Union Member Research Articles

Examination of Firefighting as an Occupational Exposure Criteria for Lung Cancer Screening.

Firefighting is known to be carcinogenic to humans. However, current lung cancer screening guidelines do not account for occupational exposure. We hypothesize that firefighting is an independent risk factor associated with the development of high-risk lung nodules on low-dose CT (LDCT). Members of a firefighter's union underwent LDCT at a single institution between April 2022 and June 2023 within a lung cancer screening program. Results were interpreted by designated chest radiologists and reported using the Lung-RADS scoring system. Demographic and radiographic data were recorded, and summary statistics are reported. 1347 individuals underwent lung cancer screening, with a median age of 51years (IQR 42-58), including 56 (4.2%) females. Overall, 899 (66.7%) were never smokers, 345 (25.6%) were former smokers, and 103 (7.7%) were current smokers. There were 41 firefighters (3.0%) who had high-risk (Lung-RADS 3 or 4) nodules requiring intervention or surveillance, of which 21 (1.5%) were Lung-RADS 3 and 20 (1.5%) that were Lung-RADS 4. Of the firefighters with high-risk nodules, only 6 (14.6%) were eligible for LDCT based on current screening guidelines. There were 7 high-risk nodules (0.5%) that required procedural intervention, 6 (85.7%) of which were from the non-screening eligible cohort. There were also 20 never-smoking firefighters (57.1%) with high-risk nodules that were non-screening eligible. Firefighting, even in the absence of smoking history, may be associated with the development of high-risk lung nodules on LDCT. Carefully selected occupational exposures should be considered in the development of future lung cancer screening guidelines.

New Figures in History of Decembrist Movement: Merchant-Conspirator A. P. Sapozhnikov

This article discusses a lesser-known participant in the secret society and conspiracy of the Decembrists in St. Petersburg, merchant Alexander Petrovich Sapozhnikov (1788–1827). The relevance of this research lies in its engagement with a significant historiographical question regarding the maturation of opposition ideas to autocracy within the merchant class. The novelty of this work is defined by the unexplored relationships that connected A. P. Sapozhnikov with the Decembrists. The author has gathered scarce references from sources that illuminate the circumstances surrounding the entry of a merchant family member into the Decembrist union, his involvement in the conspiracy of 1825, and the “demarche” of his relative, Ya. I. Rostovtsev, related to the intentions of moderately inclined Decembrists to achieve limitations on autocracy through non-violent means. The evidence from the sources is compared, and the degree of their authority and reliability is assessed. An interpretation of the documentary data is conducted based on a critical analysis of their comprehensive content. The reasons for A. P. Sapozhnikov’s avoidance of punishment are reconstructed. Unique information is presented regarding the “freethinking” of the Sapozhnikov family, which influenced this representative’s alignment with the Decembrist movement. The findings suggest the emergence of like-minded individuals among the “elite layer” of merchants, while simultaneously revealing the efforts of Decembrist union members to extend their influence into the merchant class.

The relationship between union membership and self-rated health among racially diverse U.S. healthcare workers: The role of control over work schedules and locations

