Presence Of Union Research Articles

Individual Working-time Adjustments between Full-time and Part-time Working in European Firms

We draw on Sen's capabilities approach to advance the debate about choice and constraint in relation to part-time work. We argue that it is important to go beyond a state-level comparison and focus on the policy implemented by employers at the organizational level. We use a European survey to identify which employers permit their employees to make individual-level adjustments between full-time and part-time working, and the firm-level characteristics associated with operating such a policy. The analysis reveals that employer policy varies markedly across countries and within countries and we argue that this is an important social conversion factor which shapes the capability which an individual employee has to adjust their hours between full time and part time at their place of work. State policy clearly matters, but firm-level characteristics and other situational features also impact on the social conversion factors which shape an individual's working-time capability. The sector, establishment size, presence of a trade union, gender and skill composition of the workforce all had a significant influence on whether employers permitted individual-level working-time adjustments. The firm's organizational working-time practices and culture toward safeguarding work-life balance had an additional and independent effect, as did broader aspects of working-time scheduling in place.

Open Tibia Fractures: Timely Debridement Leaves Injury Severity as the Only Determinant of Poor Outcome

Recent retrospective studies suggest that the time to debridement of open tibia fractures is not a major determinant of outcome. The aim of this prospective study was to determine the modifiable independent predictors of poor outcomes. A 36-month prospective observational study ending in December 2009 was performed on consecutive open tibia shaft fracture patients (age >18 years) admitted to a Level 1 trauma center. Demographics, mechanism, Injury Severity Score, fracture type/grade, local contamination, time to debridement, time to antibiotics, and interventions were prospectively recorded. Outcome measures were as follows: length of stay, deep infection, secondary procedures, and presence of union at 6 months and 12 months. Univariate, multivariate, and logistic regression analyses were performed. Eighty-nine consecutive patients (74% male, age 41 years±17 years, Injury Severity Score 15±3, and 37% multiple injured) met inclusion criteria. The mean time to surgical debridement and operative stabilization was 8 hours±4 hours (48% within 6 hours). The average length of stay was 21 days±13 days. Fifteen patients (17%) had deep infection and 5 (6%) required amputation (1 acute and 4 late because of the infection). The 6-month and 12-month union rates were 39% and 67%, respectively. Fifty-six patients (63%) required further procedures (a total of 312). The multivariate regression model (18 variables) showed no independent significant predictors for deep infection or nonunion at 6 months and 12 months (multiple injuries and smoking were closest to reach significance, p=0.08). Timely management of open tibia fractures (mean, 8 hours) eliminates time to debridement and contamination as predictors of poor outcome. Patient factors and local and general injury severity determine the outcomes. Aiming for the earliest safe time to debridement minimizes the negative effects of modifiable factors on the outcome.

Anterior cervical multilevel decompression and fusion using fibular strut as revision surgery for failed cervical laminoplasty

Retrospective analyses of six cases. To describe six patients with previous failed laminoplasty who were subsequently managed by anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) using fibular strut as revision surgeries. While several complications and unsatisfactory results of cervical laminoplasty have been reported, there is no general consensus on how to best surgically treat these pathological conditions. Six patients, who had been treated by laminoplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (n = 2) or ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL, n = 4) and had unfavorable outcomes, underwent ACDF using autogenous fibular strut grafts. The pathological factors associated with the poor outcomes were intraforaminal spur, slip, spondylotic change, disc herniation, and increase of OPLL in size. Clinical outcomes were assessed by evaluating the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association score (JOA score) of cervical myelopathy, severity of radicular pains, axial pains, and perioperative complications. In addition, C2-7 angle and the presence of bony union were analyzed. The revision ACDF significantly increased the mean ± SD. JOA score, from 10.3 ± 3.9 to 13.5 ± 2.7 points (p = 0.028), with a recovery rate of 47.1 ± 26.7%. Radicular pain and axial pain also improved. C2-7 angle was not changed significantly. Solid fusion was achieved in all patients at 12.2 ± 4.2 months after revision surgery. ACDF with fibular strut graft was effective as a revision procedure for failed laminoplasty.

