Strike Incidence Research Articles

The effects of industrial conflicts and strikes in Nigeria: A socio-economic analysis

The main thrust of this paper is to analyse and discuss the socio-economic implications of industrial conflicts, particularly strikes, in Nigeria. Industrial conflict was identified as the discord that occurs when the goals, interest or values of different individuals or groups in an industrial setting are incompatible. This conflict is however, inevitable. Such attributes like refusal of union recognition, public policies, failure of collective bargaining, etc, were identified as some of the reasons and causes of industrial conflicts. However, the paper identified that the strike incidence and propensity in Nigeria are alarming. This paper further averred that while industrial conflicts, strikes and work stoppages affect tremendously the economic development of Nigeria through low national productivity, it also has serious sociological consequences such as the dislocation and severance of the socialisation function of work. The paper therefore, recommended that all stakeholders involved in industrial relations should adopt systematic and sustainable mechanisms – including collective bargaining in addition to political solutions toward arresting the embarrassing, incessant and recurring spate of strikes.

Protective Effects of Morus alba Leaves Extract on Ocular Functions of Pups from Diabetic and Hypercholesterolemic Mother Rats

Phytotherapy is frequently considered to be less toxic and free from side effects than synthetic drugs. Hence, the present study was designed to investigate the protective use of crude water extract of Morus alba leaves on ocular functions including cataractogenesis, biochemical diabetic and hypercholesterolemic markers, retinal neurotransmitters and retinopathy of rat pups maternally subjected to either diabetes and/or hypercholesterolemia. Application of crude water extract of Morus alba resulted in amelioration of the alterations of maternal serum glucose, LDL, HDL, total cholesterol and creatine phosphokinase activity as well as retinal neurotransmitters including acetylcholine (ACE), adrenaline (AD), nor-adrenaline (NAD), serotonin (5-HT), histamine (HS), dopamine (DA) and gamma amino butyric acid (GABA). The retina of pups of either diabetic and/or hypercholesterolemia mothers exhibited massive alterations of retinal neurotransmitters. The alterations of retinal neurotransmitters were correlated with the observed pathological alterations of retinal pigmented epithelium, photoreceptor inner segment and ganglion cells and increased incidence of DNA fragmentation and apoptosis cell death. However, protection with Morus alba extract led to amelioration of the pathological alterations of retinal neurons and estimated neurotransmitters. Furthermore, a striking incidence of cataract was detected in pups of either diabetic and/or hypercholesterolemic mothers. Highest cataractogenesis was observed in pups of combined -treated groups. Our data indicate that experimental maternal diabetes alone or in combination with hypercholesterolemia led to alteration in the ocular structures of their pups, with an increasing incidence of cataract and retinopathy, and the effects of the extract might be attributed to the hypoglycaemic, antihypercholesterolemic and anti-oxidative potential of flavonoids, the major components of the plant extract.

Climate change and livestock parasites: integrated management of sheep blowfly strike in a warmer environment

The incidence of parasite-mediated livestock disease is the result of a complex interaction of factors such as parasite and host abundance, host susceptibility, climate and, critically, farmer husbandry and intervention strategies, all of which change seasonally in space and time. Given the complexity of the interacting factors, the effects of environment changes on disease incidence are hard to predict, as accordingly are the optimal husbandry responses required to ameliorate any effects. Here a model system is used to explore these issues. Cutaneous myiasis (blowfly strike) is common disease of livestock and would be expected to be highly sensitive to even small changes in climate; it provides a good model for highlighting the problems inherent in attempting to predict the effect of climate change on livestock disease incidence. For this, a stochastic simulation model is used to examine the changes in the seasonal incidence of ovine cutaneous myiasis on farms in the United Kingdom and the likely effects of changes in husbandry and control strategies. The simulations show that the range of elevated temperatures predicted by current climate change scenarios result in an elongated blowfly season with earlier spring emergence and a higher cumulative incidence of strike. Overall, higher temperatures increased strike incidence disproportionately in ewes in early summer, but had relatively less direct effect on the pattern of lamb strike incidence; a +3 °C increase in average temperature approximately doubles the cumulative incidence of strike in lambs but results in four times more strikes in ewes. A range of strike management options is examined and the models show that changes in husbandry practices are also likely to have an important effect in reducing early season ewe strike incidences. The simulations suggest that integrated changes in husbandry practices are likely to be able to manage expected increases in strike, given the range of climate changes currently predicted.