BackgroundLabor unions are associated with better wages, improved working conditions, and greater worker empowerment, which may result in better health. However, less is known about the relationship between unionization and health among U.S. healthcare workers, whether the relationship differs among racially diverse workers, and how much control over workplace schedules and location mediates the relationship. MethodsWe analyzed a cross-sectional survey of a nationally representative sample of 3000 U.S. healthcare workers collected from March 14 through April 5, 2023. Using ordinal logistic regression, we evaluated whether unionized healthcare workers had better self-rated health (SRH) than their nonunionized counterparts and examined potential differences between White and racially minoritized respondents. We quantified the mediation percentage explained by control over one's schedule and workplace location in the total and stratified samples using Karlson, Holm, and Breen decomposition analysis. ResultsOver a third (36.1%) of racially minoritized respondents were unionized, compared to 22.3% of White respondents. Among racially minoritized workers, a greater share of unionized workers reported excellent health (40.6% vs. 21.8%) than their nonunionized counterparts. In confounder-adjusted ordinal logistic regression analyses, labor union membership was associated with better SRH overall, with a stronger association for racially minoritized workers. Among White healthcare workers, control over workplace arrangements explained 68.1% of the union membership and SRH relationship. For racially minoritized workers, control over workplace arrangements partially mediated the relationship, explaining 17.4% of the variation, suggesting that labor unions may impact health through additional pathways for these workers. ConclusionsThis study provides empirical evidence of the relationship between labor union membership and health among U.S. healthcare workers. We demonstrate that control over schedules and location is an important mechanism by which unionization may protect healthcare workers’ health. Among racially diverse healthcare workers, labor unions may play an important role in health through various pathways beyond workplace control.

State aid for broadband network deployment: National and subnational governance mechanisms, 2003–2023

This paper examines the governance models of State aid measures for broadband network deployment in European Union Member States. The research is based on 199 decision letters collected from the European Commission's competition cases database, published between 2003 and 2023. Deploying a theory-driven content analysis approach, the analysis reveals and categorises a variety of governance models. These models vary regarding the authority responsible for the decision-making and, in the case of national schemes, the authority responsible for the implementation, including centralised and decentralised arrangements. Different legacies and institutional set-ups explain the governance models, including the typology of state structures, the constitutional powers, the traditions of participation in the telecommunication sector, policy diffusion and regional development. There are several possible pathways to a gradual transition from one model to another. The design of flexible national schemes, which offer subnational authorities the option to implement them in their regions or to rely on central management agencies for specific tasks adapted to their interests, resources and capacities, could be the optimal solution to prevent the launch of ad hoc measures by subnational authorities and to adapt to different institutional arrangements.

Trust in the Police — Findings From a Cross-Comparison of European Union Member States

This article summarises the findings of an exploratory research on variables that explain variations in trust in the police across European Union Member States. Using available cross-national data sets and multiple linear regression analysis, results show feelings of safety in the immediate environment and perceptions of police corruption explain 62% of trust in the police variations across European Union Member States. These results add to a growing body of evidence suggesting investment in better policing outcomes and in less police corruption can significantly increase public’s trust in the police.StreszczenieNiniejszy artykuł podsumowuje wyniki badań nad różnicami w zaufaniu do policji w państwach członkowskich Unii Europejskiej. Korzystając z dostępnych międzynarodowych zbiorów danych i wielokrotnej analizy regresji liniowej, wyniki pokazują, że poczucie bezpieczeństwa w bezpośrednim otoczeniu i postrzeganie korupcji w policji wyjaśniają 62% różnic w zaufaniu do policji w państwach członkowskich Unii Europejskiej. Wyniki te uzupełniają rosnącą liczbę dowodów sugerujących, że inwestycje w lepsze wyniki policyjne i mniejszą korupcję policji mogą znacznie zwiększyć zaufanie społeczeństwa do policji.ResumenEste artículo resume los resultados de un estudio sobre las diferencias de confianza en la policía entre los Estados miembros de la Unión Europea. Utilizando conjuntos de datos internacionales disponibles y análisis de regresión lineal múltiple, los resultados muestran que la sensación de seguridad en el entorno inmediato y la percepción de la corrupción policial explican el 62% de las diferencias de confianza en la policía entre los Estados miembros de la Unión Europea. Estos resultados se suman a un creciente número de pruebas que sugieren que las inversiones en una mejor actuación policial y una menor corrupción policial pueden aumentar significativamente la confianza de los ciudadanos en la policía.ZusammenfassungDer vorliegende Artikel fasst die Ergebnisse einer Studie über Unterschiede im Vertrauen zur Polizei in den Mitgliedstaaten der Europäischen Union zusammen. Verfügbare internationale Datensätze und eine multiple lineare Regressionsanalyse zeigen deutlich, dass man das Gefühl der Sicherheit in der unmittelbaren Umgebung und die Wahrnehmung der Polizeikorruption anhand 62 % Unterschiede im Vertrauen zur Polizei in den Mitgliedstaaten der Europäischen Union erklären kann. Durch diese Ergebnisse wird eine wachsende Zahl von Nachweisen erklärt, die darauf hindeuten, dass Investitionen in bessere polizeiliche Leistungen und wenige Polizeikorruption das Vertrauen der Öffentlichkeit zur Polizei erheblich steigern könnenРезюмеВ данной статье обобщены результаты исследований различий в доверии к полиции в разных стра- нах-членах Европейского Союза. Используя доступные международные базы данных и множественный линейный регрессионный анализ, результаты показывают, что ощущение безопасности в ближайшем окружении и восприятие коррупции в полиции объясняют 62 % различий в доверии к полиции в государствах-членах Европейского Союза. В итоге они дополняют растущий объем данных, свидетельствующих о том, что инвестиции в повышение эффективности работы полиции и снижение уровня ее коррупции могут значительно повысить доверие населения к полиции.

