Union Experience Research Articles

The Complex of Androcentrism and the Mystery of Omoousion Other

The mystery of the one-triune God sheds light onto the mystery of the one-dyadic human being. In their union, man and woman experience life as a loving communion, which means, as a mutual indwelling of difference and unity. The Fall brought about an adversarial existence between man and woman and set gender as a priority over personhood. Male-centredness lowers the woman into an idol or an object, thus dehumanizing or depersonalizing her. Christ restores the relationship of man and woman as a mystery where the absolute otherness of the persons, but also their indivisible unity are both elevated at the same time.

Gender in Store: Salespeople's Working Hours and Union Organisation in New Zealand and the United States, 1930-60

Explanations for the weakness of retail employees' unions have often emphasised that a high proportion of salespeople were women with low attachment to the labour force and unions. Comparing the experience of salespeople's unions in Wellington (New Zealand) and Saint Paul (Minnesota), this paper shows instead that perceptions of women as consumers shaped the political environment in which retail unions tried to control working hours. After 1930s legislation in both countries denied salespeople the 40 hour week other occupations had been granted, retail unions in Saint Paul and Wellington focussed their efforts on achieving a 40 hour, five-day week. While both unions were successful in gaining their 40 hour week, when that goal had been accomplished they lost the commitment of their members, revealing the structural limitations of craft-based unionism trying to organise workers in an industry which was organised on merchandise, not functional, principles.

“Otherwise you’re on your own”: unions and bargaining in Malaysian banking

Bank unionism illustrates some of the diverse experiences of Malaysian unions in a seemingly hostile legislative environment. The National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) is a powerful union that contrasts with in‐house unions in several banks and which shows that it is not impossible for Malaysian unions to organise and secure gains for members. Its experience illustrates the importance for union prosperity of: workplace union activity; the capacity to protect members from insecurity and arbitrary treatment; workplace reform strategies; internal discourse; education and training; union culture; creative and strategic approaches to industrial action; and the role of politics in industrial relations.

Russian/Former Soviet Union Experience in Professional Small Telescope Usage

FSU astronomers traditionally use small telescopes (⊘ ≤1.5 m, hereafter STs) for both science and education. Russian/FSU experience here is among the largest world-wide. There are only 2 large and moderate-sized facilities in whole Russia: the 6 m telescope of SAO RAS and Russian-Ukrainian 2 m one on the 3100 m high peak Terskol in Central Caucasus.Equipped with good light receivers and handled by skilled observers, STs can produce first class scientific data. Important results are typically yielded by long-time sequences of observations and/or new observational “know how”: good instrument/receiver design, appropriate selection of objects and moments, etc. Examples of what has been done with STs in FSU, within my memory, (in the last ≃ 1/3 century) are listed below, without a list of references, because of lack of space. The author plans to publish a larger article on this subject in Astr.&Aph.Trans.

Russian/Former Soviet Union Experience in Small Telescope Usage for Investigation of Interstellar Matter (ISM) and Nebulae

The deepest tradition in ISM study in the optical range was built in Russia/FSU by V.Fessenkov, the founder of Fessenkov Astrophysical (Aph) Institute (AFIF, Kazakhstan) and G.Shain (Crimean Aph.Obs. - CrAO, Ukraine). The tradition was handed over to SAI (Moscow) by I. Shklovski and S.Pikelner, to Abastumani Aph. Obs. (AAO, Georgia), where a catalogue of dark nebulae (Khavtassi, 1960) was produced, and to Byurakan Aph. Obs. (BAO, Armenia).For a long time 0.3-0.7 m telescopes were used for determination of interstellar extinction in the Galaxy by the standard technique (SAI; Engelhart Astron. Obs. of Kazan Univ., Russia; AAO; BAO and others. The most sophisticated investigations were carried out in Lithuania (e.g. Straizys, 1977; Sudzius, 1974).

Trade Unions in an Elitist Society: The Singapore Story

In the Singapore model of industrial relations, the trade unions are said to be in a “special relationship” with the government. On the surface this special relationship looks suspiciously like the government exercises straightforward top‐down corporatist control. This paper argues that despite being basically correct, such an understanding is overly simplistic because it ignores modest, but nevertheless real elements of inclusion. The paper focuses on the experience of the trade unions in the first half of the 1980s to argue this case, and to consider both the strengths and weaknesses of the Singapore system of corporatist trade unionism.