Domestic Entry, International Trade Cost Reduction and Welfare

We show the welfare effects of international trade cost reduction under endogenous domestic market structure. If the domestic labour market is competitive, there is no integer constraint and the trade cost represents transportation cost, a reduction in the transportation cost does not affect (may reduce) domestic welfare if the products are perfect (imperfect) substitutes. If the trade cost represents tariff, domestic welfare is higher under a positive non-prohibitive tariff compared to both free trade and no trade. In the presence of an integer constraint, a lower transportation cost may reduce consumer surplus and increase the profits of the active domestic firms and domestic welfare, even if the products are homogeneous. If there is no integer (integer) constraint and the products are perfect substitutes, transportation cost reduction reduces (may increase) domestic welfare in the presence of a domestic labour union. We also show that entry for the domestic country may be socially excessive or insufficient under a competitive domestic labour market, while it is always socially insufficient in the presence of a domestic labour union.

Joint-sparing or Physeal-sparing Diaphyseal Resections: The Challenge of Holding Small Fragments

Joint-sparing or physeal-sparing diaphyseal resections are technically challenging when only a small length of bone is available for implant purchase. We describe a series of cases with the aim of generating some guidelines as to the choice of reconstruction method and the implant used. We retrospectively reviewed 25 patients with diaphyseal resections in which the remaining epiphyseal or metaphyseal segment provided 3 cm or less of purchase. Reconstruction was performed with bone (allograft, extracorporeally radiated autograft, or vascularized fibula) in 19 cases or a custom diaphyseal implant (CDI) in six. The implants used for holding the bone construct varied from standard plates to custom plates. The presence of union, function, complications, and disease status at last followup was recorded. Sixteen of the 25 patients are disease-free and alive with the original construct at a median followup of 34 months (range, 12-66 months). Implant-related complications such as plate breakage (four) and angulation (three) happened more frequently when weak plates such as reconstruction plates were used. Local recurrence with pulmonary metastases occurred in two cases. The two deep infections required an amputation or rotationplasty for control. Custom plates were successful in three of four patients. Weak plates such as reconstruction plates are best avoided for these reconstructions. Custom plates allow secure fixation with technical ease. CDIs allow immediate weightbearing and ability to lengthen with predictable good functional short-term outcome.

Product Market Cooperation, Profits and Welfare in the Presence of Labor Union

It is believed that cooperation between the final goods producers hurts consumers and reduces social welfare but increases profits. We show that these results may not hold in the presence of a unionized labor market. The effects of product market cooperation on consumers, profits and social welfare may depend on the union’s disagreement utility, its bargaining power and the degree of product market cooperation.

The Effects of Trade Liberalisation in a Vertical Structure

Despite the importance of international trade on intermediate goods, the literature did not pay much attention to this aspect in determining the effects of trade liberalization in the presence of a labor union. We take up this issue here and show the effects of trade liberalization on the final goods and/or the intermediate goods, where the domestic firm pays unionized wage and imports intermediate goods. We show that trade liberalization on the intermediate goods (final goods) increases (decreases) the unionized wage, labor union's utility and domestic profit. Trade liberalization on both the final goods and intermediate goods may either increase or decrease the domestic unionized wage, labor union's utility and domestic profit depending on the input coefficients and the initial tariff levels. Our qualitative results are robust with respect to the intermediate goods market structure, the pricing strategy of the intermediate goods producers and the union's objective function.

Surgical Treatment of C2 Fractures in the Elderly

Multicenter retrospective analysis. To review the results of surgical treatment during the last 6 years of C2 fractures in patients over the age of 70. Little information exists about the clinical outcome of surgical treatment of elderly patients with C2 fractures, their ability to return to their previous environment, and their postoperative level of independence. The medical records and radiographs of 29 patients who had undergone surgical treatment for C2 fractures were reviewed. The type of C2 fracture, neurologic examination at presentation, type of surgical treatment, perioperative morbidity and mortality, presence of osseous union, and stability of alignment were recorded. Long-term disposition was determined from office visits or by telephone interview. Twenty-four of 29 patients had type II dens fractures alone. The remaining 5 had associated C1 fractures. All patients were neurologically intact at presentation except for 2 patients with signs and symptoms of central cord syndrome. Perioperative complications occurred in 3 patients (10.3%). One patient died on postoperative day 6 from a myocardial infarction. Mean+/-SD radiographic follow-up was 9+/-3.2 months (range, 3 to 24). Of the 16 patients who underwent odontoid screw fixation, 6 (37.5%) had osseous union, and 9 (56.2%) were stable on radiographs. An additional patient who had odontoid screw initially required a posterior approach reoperation. Of the 13 posterior fusions, 4 (30.7%) had osseous unions and 9 (69.2%) were stable on flexion extension radiographs. Mean+/-SD clinical follow-up was 18+/-2.2 months (range, 3 to 72 mo). Twenty-five of 29 patients (86.2%) returned to their previous environment. Two patients died of unrelated etiology. C2 fractures in the elderly can be treated surgically with both anterior and posterior approaches with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates. The majority of patients can be mobilized early and return to their previous levels of independence.