Cytoplasmic Nucleophosmin (NPMc+) Mutations and FMS-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 (Flt3) Internal Tandem Duplication (ITD) Mutations Cooperate to Cause Leukemia In a Mouse Model

AbstractAbstract 145NPMc+ mutations occur in up to 60% of adult and 20% of childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with normal karyotype. Flt3 ITD mutations occur in 25% of adult and 15% of childhood AML. Flt3 ITD mutations occur twice as frequently in patients with NPMc+ mutations compared to those who lack a NPMc+ mutation. The presence of Flt3 ITD portends a poor prognosis. NPMc+ is associated with improved outcome, but only in the absence of a concomitant Flt3 ITD mutations. Given the high frequency with which these mutations occur together it is plausible that they cooperate to cause leukemia. However, this has yet to be demonstrated experimentally.To examine this, we crossed mice expressing a knock-in of an 18-bp ITD mutation in the juxtamembrane domain of the murine Flt3 gene (Flt3 wt/ITD) with transgenic mice expressing Flag-tagged type A NPMc+ mutation driven by the myeloid-specific human MRP8 promoter. Flt3wt/ITD mice develop a fatal myeloproliferative disorder (Li L, et al. Blood. 2008;111:3849-58) and NPMc+ transgenic mice develop a non-fatal myeloproliferation (Cheng K, et al. Blood. 2010;115-18), but neither develop leukemia, suggesting that cooperating events are required. Progeny were characterized by: 1) H&E staining of peripheral blood smears, bone marrow (BM) cytospins, and spleen sections; 2) FACS analysis of BM cells, splenocytes and thymocytes to determine the disease phenotype; 3) RT PCR to examine the expression of Flt3 ITD and NPMc+; and 4) immunofluorescence (IF) using an anti-Flag antibody to determine localization of the NPMc+ protein.Mice harboring both mutations develop acute leukemia with a median onset of 285 days (Figure 1). All the leukemic mice exhibit a moribund appearance, leukocytosis (mean WBC 69.3±32.7 vs 11.7±8.3K/μ L in wt/wt mice), splenomegaly (mean weight 0.63±0.3 vs 0.12±0.02g in wt/wt mice), anemia and thrombocytopenia. Four disease phenotypes based on FACS and histologic analysis have been observed (Figure 2). Thirty-three percent develop AML with infiltration of the BM and spleen with Mac1+/Gr1+ myeloblasts. Thiry-three percent develop T cell ALL with infiltration of BM, spleen, thymuses and other organs with abnormal CD3+/CD4+/CD8+ lymphoblasts. An additional 33% develop a mixed phenotype acute T/myeloid leukemia with both Mac1+/Gr1+ myeloblasts and CD3+/CD4+/CD8+ lymphoblasts. One mouse developed an undifferentiated acute leukemia with primitive blasts expressing no markers specific for either lymphoid or myeloid lineage. RT-PCR of bulk leukemia cells demonstrates expression of NPMc+ and Flt3 ITD. IF of BM cells from leukemic mice demonstrates cytoplasmic localization of the NPMc+ protein.In summary, we have utilized a mouse model to demonstrate that NPMc+ and Flt3 ITD mutations cooperate to cause leukemia. Many of the mice with both mutations develop myeloid leukemia with features similar to the human disease. There is also a striking incidence of T cell leukemia, which is particularly interesting as the NPMc+ mutation is driven by the myeloid-specific hMRP8 promotor. It is possible that there is aberrant expression of NPMc+ in lymphoid cells due to position effects of the transgene or the activation of an endogenous leukemogenic retrovirus. Other disease models using this promoter have documented similar phenomenon (Jaiswal, et al. PNAS. 2003;100:10002-7). There is a long latency of disease onset which may be due to a relatively low level of expression of NPMc+ or because additional genetic or epigenetic events are required. Perhaps the Flt3 ITD mutation causes proliferation and NPMc+ impairs DNA repair resulting in the accumulation of additional mutations that contribute to leukemogenesis.This mouse model provides the first in vivo model of NPMc+/Flt3 ITD+ leukemia. The model will allow for the further study of this disease entity, including the examination of involved pathways and the exploration for potential therapeutic targets.Kaplan-Meier Survival Curve. Mice with both NPMc+ and Flt3 ITD mutations have a median survival of 413 days.FACS analysis of leukemic mice BM cells and thymocytes. Mice with AML have cKit+/Mac1+/Gr1+ myelobasts. Mice with T cell ALL have infiltration of the BM, spleen (not shown) and thymus with CD3+/CD4+/CD8+ lymphoblasts. Mice with T/myeloid leukemia have both Mac1+/Gr1+ myeloblasts and CD3+/CD4+/CD8+ lymphoblasts. Leukemic mice have depletion of maturing Ter119+ erythroid cells. [Display omitted] [Display omitted] Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Hydrodynamics of a ship/whale collision