Routes to Children's Economic Recovery after Divorce: Are Cohabitation and Remarriage Equivalent?

Are maternal cohabitation and remarriage equivalent routes to the economic recovery of children and their mothers following parental divorce and separation? Unlike previous studies that have been primarily cross-sectional in design, this study uses panel data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth-Child Supplement to make both absolute and relative comparisons of potential economic returns. Also investigated is how income from spouses and partners is combined with income from other sources to support children, and the extent to which economic hardship over time relates to mothers’ union experiences. Findings show that while in absolute terms, remarriage is economically more advantageous than cohabitation, cohabitation and remarriage are equivalent in their ability to restore family income to prior levels. Cohabiting mothers start off in a weaker economic position prior to divorce, however, and continue to rely on income from employment and AFDC to a greater extent than do remarried mothers. Over time, cohabitation, even when it results in a stable union, is a comparatively poor mechanism for maintaining economic recovery for the children of divorce. The extent of economic difficulties experienced by children whose mothers “unstably” remarry is also demonstrated.

Routes to Children's Economic Recovery after Divorce: Are Cohabitation and Remarriage Equivalent?

Are maternal cohabitation and remarriage equivalent routes to the economic recovery of children and their mothers following parental divorce and separation? Unlike previous studies that have been primarily cross-sectional in design, this study uses panel data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth-Child Supplement to make both absolute and relative comparisons of potential economic returns. Also investigated is how income from spouses and partners is combined with income from other sources to support children, and the extent to which economic hardship over time relates to mothers' union experiences. Findings show that while in absolute terms, remarriage is economically more advantageous than cohabitation, cohabitation and remarriage are equivalent in their ability to restore family income to prior levels. Cohabiting mothers start off in a weaker economic position prior to divorce, however, and continue to rely on income from employment and AFDC to a greater extent than do remarried mothers. Over time, cohabitation, even when it results in a stable union, is a comparatively poor mechanism for maintaining economic recovery for the children of divorce. The extent of economic difficulties experienced by children whose mothers unstably remarry is also demonstrated

Why ideology dominates regional trade unionism in the Asia Pacific

This article asserts that the sub-global regional ‘context’ in which trade unions operate presupposes the rypes of ‘imperatives’ that will dominate their existence and activities. These are taken to operate along one of three dimensions – industrial, political and ideological – and are seen as evolving in accordance with the ‘logic of spill-over’ in regional integration processes. Using this interpretation, the discussion contrasts the experience of regional trade unions operating within the European Union to account for why regional trade unions operating in the Asia Pacific are primarily confined to promoting a particular vision of trade unions in sociery.

Economic integration, efficiency and economic growth: the European Union experience

The aim of this paper is to analyse the effect of the process of progressive economic integration among the countries of Europe on their economic evolution, paying special attention to gains in efficiency and productivity. We use a nonparametric frontier technique together with the construction of Malmquist indices to permit analysis of the contribution of efficiency to gains in productivity. For this purpose we study the evolution of the countries of the European Union and the impact on efficiency and productivity of the successive expansions during the period 1965–90.

New Paths In Working-Time Policies In Europe: The Difficult Challenge of Reconciling Employers' and Employees' Need for Flexibility

In the recent trade union debate in Australia on working time, reference is often made to the experiences of trade unions in Europe. But the current European situation is diverse. There is a strong emphasis on reducing working hours, but both the rationale and the forms of working-time reduction differ from country to country. This article systematises the complex European realities by defining three possible models under which the various national patterns of reduction of working time can be grouped—via collective agreements, legislation or negotiated individual flexibility. Examples of each model are selected and briefly discussed Reduction of working time through collective agreements is identified with the German and Dutch experiences. Reduction of working time through government legislation is exemplified by the French case. The pursuit of negotiated individual flexibility over the life cycle is identified most strongly with the Scandinavian countries. The article concludes with some comments on an innovative working-time policy for trade unions, which would emphasise reduction in weekly working-time, part-time work, reduction in overtime and a reduction in lifetime working hours.