Labor market institutions and employee self-reported mental health

PurposeThe study draws on emerging research on declining employee mental health, particularly employees with low educational attainment, in human resource management (HRM) and health and tests whether labor market institutions are empirically associated with better mental health among workers from different educational backgrounds.Design/methodology/approachThis study draws on a large national sample of part- and full-time workers and models a conditional relationship between labor market institutions and employee self-rated mental health using ordinary least squares (OLS) models with fixed effects.FindingsThe findings indicate membership in a labor market institution such as a union is positively associated with improved employee mental health, but the relationship is moderated by educational attainment. Union membership is associated with better mental health among employees with low educational attainment and appears to bring these workers up to a level of mental health that is comparable to more highly educated workers, thereby reducing mental health inequality. However, union membership has no effect on the mental health of more highly educated employees.Originality/valueDespite the recognition that declining worker mental health presents challenges for workers, organizations and society, systematic empirical research on institutional mechanisms that may affect mental health is limited. This study draws on data of part- and full-time workers to model the relationship with a sample large enough to specify conditional models to account for heterogeneous relationships conditional on workers' educational attainment. The findings have important implications for our understanding of employee mental health, employment relations and institutional mechanisms to help workers and improve organizational performance.

R&D investment: A dynamic efficiency approach in the EU countries

This paper aims to analyze the role of research and development (R&D) in the production efficiency of European Union Member States. Utilizing Bayesian methods within a dynamic framework, the study jointly estimates production functions and efficiency for a sample of 27 countries over the 2000–2021 period. The findings reveal that human capital investment exhibits a higher output elasticity compared to physical capital investment. Additionally, the results indicate that inefficiencies persist due to escalating costs—both monetary and temporal—as inputs expand. Across the studied countries, an upward trend in R&D expenditure is associated with increasing technical efficiency levels, establishing a positive relationship between R&D spending and technical efficiency scores. Geographically, eastern and southern European regions exhibit lower average efficiency levels. These insights are crucial for policymakers seeking to foster innovation-driven policies, highlighting the importance of maintaining or increasing R&D spending to achieve the economic and social objectives of the European Union. Through appropriate R&D policies, policymakers can enhance technical efficiency, ensure the EU's global competitiveness, and promote more equitable development across the Union.

Social circular economy for sustainable development in European Union member countries: a fuzzy logic-based evaluation

Social circular economy for sustainable development in European Union member countries: a fuzzy logic-based evaluation

The European Union as a Target: When Do Democratic Backsliders Rhetorically Challenge the EU?

