISE-U Consortium.

With the new policy recommendation in 2022 to explore the possibilities of screening for prostate cancer by the European Commission, the landscape for prostate cancer early detection is evolving. In line with this recommendation, the PRAISE-U project aims to evaluate the early detection and diagnosis of prostate cancer through customised and risk-based screening programmes, with the goal to align protocols across European Union member states. This systematic review is part of the PRAISE-U project, with the goal to review the policy, medical guideline recommendations, and the current level of opportunistic screening presented in the scientific literature on prostate cancer early detection from 2016 to 2023 in European Union member states. An extensive literature search was performed on 1 June 2023 in a large number of databases, including Embase.com, Medline (Ovid), Web of Science Core Collection, Google Scholar, and Policy Commons. We identified 318 articles (qualitative, quantitative, and reviews), of which 41 were included in the full-text screening. Seventeen articles were ultimately identified as eligible for inclusion. The included articles revealed significant variations towards PSA-based early detection policies for prostate cancer in nine European countries. Despite official recommendations, opportunistic screening was prevalent across all nine countries regardless of recommendations for or against PSA-based early detection. This systematic review suggests that the current early detection policies are not fit for purpose. High levels of opportunistic screening and overdiagnosis persist, prompting policy recommendations for standardised guidelines, informed decision making, and increased awareness to improve efficiency and effectiveness in early detection.

Particulate Filters for Combustion Engines to Mitigate Global Warming. Estimating the Effects of a Highly Efficient but Underutilized Tool

AbstractParticulate filters are state-of-the-art and are used in internal combustion engines worldwide to eliminate carcinogenic nanoparticles. Health studies estimate that this prevents about one million premature deaths annually. What is less known and often neglected is their equally powerful effect on mitigating global warming. This is because these ultrafine particles form stable aerosols in the atmosphere, absorb sunlight, and heat the atmosphere due to their jet-black color. In addition, once deposited on the ground, they reduce albedo especially when deposited on ice or snow. They also thin clouds and reduce their reflectivity. In this paper, we estimate for the first time the cumulative effect of more than 300 million particulate filters currently installed globally on vehicles, showing that, while they reduce ~ 0.5 Mt of soot per year, their effect on slowing global warming is equivalent to reducing 1 Bt of CO2 per year or about one-third of the CO2 emissions of all European Union Member States combined. Despite its strong potential, this highly efficient, proven, and low-cost technology is not yet regarded as a priority in curbing global warming, even though it is possibly the easiest and quickest to implement. If used in retrofitting more diesel and petrol engines worldwide, it could triple the aforementioned effect. While modern internal combustion engines are on track to be replaced with zero-emission vehicles, it is also crucial, and we strongly suggest that, in the interim, all remaining internal fossil fuel combusting engines be fitted with particulate filters. Evidence is presented in this paper that the potential benefits of such retrofit on climate and human health will be impactful and lasting.

Foreign aid impact on the economic growth of the Western Balkans during 2009–2021

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the role of foreign aid in the Western Balkans countries’ economic growth between 2009 and 2021.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses a panel data approach to examine the effects of foreign aid on economic growth in the region and incorporates a random-effects model to accommodate the unique cross-country variations and time-specific factors, as well as a pooled OLS and fixed-effects model for a comprehensive, comparative analysis.FindingsThe in-depth regression analysis shows that foreign aid has not had a significant impact on the economic growth of the region. Further evidence suggests that trade openness exhibited a significant positive correlation with economic growth, while gross capital formation, although positively associated, did not significantly impact it, indicating the complexity of its role in the region’s economies.Practical implicationsThe analysis presented in this study has significant practical implications, particularly for policymakers in the Western Balkans. Given the region’s ambitions for European Union membership and the challenges of high unemployment and inflation, understanding the role of foreign aid is crucial.Originality/valueThis research provides a unique contribution to the field of development economics by examining foreign aid effectiveness within the context of a region often overlooked in the literature. The analysis also offers fresh insights into the complex dynamics of foreign aid and its implications for policy and development strategies.

INVISIBLE ARTISTS: RECOGNITION AND SUPPORT FOR CULTURAL AND CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS IN THE BALTICS

The aim of this research is to define what kind of key challenges and implemented solutions regarding the artist status are common in Europe, and how to develop a systematic approach for artist recognition and support in the Baltic context. Using qualitative research methodology (desk research, qualitative interviews, focus group discussions) the authors analyze the current theoretical and empirical discussion in the European Union member states and especially in the Baltic countries, highlighting different practices and experiences in defining the status and recognition of the artist, and support systems that adjust for specific needs in different countries. Based on international experience, the authors develop suggestions relevant for forthcoming and long-awaited changes in different laws regarding the status of creative persons or professional creative organizations in several countries (Latvia, Estonia etc.).