The use of a vascularised periosteal patch onlay graft in the management of nonunion of the proximal scaphoid

We describe the use of a vascularised periosteal patch onlay graft based on the 1,2 intercompartmental supraretinacular artery in the management of 11 patients (ten men, one woman) with chronic nonunion involving the proximal third of the scaphoid. The mean age of the patients was 31 years (21 to 45) with the dominant hand affected in eight. Six of the patients were smokers and three had undergone previous surgery to the scaphoid. All of the proximal fragments were avascular. The presence of union was assessed using longitudinal axis CT. Only three patients progressed to union of the scaphoid and four required a salvage operation for a symptomatic nonunion. The remaining four patients with a persistent nonunion are asymptomatic with low pain scores, good grip strength and a functional range of wrist movement. Although this technique has potential technical advantages over vascularised pedicled bone grafting, the rate of union has been disappointing and we do not recommend it as a method of treatment.

Predictors of patient and surgeon satisfaction after orthopaedic trauma

Introduction Patient satisfaction has only recently gained attention as an outcome measure in orthopaedics, where it has been reported for joint replacement surgery. Little has been published regarding predictors of patient satisfaction in orthopaedic trauma. This study aims to explore the predictors of patient satisfaction, and of surgeon satisfaction, after orthopaedic trauma. Materials and methods Adult patients admitted to hospital with fractures after motor vehicle trauma were surveyed on admission, and at six months. Demographic, injury, socio-economic and compensation-related factors were measured. The two outcomes were satisfaction with progress of the injury, and satisfaction with recovery. The treating surgeons were also surveyed at six months to determine surgeon satisfaction with progress, and recovery (using the same questions), and the presence or absence of fracture union and any complications. Multivariate analysis was used to determine significant predictors of satisfaction for both groups, and satisfaction rates were compared between surgeons and patients. Results Of 306 patients recruited, 232 (75.8%) returned completed questionnaires, but only 141 (46.1%) surgeons responded. Patients rated their satisfaction with progress and recovery as 74.6% and 44.4%, respectively, whereas surgeon-rated satisfaction with progress and recovery was significantly higher, at 88.0% and 66.7%, respectively ( p < 0.0001). Significant predictors of patient dissatisfaction were: blaming others for the injury, being female, and using a lawyer. Patient-rated satisfaction was not significantly associated with objective injury or treatment factors. The only significant predictor of surgeon dissatisfaction was fracture non-union. Conclusions Orthopaedic surgeons overestimated the progress of the injury and the level of recovery compared to patients’ own ratings. Surgeons’ ratings were influenced by objective, treatment-related factors, whereas patients’ ratings were not. Measures of outcome commonly used by orthopaedic surgeons, such as fracture union, do not predict patient satisfaction. Level of evidence Level II evidence (prognostic, prospective study).

A Quantile Regression Analysis of Wages in Panama

AbstractDifferences in the effects of worker characteristics on wages in Panama at different points of the conditional wage distribution are investigated. Public sector employment increases wages relatively more at lower quantiles. Within the public sector, employment in that sector increases wages of the median worker and reduces wage inequality. Presence of a labor union increases relatively more private sector wages at lower quantiles. Unions reduce wage inequality within the union private sector and increase average wages within that sector. In the public sector, the presence of a labor union increases wages of men at lower quantiles at a lower rate than in the private sector. Self‐employment decreases wages at lower quantiles and increases wages at higher quantiles. Urban location affects wages in a U‐shaped pattern as one moves from lower to higher quantiles. Rates of return to experience are higher for men at higher quantiles. Experience increases men's wage inequality.

Disputes and Dispute Resolution: The Effect of Union Density on Employee Intention to Quit — An Indian Study