AbstractPopulist actors who conduct democratic backsliding incrementally eat away at institutional checks on power. Whilst they largely focus on domestic institutions, European Union (EU) member states have an international democratic institution to consider as well. In this article, we present and test a theory explaining changes in backslider rhetoric towards the EU. Whilst they often claim a position of Euroscepticism, their interactions with the EU are complicated. We argue that anti‐democratic actors consider the public perception of the EU and the likelihood of enforcement and sanctions from the EU when deciding what type of rhetoric to use. Using speeches from Orbán in Hungary and Duda in Poland, we find that the effect of public opinion on speech sentiment varies between leaders. We also find evidence of position blurring in response to increases in EU threat levels.

Sustaining success through strategies for post-elimination management of neglected tropical diseases in African Union Member States

Sustaining success through strategies for post-elimination management of neglected tropical diseases in African Union Member States

Conflict among the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Akure, Nigeria: causes, consequences and management strategies

This study examined the causes, consequences, and strategies for managing organizational conflict among the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Akure, Nigeria, to achieve sustainable peace and harmonious relationships among union members, and actualize better transport service delivery to the larger society. A survey design was adopted to elicit primary data through questionnaires and in-depth interviews with NURTW members. Desk research was also used to gather relevant information from the literature. Hundred (100) questionnaires were purposively and randomly administered to commercial drivers who are members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Akure. The survey was done across three major parks in Akure: Cathedral Park, Ondo Road Park and Benin Garage Park. They were selected because they are mostly dominated by the members of NURTW, and mostly patronized by passengers. The data collected were analyzed using simple descriptive and inferential statistics; in the form of frequencies, percentages, bar charts, and logistic regression. The study found that most of the NURTW members were males, and were majorly in the economic productive year between the ages of 35 and 45. Findings further revealed that government or political interference is a major cause of conflict among NURTW members. The aftermath of conflict among the union usually resulted in disruptions of the union activities and destruction of lives and properties. The bargaining approach in managing conflict is the most effective strategy for addressing conflict among NURTW members in Akure, Nigeria.

Why are union members more willing to strike and protest than nonunion members? Evidence from Argentina and Chile

Empirical studies have shown that union members are more likely to participate in collective actions than nonunion members. However, we still know little about the mechanisms that explain why this occurs. In this article, we aim to fill this gap in the literature. Using data from the World Values Survey for Argentina and Chile (2006–2018), we employed the Karlson–Holm–Breen mediation analysis to analyze the degree to which the relationship between union membership and participation in demonstrations and strikes is explained by union members’ higher levels of politicization and stronger left-wing orientation, as hypothesized in previous studies. We found that in the two countries these two mediators explain more than 30% of the relationship between union membership and participation in demonstrations. We also found that these two mediators explain around 20% of the relationship between union membership and strike participation in Argentina, and nearly 40% of such relationship in Chile. At the end of the article, we offer some explanations for these findings and show how they contribute to the literature on trade unions, class politics, and industrial relations.

The relationship between health-care expenditure and disposable personal income: a panel econometric analysis on the EU countries

PurposeWhen the factors affecting health expenditures are examined in the literature, it is seen that one of the most important factors is income. In this context, the purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between out-of-pocket health expenditures and disposable personal income and revealing the income elasticity of health expenditures.Design/methodology/approachTherefore, short/long-term coefficients were obtained by analyzing Westerlund (2007) co-integration analysis and pooled mean group (PMG) regression methods for 22 European Union (EU) member states during the period 2003–2017. In addition, a comparison of the long-term coefficients for each country was obtained with augmented mean group (AMG) estimator.FindingsThe results of the AMG and PMG tests show that the long-term coefficients between disposable personal income and health expenditures are 0.83 and 0.97, respectively. These results imply that there is a significant relationship between the variables, and that health care should be categorized in the group of normal goods. However, the fact that the long-term coefficient is very close to 1, despite being classified in the category of necessity goods, requires more care to be taken in evaluating whether health services are luxury goods or necessity goods.Originality/valueThe use of second generation econometric tests on both cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity demonstrates the value of the study. On the other hand, obtaining similar results by investigating the relationship between variables using different appropriate econometric models reveals the importance of the methodology used in this study. It reveals important details in terms of the literature regarding the long-term and short-term results obtained in this study.