All endangered large whale species are vulnerable to collisions with large ships; and “ship strikes” are the greatest known threat to one of the world's rarest whales, the North Atlantic right whale ( Eubalaena glacialis). The magnitude of this threat is likely to increase as maritime commerce expands. Factors influencing the incidence and severity of ship strikes are not well understood, although vessel speed appears to be a strong contributor. The purpose of this study was to characterize the hydrodynamic effects near a moving hull that may cause a whale to be drawn to or repelled from the hull, and to assess the accelerations exerted on a whale at the time of impact. Using scale models of a container ship and a right whale in experimental flow tanks, we assessed hydrodynamic effects and measured accelerations experienced by the whale model in the presence of a moving vessel. Accelerations at impact were measured while the whale was at the surface, for various vessel speeds, orientations of the whale relative to the vessel path, and distances off the direct path of the vessel. Accelerations experienced by the whale model in a collision: increased in magnitude with increasing ship speed; were not dependent on whale orientation to the vessel path; and decreased exponentially with increasing separation distances from the ship track. Subsequent experiments with the whale model submerged at one to two times the ship's draft indicated a pronounced propeller suction effect, a drawing of the whale toward the hull, and increased probability of propeller strikes resulting from this class of encounter. Measured accelerations are a proxy for impact severity, but do not constitute a detailed study of injury mechanism in a living animal, though they may help inform future work. We present a heuristic map of the hydrodynamic field around a transiting hull likely involved in close whale/vessel encounters. These results may have bearing on policy decisions, particularly those involving vessel speed, aimed at protecting large whales from ship strikes worldwide.

Athletic Status and Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/ Cardiomyopathy: From Physiological Observations to Pathological Explanation

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) is a heritable condition characterized by replacement of cardiomyocytes, primarily in the right ventricle, by fibrofatty tissue. A number of genetic studies have identified mutations in various components of cardiac desmosomes that appear to precede fibrofatty replacement. The resulting disruption of normal myocardial architecture in ARVD/C results in right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, life-threatening arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. There is a striking incidence of athletic individuals affected by this disease. Currently there is no explanation for the association between athletic activity and development of ARVD/C. The goal of this paper is to suggest that increased levels of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species, secondary to endurance exercise, initiates a cascade of reactions leading to fibrofatty changes in the RV and thus ARVD/C. This involves increased expression of adipogenic and fibrogenic genes as one of the steps in pathogenesis. According to the hypothesis, arrhythmias can happen in the presence or absence of pathological changes secondary to NO effects on remodeling and ion channels, respectively. Furthermore, the different effects of prolonged exercise on the RV and left ventricle (LV) could help explain the incidence of ARVD/C as a primarily RV disease. Verification of this hypothesis would have prognostic and management implications. Drugs inhibiting NO production might benefit patients with ARVD/C. A better understanding of exercise physiology in terms of NO production would help to redefine the management scheme in terms of exercise in patients with ARVD/C. A redirection of research towards identification of special physiological markers would be appropriate, and may reveal additional steps leading from tissue exposure to NO, to pathological changes.

