Union Member Research Articles

Medical occupational check-ups during the COVID-19 pandemic in the European Union.

Given the enormous scale of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the healthcare sector, limited human resource capacity, and efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, occupational health protection could not escape changes. The aim was to identify and compare the regulations regarding the provision of medical occupational check-ups (MOCs) during the pandemic in all European Union member states (EU MS). The study employed the Delphi method, involving experts from EU MS to assess MOC regulations between January 2020 and May 2021. Experts were queried regarding the existence and specifics of MOC regulations, particularly for entrance and periodic MOCs at hazardous and non-hazardous workplaces. Out of the 27 EU MS surveyed, 13 EU MS did not regulate MOCs, while 14 EU MS (51.6%) regulated the provision of MOCs. The regulations were changes in the way MOCs were provided, modifications (postponement in time, alternative provision, e.g. using telemedicine or online connection, or replacing the medical certificate of fitness to work based on the MOC with a declaration by the worker), or interruption without compensation, even for hazardous works. The regulations were in effect for different lengths of time and varied in some countries during the study period. The cumulative duration of MOC interruptions in all EU MS during the study period was 137 months (7.5% of the cumulative study period of 1836 months). Given the different approaches to the provision of MOCs in EU MS, it has proved appropriate to develop an optimal unified framework plan for future similar situations.

“News Desertification” in Europe: Highlighting Correlations for Future Research

The Local Media for Democracy (LM4D) project is the first project that explores news deserts in Europe comprehensively. Its final report highlighted challenges and opportunities for local and community media and identified the level of risk of news deserts in the 27 European Union (EU) Member States. As a pilot project, however, its results are still preliminary and open to evaluation, and, thus, they require further discussion and corroboration. Drawing from these results, and applying a multidisciplinary approach, we extrapolated research directions for the study of news deserts in the EU. By cross-analyzing data from the LM4D dataset with other datasets, we provide a preliminary analysis of three promising lines of research: (1) the relationship between public service media quality and news deserts, (2) news deserts and the spread of disinformation, and (3) social media usage and news desertification. We conclude by pointing out the limitations of this preliminary analysis and opportunities for further research on news deserts in the EU.

The Health Benefits of Extended Union Membership Among Women: A Family Status Perspective

Workers in labor unions have better access to high-quality health insurance plans, better pensions, and higher wages leading to increased lifetime earnings likely leading to better health. Additionally, much of the gendered hiring, promotion, and wage discrimination faced by women in the workplace is dependent on social characteristics (marital status and/or their status as a mother). While many of the benefits associated with union membership can potentially buffer the gendered workplace inequalities that lead to poorer health outcomes, unions have been largely ignored in health disparities literature. Using 28 waves of data ( N = 3,409) from The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979, this study creates a lifetime “union tenure” variable, tests its relationship to midlife physical and mental health, and tests ways in which motherhood and marital status may moderate this relationship. Findings suggest that long-term union membership is associated with better physical health among mothers but does not have a significant benefit for women without children. Further, in fully controlled models, this relationship is not dependent on marital status and both married and unmarried mothers see a union tenure health benefit. This study provides insight into how union membership may play a role in improving the midlife health of working mothers.

Gendered Migration in India: Exploring the Challenges and Human Rights Issues Faced by Female Migrant Workers in Perumbavoor, Ernakulam District, Kerala