Research indicates that the factors that contribute to the adoption of dispute resolution mechanisms include the structure of the mechanisms, the role of the union steward, the applicable rights of the employees and the mandate and the relationship between the employer and the employee. A review of the existing literature suggests that employees in unionized workplaces have significantly more voice mechanisms present than in non-unionized workplaces. In India, historically, the trade unions have played the role of an agent of social and economic changes, protecting and enhancing the interest of its members and trying to squeeze more and more out of managements through bargaining or conflict. To achieve this, they have resorted to several means ranging from collective bargaining and representation to strikes and disruptive activities. Moreover, despite the presence of several industrial acts, the grievance procedures do not receive much attention due to complexities arising out of inarticulate treatment and lack of understanding of issues in bargaining, joint consultation, and grievance redressal by all the actors in the industrial relations system. Unions protect workers directly from arbitrary discipline while providing management with a means of managing the workforce that does not call on the use of overt sanctions since industrial action performed an additional voice function. The procedures for direct employee involvement in form of suggestion schemes, joint departmental councils, and open house meetings are seen to be successful only in the presence of a union. It is the presence of union officials in such forums and their pursuance of issues that indeed makes them effective. It is observed that meaningful and lasting employee participation occurs only when the union has sufficient power to induce the management to forgo some of its traditional prerogatives; the union and management share a vision of how participation could serve the interests of both the parties; and when the union has substantial institutional security. Presence of a powerful collective bargaining machinery and proactive communication between the management and the unions not only minimises the grievances but also promotes healthy industrial relations. Workers have a reduced capacity to initiate issues and articulate grievances in the non-unionized workplaces and they enjoy comparatively less benefits than their unionized counterparts. While workers joined unions because they thought unions could protect them against victimization, secure the wage increases, and ensure job security and improved conditions of work, on the other hand, in the absence of unions, employees may not raise disputes because of fear of victimization, fear of being branded disloyal to the organization, and fear of reprisals by the management. Based on the literature review and analysis, a framework linking union density, employee prolificacy to raise disputes, management propensity to make decisions unilaterally, and workers intention to quit has been suggested.

Governance in a union environment

AbstractThe presence of a faculty union in a community college has a significant impact on its governance. This chapter offers recommendations for dealing with the challenges presented by collective bargaining in the postsecondary education environment.

Dispute Handling Capability: Morphology and Modalities — Development of a Model

Dispute handling capability is a critical resource in society given that disputes are an ever present reality in social, economic and political activity spheres. Over the years, there has been a surfeit of scholarly endeavour in the social sciences and in applied fields of research in understanding the morphology and substance of disputes. The main contribution of the current study to this genre of research would be to examine one important aspect of this area of research — dispute handling capability. The study has been carried out in the discovery mode and is an exploratory study since repeated literature searches before, during and after this study have yielded little information about this construct, although there is considerable work on disputes and dispute resolution. The study to conceptualize Dispute Handling Capability and propose its modalities, took a 3-phase approach. In Phase 1, relevant studies were scanned to gain some insights into the concept of dispute handling capability. Subsequently, in Phase 2, the study analysed 30 incidents from the Mahabharata. Incidents of disputes were outlined, described, analysed, and insights were drawn from them to further sharpen the understanding of the phenomenon and to generate items for its measurement. Armed with sharper understanding of dispute handling capability, in Phase 3, an interview checklist, was created and a connection was made with subjects through exploratory interviews. The study has identified the Morphology of Dispute Handling Capability (DHC) in terms of five dimensions — Artfulness, Diplomacy, Detachedness, Fair Mindedness and Sagacity. Further the study also tried to capture the modalities of DHC in terms of its correlates. The study suggests that socio-economic correlates in terms of age, work experience, gender, marital status, number of children, caste, education, family income, and personality type could be correlated with DHC. Among organizational correlates, organizational culture, presence of union, product type, organizational profile and organizational workforce profile could be correlated with DHC. Dispute Handling Training is also expected to be correlated with DHC. These correlates would help in understanding DHC modalities in the social and organizational spheres. The study is a pioneering endeavour to examine the concept of dispute handling capability (DHC) and to identify the socio-economic and organizational correlates of DHC. From the practitioner's point of view, the study will help in diagnosing DHC of individuals, which can form the basis of mentoring and coaching programmes designed to develop these capabilities in executives.

A non-Walrasian labor market in a monetary model of the business cycle

This paper investigates to what extent a new Keynesian, monetary model with the addition of a microfounded, non-Walrasian labor market solely based on union bargaining is able to replicate key aspects of the business cycle. The presence of a representative union offers an explanation for two features of the cycle. First, it generates an endogenous mechanism which produces persistent responses to both supply and demand shocks. Second, labor unionization reduces the elasticity of marginal costs to output. This leads to lower inflation volatility. Model simulations show that the unionized framework can better reproduce European business cycle data than can a model with a competitive labor market.