New mitigation measures reducing seabird by‐catch in trawl fisheries

AbstractThis paper provides an update on an earlier review [Fish & Fisheries 8 (2007) 31] of mitigation methods used to reduce seabird by‐catch in trawl fisheries. Interactions of seabirds with trawl vessels fall into two broad categories: those focused on the trawl warps and those focused around trawl nets. For reducing seabird strikes on trawl warps, the use of bird‐scaring lines has been proved to be the most effective mitigation device in the trawl fisheries in which comparative studies have been undertaken. However, the retention or strategic management of fish waste (offal and discards) is recommended as the most effective primary measure for by‐catch reduction, and as such should be viewed as the best long‐term solution to reducing seabird by‐catch in trawl fisheries. Coincident with effective fish waste management, measures such as cleaning the net prior to shooting and reducing the time the net is on the surface should be viewed as best practice measures and incorporated into normal fishing activities. While a number of methods have been trialled to reduce the incidence of warp strikes, there continues to be the need for more work on effective measures for reducing interactions of seabirds with the trawl net.

Fatal Lightning Strikes in Malaysia

Lightning strike is a natural phenomenon with potentially devastating effects and represents one of the important causes of deaths from environmental phenomena. Almost every organ system may be affected as lightning current passes through the human body taking the shortest pathways between the contact points. A 10 years retrospective study (1996-2005) was conducted at University Hospital Kuala Lumpur (20 cases) also including cases during last 3 years from Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, Klang (7 cases) from the autopsy reports at Forensic Pathology Units of these 2 hospitals. Both these hospitals are attached to University of Malaya. There were 27 fatal cases of lightning strike with male preponderance(92.59%) and male to female ratio of 12.5:1. Majority of victims of lightning strike were from the age group between 30 and 39 years old. Most of the victims were foreign workers. Indonesians workers contributed to 59.26% of overall cases. Majority of them were construction workers who attributed i.e.11 of 27 cases (40.74%). Most of the victims were brought in dead (37.04%). In majority of the cases the lightning incidence occurred in the evenings, with the frequency of 15 of 27 cases (62.5%). The month of December represented with the highest number of cases (5 cases of 23 cases); 2004 had the highest incidence of lightning strike which was 5 (19.23%). Lightning strike incidence occurred when victims had taken shelter (25.9%) under trees or shades. Lightning strike in open areas occurred in 10 of 27 cases (37.0%). Head and neck were the most commonly affected sites with the incidence of 77.78% and 74% respectively in all the victims. Only 29.63% of the cases presented with ear bleeding.

Strategic use of crutching and dicyclanil to protect unmulesed sheep against breech strike

To test strategies for the application of dicyclanil and mid-season crutching to maximise protection of unmulesed sheep against breech strike. Three hundred and eighty unmulesed Merino weaners were randomly allocated to four groups either left untreated or treated by different strategies with 50 g/L dicyclanil. Treatments included breech treatment alone and breech plus body treatment, with two application times, immediately after shearing and 6 weeks after crutching or shearing. To assess protection, larval implants with newly hatched Lucilia cuprina larvae were applied to 10 different sheep from each group at 3, 4, 5 and 6 months after crutching and shearing and assessed for the development of strike at 48 hours. The concentration of dicyclanil was measured in wool samples clipped from the breeches of the test sheep. All dicyclanil treatments gave significant reduction in strike in comparison to controls up until 4 months after crutching but protection in the sheep treated immediately after shearing had waned at 5 months. Treating at 6 weeks after crutching provided significant reduction (P < 0.05) in strike for 6 months. Results for strike incidence immediately after shearing and concentration of dicyclanil in the breech wool also suggested improvements in protection by delaying treatment for 6 weeks. In most environments it should be possible to protect unmulesed sheep against breech strike with a carefully planned integrated control program incorporating strategically timed crutching, shearing and dicyclanil application. Delaying treatment with dicyclanil to at least 6 weeks after shearing or crutching increased the protection provided in comparison to treatment immediately after shearing.