The Price of Partnering: The Role of Economic Well-Being in Young Adults' First Union Experiences

Drawing on the literature on the links between economic resources and the transition to marriage this study examines the role of economic well-being in the formation of marital and cohabitational unions [in the United States]. I use event history models with data from a large longitudinal data set of young adults. In general economic well-being has a weaker association with cohabitation than with marriage but this differs by sex. Further results suggest that both men and women who are economically unstable are likely to cohabit. The findings suggest that cohabitation may provide an attractive alternative for those who are in romantic relationships but lack the economic well-being required for marriage or lack the occupational stability that would make them attractive candidates for the long-term contract that marriage implies. (EXCERPT)

The Price of Partnering: The Role of Economic Well-Being in Young Adults' First Union Experiences

Drawing on the literature on the links between economic resources and the transition to marriage, this study examines the role of economic well-being in the formation of marital and cohabitational unions. I use event history models with data from a large longitudinal data set of young adults. In general, economic well-being has a weaker association with cohabitation than with marriage, but this differs by sex. Further, results suggest that both men and women who are economically unstable are likely to cohabit. The findings suggest that cohabitation may provide an attractive alternative for those who are in romantic relationships but lack the economic well-being required for marriage or lack the occupational stability that would make them attractive candidates for the long-term contract that marriage implies.

The Duration of Industrial Disputes in Australian Mining and Manufacturing

Using a unique dispute‐level database of industrial action in Australian mining and manufacturing industries, this paper investigates the determinants of the duration of industrial action. For the first time in the Australian literature, the duration of individual disputes is analysed within a hazard function framework that estimates conditional settlement probabilities over the duration of the dispute. Further, the analysis is conducted for both strikes and non‐strike forms of industrial action such as bans on working overtime. A range of parametric and semi‐parametric specifications are estimated in order to determine the sensitivity of the results to alternative econometric techniques. The duration of both strikes and work bans are found to be affected by a range of factors, including the state of the labour market, industry characteristics, past union experiences and the cause of the dispute. The conditional settlement rate of both strikes and bans are found to be upward sloping, implying that the longer that a dispute has already lasted, the more likely that it is to end. However, failing to control for unobserved heterogeneity results in bias toward declining conditional settlement rates.

Political Economy Considerations on the Supply of Trade Protection in Regional Integration Agreements

The purpose of this article is to discuss the institutional aspects of regional integration and its implication for the determination of external trade policies by a trade bloc. In particular, this study raises the question, can institutional designs in a regional integration area increase the responsiveness of trade authorities to protectionist demands? Contrary to some previous research, the analysis shows that the answer is affirmative. As illustrated by the European Union (EU) experience, the supply of trade protection in the context of regional integration crucially depends on the design and evolution of institutions adopted by the trade bloc. Moreover, the dynamic process of regional integration entails a redefinition of rules which inevitably attracts lobbying activities (in particular from those with protectionist interests). In consequence, in the absence of a strong political commitment, the danger exists that the design of new institutions will be captured by protectionist forces.

Re-engineering audit and performance management systems for multi-level governance: the European Union experience

Re-engineering audit and performance management systems for multi-level governance: the European Union experience

The international perspective—The European union experience in library co-operation

In past columns, various dimensions of library cooperation have been explored—OhioLink, Galileo, MdUSA, and Tex-Share in the United States and the Folette Program in the United Kingdom. The scale and complexity of these programs present real challenges, but none so complex as those in the European Union (EU), described in Ariane Iljon's essay. It is easy to appreciate why budgets, political jurisdictions, differences in funding and character of libraries across different countries of the EU would present formidable obstacles to creating library co-operation, development of infrastructure, and research. What is heartening is the degree of progress and the momentum that has been achieved in the EU which will, at least, serve as a benchmark for international success.—CBL, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland.

Uprooting tradition: Rethinking the place and space of labour organization

This paper considers contemporary geographical debate about the position of labour in the global economy. I suggest that interpretations of working class organization have been overly focused upon the decline in trade union membership and influence, neglecting the new opportunities that have arisen for labour to organize, often at different spatial scales and using different methods than was previously the case. For good reason, scholars have concentrated attention upon the black cloud that comprises the bulk of trade union experience, but in so doing they have largely neglected the glimpses of a silver lining which hold new possibilities for the future. One such avenue of possibility, which provides the focus of debate in the second half of this paper, are the European Works Councils, which are facilitating trans‐spatial contact between workers in multinational corporations. I suggest that such developments have profound geographical and political significance and they do much to unstable the contemporary conceptual paradigms through which we view the position of labour.

Living Together: International Aspects of Federal Systems

Living Together: International Aspects of Federal Systems

A Public Employee Union's Experience in Addressing Smoking in the Workplace

A Public Employee Union's Experience in Addressing Smoking in the Workplace