Examining the Effectiveness of a Trade Union: Role of union strength and union leadership

This article aims to examine the influencing factors towards the effectiveness of the trade union from the perspectives of public sector union members. The present study used a quantitative research method involving a survey among 114 union members of Kesatuan Kakitangan Umum, Universiti Teknologi MARA (KKUUiTM). The findings revealed two important findings. First, the union members disclosed that their union was effective. Second, union strength and union leadership significantly influence trade union effectiveness. This research will help the union understand their strength and continuously improve its leadership to maintain its trade union effectiveness and contribute to greater union performance.

The wind of no change: union effects on partisan preferences and the working-class metamorphosis

Focusing on Germany and the United Kingdom as two most dissimilar cases in terms of labour market and political institutions, the article examines the impact of trade union membership on partisan preferences. Leveraging panel data to control for time-invariant selection effects shows that trade unions exert a small but consistent left-wing influence on wage earners who become affiliated, but they are no longer able to modify the preferences of working-class members. A longitudinal approach reveals that unions mainly attract individuals who already share the unions’ political inclinations before joining. The additional shift to the left experienced by already left-leaning new members is consistent with a value congruence mechanism triggered by interactions with even more left-leaning long-term union members. Symmetrically, working-class joiners exhibit less pronounced left-wing inclinations before becoming affiliated, a gap that widens further after they join. These findings imply that unions’ political influence and class allegiances have been both eroded and altered by changes in the labour market and political landscape.

Genetic counselling legislation and practice in cancer in EU Member States.

Somatic and germline genetic alterations are significant drivers of cancer. Increasing integration of new technologies which profile these alterations requires timely, equitable and high-quality genetic counselling to facilitate accurate diagnoses and informed decision-making by patients and their families in preventive and clinical settings. This article aims to provide an overview of genetic counselling legislation and practice across European Union (EU) Member States to serve as a foundation for future European recommendations and action. National legislative databases of all 27 Member States were searched using terms relevant to genetic counselling, translated as appropriate. Interviews with relevant experts from each Member State were conducted to validate legislative search results and provide detailed insights into genetic counselling practice in each country. Genetic counselling is included in national legislative documents of 22 of 27 Member States, with substantial variation in legal mechanisms and prescribed details (i.e. the 'who, what, when and where' of counselling). Practice is similarly varied. Workforce capacity (25 of 27 Member States) and genetic literacy (all Member States) were common reported barriers. Recognition and/or better integration of genetic counsellors and updated legislation and were most commonly noted as the 'most important change' which would improve practice. This review highlights substantial variability in genetic counselling across EU Member States, as well as common barriers notwithstanding this variation. Future recommendations and action should focus on addressing literacy and capacity challenges through legislative, regulatory and/or strategic approaches at EU, national, regional and/or local levels.

Studying the Impact of European Union Regulatory Interventions for Minimising Risks From Medicines: Lessons Learnt and Recommendations.

The European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) launched a strategy to examine the public health impact of major regulatory interventions aimed at minimising risks of medicinal products. We conducted a lessons learnt analysis of impact studies completed between 2015 and 2023. We surveyed PRAC Sponsors and (Co-)Rapporteurs involved in the evaluation of 12 impact studies (10 commissioned by EMA and 2 conducted collaboratively by Member States) to explore how these support regulatory decision-making. Questions covered achievement of study objectives, risk minimisation effectiveness, added value for regulatory decision-making, and recommendations for future impact studies. Themes were generated using thematic content analysis. Survey responses from 15 PRAC Sponsors and (Co-)Rapporteurs from 10 European Union Member States were included in the analysis. Among four cross-sectional surveys and eight drug utilisation studies, 50% achieved all objectives, the other studies partially due to limitations. Two studies concluded that risk minimisation measures were overall effective, two were effective with variation across countries, two were partially effective and four studies showed limited effectiveness. Two studies were deemed inconclusive due to limitations. The reasons for the limited effectiveness of risk minimisation may be explored using mixed-method approaches. Assessment of study feasibility and a priori discussion of effectiveness measurements is important. Despite limitations, impact research adds value to regulatory decision-making by addressing knowledge gaps and providing additional information on unintended consequences of regulatory interventions. Our recommendations will help to improve planning, conducting and interpretating future impact studies.