The Impact of Anti-Temporary Replacement Legislation on Work Stoppages: Empirical Evidence from Canada

Legislation that prevents the hiring of temporary replacement workers during a work stoppage is controversial. “Anti-temporary replacement worker” legislation (ATR) or “anti-scab” legislation is currently in effect in Quebec and British Columbia and existed for a short period of time in Ontario. This paper uses variation over time (1978–2003) and across provinces to provide empirical evidence concerning the impact of ATR on work stoppages. The results show that ATR increases strike incidence and decreases strike length—both effects are statistically significant and substantial in magnitude. Incidence and length have opposing effects on days lost to work stoppages. Empirical results provide weak evidence that anti-scab legislation may increase days lost to work stoppages in the first two years after the legislation takes effect but no evidence that such legislation has a statistically significant effect on days lost when it has been in effect for more than two years.

The Impact of Anti-Temporary Replacement Legislation on Work Stoppages: Empirical Evidence from Canada

Legislation that prevents the hiring of temporary replacement workers during a work stoppage is controversial. “Anti-temporary replacement worker” legislation (ATR) or “anti-scab” legislation is currently in effect in Quebec and British Columbia and existed for a short period of time in Ontario. This paper uses variation over time (1978–2003) and across provinces to provide empirical evidence concerning the impact of ATR on work stoppages. The results show that ATR increases strike incidence and decreases strike length—both effects are statistically significant and substantial in magnitude. Incidence and length have opposing effects on days lost to work stoppages. Empirical results provide weak evidence that anti-scab legislation may increase days lost to work stoppages in the first two years after the legislation takes effect but no evidence that such legislation has a statistically significant effect on days lost when it has been in effect for more than two years.

Labor Market Deregulation and Industrial Conflict in New Democracies: A Cross-National Analysis

This article studies the effect of recent labor market reforms on industrial relations in new democracies (1994–2003). The literature on labor politics posits two channels through which labor market deregulation may relate to industrial conflict. Wage deregulation may lower wage costs, increasing industrial conflict. Employment deregulation, however, can reduce the ability of workers to act collectively. Using methods uniquely suited for panel data analysis, the study reveals a number of important findings. First, whereas labor quiescence went hand in hand with relatively modest increases in earnings in a number of established democracies, modest wage increases are generally linked with more labor militancy in new democracies. Higher wage and employment regulation minimize wage reductions, lowering the incidence of strikes. Finally, wage regulation has the largest effect on aggregate wages and consequently on the incidence of strikes and lockouts.

Herman Melville: an introduction

Texts and Abbreviations. List of Illustrations. Acknowledgments. Preface. Part I: Introduction. 1. Melville's Life. 2. 'Agatha' and the Invention of Narrative. Part II: Melville's Early Yarns. 3. 'Making Literary Use of the Story': Typee and Omoo. 4. 'A Regular Story Founded on Striking Incidents': Mardi, Redburn, and White-Jacket. Part III: Writing New Gospel in Moby-Dick and Pierre. 5. 'So Much of Pathos & So Much of Depth': Moby-Dick. 6. 'All Tender Obligations': Pierre. Part IV: Turning a New Leaf: Short Fiction, Israel Potter, and The Confidence-Man. 7. 'A Leaf from Professional Experience': Short Fiction of the 1850s. 8. 'Peculiarly Latitudinarian Notions': Israel Potter and The Confidence-Man. Part V: Melville's Later Career. 9. 'Fulness & Veins & Beauty': Battle-Pieces and Clarel. 10. 'Different Considerations': Late Poetry. 11. 'Instinct with Significance': Billy Budd. Afterword: 'Restoring To You Your Own Property': Owning Melville. Appendix: The 'Agatha' Correspondence. Notes. Bibliography. Index