Open Shop Unions and Product Market Competition

In this paper we analyse the impact of changes in product market competition on wage outcomes in the presence of an open shop union. With less than full union membership, product market competition is shown to affect not only a unionised firm's profits but also its payoff in the event of a dispute. In contrast to the prediction of the standard model, increases in product market competition may now increase wage levels. The model is therefore able to accommodate the mixed empirical findings regarding the impact of product market competition on union wages.

Assessment of Bony Union following Surgical Stabilisation for Lumbar Spondylolysis: A Comparative Study between Radiography and Computed Tomography

To compare the status of bony union seen on plain radiography versus computed tomography (CT) following tension band repair for refractory spondylolysis. 14 patients (12 men and 2 women; mean age, 23 years; age range, 16-56 years) with a mean follow-up period of 6.35 years were included. All patients were operated on by one senior surgeon using either a Scott procedure (n=2) or van Dam modification of the Scott procedure (n=12). Bony union of the pars was assessed using both plain radiography (anteroposterior, lateral, and oblique views) and reverse gantry CT. The presence of bony union was determined if a bridging bone was shown in the images. The Oswestry Disability Index was measured at 6-year follow-up. 13 (93%) of 14 patients showed bony union on plain/oblique radiographs versus 7 (50%) on CT scan. The mean Oswestry Disability Index was 28 (good to excellent). The high incidence of nonunion shown on CT scanning did not correlate well with clinical results. Bony nonunion is more difficult to visualise on plain radiographs than reverse gantry CT. CT demonstrates more clearly the presence or absence of the bridging bone. Clinical results do not correlate with bony union, indicating that bony union is not required to achieve good results.

A “Managerial” trade union and economic growth

By setting up a simple Romer-type [Romer, P.M., 1989. Capital accumulation in the theory of long-run growth. In: Barro, R.J. (Ed.), Modern Business Cycle Theory. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA] endogenous growth model embodying a political trade union (rather than the traditional economic labor union), this paper explores the effects of unionization on unemployment, growth and welfare by highlighting the essence of internal conflict within the union. It is shown that the conflicting interests between the leadership and membership within the union play a decisive role in the unemployment, growth and welfare effects of unionization. Given the fact that taxation is another potential candidate besides unions in explaining the poor performance of a macro-economy, we re-examine the taxation effects within the growth model with equilibrium unemployment caused by the presence of the trade union and compare our findings with those for the traditional full-employment growth model. In general, we find that the taxation effects of income and consumption crucially depend not only on the institutional arrangements for taxing unemployment benefits, but also on the way the government budget is balanced.

Papillary carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile duct: characteristic features and implications in surgical treatment.

Papillary carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile duct presents clinically and histologically distinct features relevant to surgical decision-making. Serial sections of 15 specimens of resected papillary carcinoma of the bile duct were histologically examined to determine mode of spread, possibility of multicentric tumor origins, and coincidence with other neoplastic lesions. The presence of anomalous pancreaticobiliary ductal union was also investigated. These characteristics were considered with regard to surgical treatment. Three patients displaying pancreaticobiliary maljunction and one of three patients with a long common channel (> or = 8 mm) exhibited multicentric tumors. Eight patients (53%) demonstrated superficial spread along a mean length of 37.8 mm (range, 5 to 67 mm) of bile duct mucosa. Multicentric tumors developed synchronously in 4 patients, while metachronous tumors were identified in three patients displaying tumor histology similar to the primary lesions. Two of these three underwent successful repeated resection. Concomitant neoplastic lesions in the biliary tract were identified as mucosal dysplasia in four patients and cholangiocellular carcinoma of the liver in two. All tumors but one were removed via hepatic lobectomy or pancreatoduodenectomy, or both, resulting in a 5-year survival rate of 60%. Aggressive resection offers clear survival benefits for patients presenting with tumors displaying extensive superficial spread or multicentric origins. Closer attention should be paid to long common channels in relation to carcinogenesis of the bile duct, in addition to pancreaticobiliary maljunction. The risk of secondary tumor development remains, particularly in patients with pancreaticobiliary maljunction even after excision of the tumor-bearing extrahepatic bile duct.

How Labour Markets affect Trade Policies and Trade: The Case of the Foreign Labour Union

This paper highlights the point that the presence of a foreign union affects significantly the characterization of domestic trade policies, and thus, trade. Specifically, both the objective functions of the foreign union and the nature of interactions between the foreign firm and the foreign union are important determinants of the sign and magnitudes of the domestic trade policies. The importance of the foreign union effect holds regardless of whether the domestic trade policies are politically motivated or whether they are set to maximize national welfare. The foreign union effect is also present with or without a domestic producer.