Enhancing Community Participation in Local Development Projects: The Bangladesh Context

This paper focuses on developing an approach for effective community participation in local development projects. Researchers conducted a field study in Sunamganj district, one of the most vulnerable areas in Bangladesh, and collected information from 54 respondents, including Union Parishads (UP) chairpersons and members, secretaries, committee members, and local beneficiaries through interviews and FGDs using purposive sampling. Researchers also collected relevant documents from the Union Parishad (project plan, evaluation report, and annual progress report) to compare the information obtained from the participants in the field and analyzed them using the thematic analysis method. Study findings revealed that although UP is considered a close-knit community-based organization due to the nature of its development work and geographic location, inclusive decentralization and a democratic environment have not been established at the local level institutions to enhance meaningful community participation in development projects. This deficiency is attributed to outsider interferences, nepotism, lack of knowledge and information, top-down bureaucratic decisions, gender discrimination, and corruption. It is believed that the model of a meaningful decentralized participation system would help mobilize the comprehensive local development process.

We need targeted policy interventions in the EU to save soil carbon

Globally, annual emissions from managed organic soils accounts for up to 5% of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Climate-wise management and restoration of degraded organic soils could reduce GHG emissions quickly and at relatively low costs. The European Union (EU) Member States that have large areas of organic soils with high GHG emissions are Sweden, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Netherlands, and the Baltic countries. To meet the climate targets and objectives of the Paris Agreement the land-use sector is indispensable and mitigation policies targeting organic soils will be needed. The international regulatory framework is broad and quite unspecific. In contrast, the European Union has initiated binding regulation for the land-use sector through the EU Climate Law, the EU LULUCF regulation, and the proposed EU Nature Restoration Law. However, even this regulatory approach is not on track to deliver on its binding ambitions, indicating the need for more effective implementation measures also on organic soils in the EU and its member states. Furthermore, we argue that appropriate policy selection should consider current knowledge regarding the climate impacts of management options of organic soils. Lastly, we need more studies on GHG emissions, and standardized methods for GHG inventories, to resolve uncertainties surrounding the impacts of management to GHG emissions. Successful policy implementation requires more efforts but also improved scientific justification through continuous consideration of climate policy integrity and strengthening of the reliability of GHG inventories.

Union decline through extension of collective agreements?

AbstractThis study investigates the effects of the mandatory extension of collective agreements on union membership. This relationship is investigated using a difference‐in‐differences framework on the staggered industry‐ and county‐wide introduction of mandatory extension in Norway from 2005 to 2011. The introduction of mandatory extension was championed by labour and social partners and motivated by the EU enlargement of 2004 in response to increasing labour immigration. However, mandatory extension could lead to lower union membership through free‐rider behaviour. It is therefore a question of whether the cure is worse than the problem it is supposed to solve. The results show that mandatory extension had an overall negative effect on union density in the affected industries of about −2.7 percentage points. The effect varies between the different industries but is never positive. These findings give credence to the free‐rider hypothesis, where mandatory extension is expected to lead to lower union density because there is less incentive to become a union member when workers can obtain the benefits of the collective agreement without paying the union dues. In line with the theoretical expectations, the effect is stronger where the gap between collective wage and non‐union wage is largest. However, negative effects are also present where this wage gap is small, showing that the results are valid in different contexts.