Union Competition and Strikes: The Need for Analysis at the Sector Level

International comparative research has found that strike incidence is higher where two or more unions bargain with an employer (“multi-unionism”), as is common in most European countries, than where only one union does, all else equal. Two proposed explanations for this relationship, both invoking inter-union rivalry as the main dynamic, are that under multi-unionism, unions (a) make propagandistic use of strikes to attract members, or (b) compete with each other by bidding up bargaining demands. To date, the evidence bearing on these hypotheses has been equivocal because, the author argues, researchers have focused on activity at the national level rather than at the lower levels that are more commonly the nexus for strike formation. The author performs empirical tests using industry-sector-level data for seven European countries for the years 1990–2006, and finds evidence clearly favoring the competitive bargaining hypothesis over the propaganda hypothesis.

Incidence of ship strikes of large whales in Washington State

Ship strikes of large whales cause mortalities worldwide, but there is uncertainty regarding the frequency and species involved. We examined 130 records (from 1980–2006) of large whale strandings in Washington State. Nineteen strandings (seven species) had evidence of ship-strikes. Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) had the highest incidence of ante-mortem ship strike (five of seven, with the remaining two possibly post-mortem) and all but one occurring since 2002. Six grey whales (Eschrichtius robustus) suffered ‘possible ship strike’ injuries, likely the result of their large numbers in the area, rather than high levels of ship strikes. Only one possible ship-struck humpback whale was recorded, despite concentrations of humpbacks feeding within shipping lanes in this region. This study shows dramatic differences in occurrences of ship-struck large whales by species, which we believe results from a combination of species' vulnerability to ship strikes, and how likely a struck whale is to be caught up on the bow of a ship and brought to waters where it can be examined.

Free Mediastinal Foreign Bodies: 5-year Experience and Review of Literature

A prospective study of the free mediastinal foreign bodies was conducted over a 5-year period. A protocol was designed and the needed data were collated and studies. A thorough search of local and international literature was conducted. We collected data on the ages, gender distribution, types of foreign bodied involved, routes of entry and the management profile of all the patients. The foreign bodies that were confined in the thoracic organs were excluded. Only 7 patients met the study criteria. One of the patients swallowed Lukudi, a six-year-old girl fell on lead pencil which penetrated her anterior mediastinum. All the 7 patients were successfully managed. The conclusions are the strictly free mediastinal foreign bodies are rare and there is a paucity of local reports on the topic. A striking incidence about a learned African who believed that he could make magical money brings to fore the need for public enlightenment against such practice. The evolving world of endoscopic surgery throws a challenge towards the future management of these types of cases. We need to do more in this part of the world. NQJHM Vol. 13 (3-4) 2003: pp. 11-13

Deficiency of the effector mechanisms of the immune response and autoimmunity.

It has long been the conventional wisdom that most autoimmune responses represent a pathological aberration of the immune system and a great deal of effort has been devoted to investigating how such abnormal responses may be induced. It seems likely, however, particularly in the form of autoimmunity seen in diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (LE) and associated with immune complex disease, that it is not the induction of the autoimmune response that is primarily abnormal, but its persistence, and that this abnormal persistence is a consequence of a failure of the proper functioning of the effector mechanisms of the immune response. The strongest reason for so believing is the striking incidence of these diseases in subjects with deficiencies of the early components of the classical complement pathway. Total, homozygous deficiencies are rare and account for only a small proportion of patients with systemic LE. However, partial, heterozygous deficiency of these components is much commoner and also carries an increased susceptibility to these diseases. An explanation for this association is given. In the presence of an adequately functioning complement system immune complexes remain soluble and of relatively small size. It is proposed that this is a result of the incorporation of C4 and C3 into the antigen-antibody lattice leading to a reduction in the effective valency of antigen and antibody. The Goldberg theory of immune precipitation predicts that a reduction in valency would inhibit precipitation and the formation of large complexes. In the absence of adequate complement function this mechanism will fail and large, potentially insoluble complexes with little C4 and C3 on them will be formed. These large immune complexes without sufficient C4 and C3 bound on them will also not be bound normally to erythrocyte CR1 and will therefore be transported in the (peripheral) plasma stream rather than in the (central) erythrocyte stream. It is proposed that this will result in the deposition of immune complexes in peripheral small blood vessels rather than in the sinusoids of the liver and spleen; and that this peripheral deposition gives rise to inflammation, with the release of autoantigens and the formation of further autoantibodies. The importance of CR1 in relation to these diseases is emphasized by the reduction in CR1 numbers that accompanies their active phase. This appears to be due to proteolysis of the receptor while the immune complex-bearing erythrocyte is sequestered in the reticuloendothelial system.

Fly abundance and climate as determinants of sheep blowfly strike incidence in southwest England

The relationships between abundance of the blowfly Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), climate, animal management procedures and the incidence of cutaneous myiasis (blowfly strike) in sheep were examined in three sheep pasture systems in southwest England during the summers of 2002 and 2003. In each year, flies were collected using liver-baited sticky targets, daily weather and routine husbandry practices were noted and the age-class of each animal infested and body position of each strike were recorded. On sites where no strike control was used, 5.8-12.1% of ewes and 5.7-15.8% of lambs were struck. Ewe strikes predominated at the beginning of the season. The incidence of ewe strikes was significantly associated with higher mean temperature, rainfall and shearing; shearing was associated with a 95% reduction in the risk of ewe strike. In lambs, the incidence of strike was significantly related to higher fly abundance, ewe shearing, treatment and mean ambient temperature. Lambs were 4.6 times more likely to be struck after the ewes had been shorn than before; however, the strongest relationship was with mean L. sericata abundance. Average minimum threshold temperatures of 9.5 degrees C for lamb strikes and 8.5 degrees C for all strikes were extrapolated, below which oviposition did not occur. Over 80% of ewe strikes occurred in the breech region in 2002, as did 100% in 2003. However, in lambs both body and breech strikes occurred in both years. The distribution of lamb strikes appeared to change over time, with breech strikes predominating in May, June and July and body strikes occurring increasingly later in the season. The incidence of lamb breech strikes was significantly associated with higher L. sericata abundance and ewe shearing but there was no relationship with weather conditions. By contrast, the risk of body strike in lambs was significantly associated with higher blowfly abundance, higher rainfall and higher maximum temperatures. The relationship between strike incidence and L. sericata abundance is important because it enhances our understanding of strike incidence patterns and management of this disease. Clearly, any factors that facilitate larger L. sericata populations, such as inappropriate carcass burial or increased average ambient temperatures, are likely to increase the incidence of strike.

In this edition

In this edition

CUPE on Strike, 1963-2004

CUPE On Strike offers a profile of the 1502 CUPE strikes since the union's inception in 1963 until 2004. In addition to breakdowns by province and industry, it considers strike incidence over time, duration, size of strikes, contract status, results, and the pattern of lockouts and rotating strikes. Like the overall Canadian strike profile, a majority of strikes are in small workplaces and are settled relatively quickly. Not surprisingly, CUPE strikes are clustered in Public Administration, and Health Care and Social Assistance. This demographic might help to explain the fact that CUPE has been involved in fewer wildcats, lockouts and strikes for first contracts than other unions. Although the overall trend for Canada since the 1990s has been a decrease in strikes, a modest shift in the last five years is evident in the data. For CUPE, this means more workers on strike, longer strikes, and more lockouts, all of which suggest an escalation in employer aggression. The Canadian data which highlight increasing public sector militancy and the feminization of that militancy suggest that CUPE will be a key player in the map of labour militancy in the future. This profile of the strike activities of CUPE, the largest union in Canada, makes visible the experience of strikes from the point of view of workers and their unions. Not only does it contribute to a labour militancy perspective on the quantitative data on work stoppages from Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC), it also demonstrates the potential of the data to enrich our understanding of worker militancies.