Most studies on inter-state migrant workers in Kerala focus on male migrants arriving in the state. Kerala began to receive migrant workers in 1950. There has been a significant shift in it since 1990. From the 1960s to the 1990s, migrant workers came to Kerala from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. During those times, women came to Kerala along with men. After the 1990s, migration from Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand, and Haryana gained momentum. Many women have moved to Kerala since 2000, as opposed to male migrants from 1990 to 2000. Many human rights issues face migrant women in Kerala, including their workplaces, lifestyles, job searches, and travel. The consequences of not getting significant health interventions and being harassed at work are not well known in society. A study of migrant women begins in the public space, where they are not considered citizens but as objects of utility. My research revealed 516,000 migrant women in Kerala, based on a government document obtained through RTI. There are 25000 female migrant workers among them. It is estimated that around 34 lakh migrant workers work in Kerala, according to the Kerala Planning Board's 2021 report. Out of that, 20% of women work in many workplaces and enterprises in Kerala. According to surveys and a government assessment, Kerala's Ernakulam district has the highest concentration of migrant women workers. The female migrant workers in the Perumbavoor one of the cities of the Ernakulam district are the subject of this study. Female workers who work in plywood, bricks, baji, tailoring, pan shops, plastic manufacturing, textile manufacturing, and other industrial units are the subject of this study. Female migrant workers are personally met and interviewed during fieldwork to obtain data. For this study, qualitative ethnographic research methodology is employed. The findings of this study suggest the government's policy-making for social welfare, social security, job security, the prevention of sexual violence, and making sure that female migrants in Kerala receive equal pay for equal work. This study is being conducted with the human rights of women migrant workers in Kerala foremost in mind. Information is being directly collected from migrant women workers, labour department health department government representatives, trade union members, NGO representatives, etc.

Business cycle synchronization and asymmetry in the European Union

Measuring output gaps and assessing business cycle synchronization across countries can be an important research theme for an economic union. However, different empirical models can lead to very different inference about output gaps. We analyze business cycle movements and synchronization for all European Union members for the period 1975Q1–pre-COVID and 1975Q1–2022Q4. We account for model uncertainty by averaging across a set of output gap models both by using a Phillips Curve motivated weighted average and a simple average. Similarly, we compare several alternative synchronization measures. We find that, in contrast to the previous literature, both the estimated output gap and the level of synchronization depend on the individual empirical measure used. Our averaged gaps match recession dates well and suggest that many of the countries exhibit a high degree of business cycle nonlinearities. Finally, the core Eurozone countries are highly synchronized, but there are differences in synchronization outside the core.

Development History and Role of The Vietnam Trade Union Organization

Over more than 90 years of formation and development, the Vietnam Trade Union has grown in all aspects and made worthy contributions to the great victories of the revolution, contributing to building the Vietnamese working class into an increasingly powerful force. The trade union organization has been consolidated and developed, with the number of union members and grassroots trade unions growing rapidly, and the cadre team developing both in quantity and quality. The union has expanded its activities to the non-state economic sector; increasingly effective coordination with various levels of government, organizations, and employers has been achieved, better fulfilling its tasks of representing, caring for, and protecting the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of workers, promptly addressing pressing issues, and contributing to the establishment of harmonious, stable, and progressive labor relations in enterprises. This study summarizes the birth circumstances of the Vietnamese working class and the Red Union - the precursor of today's Vietnam General Confederation of Labor; the role of the Vietnam Trade Union in the revolutionary process; and the urgent task for society to enhance the role of the trade union organization.

Relationship between the type of media consumption and political trust in the European Union: Evidence from the 94th Eurobarometer 2020/2021 Survey

This article analyzes the relationship between the consumption of different types of media and political trust, while also additionally contributing to discussions in several sub-branches of agenda-setting theories. To test the hypotheses, this article runs several linear regression models at the European Union, regional, and national levels. The European Union–level analysis is based on the 94th Eurobarometer survey data of 2020/2021. It is then further complemented with some country-level comparisons. The regression models account for various socio-economic and socio-political confounding factors. The results of the analysis demonstrate that there is a significant positive relationship between press consumption and political trust. As for social media, their negative effect is visible and consistent only when they are designated as the respondent’s main source of information. Other media types do not demonstrate a visible and statistically significant effect. This article’s findings, also through the country-level comparisons, provide new research avenues not only for quantitative research as well as for comparative case studies of individual European Union Member States.

Environmental sensitivity in the 27 National Roma Integration Strategies of the European Union member states

ABSTRACT The Roma people, particularly in Central and Eastern European countries, often live ethnically segregated in inadequate housing or without access to basic services (water, sewage system, electricity). Exposure to these harmful environmental factors jeopardizes their health and hinders their social integration. This study delves into the sensitivity of the National Roma Integration Strategies (NRIS) (2012–2020) regarding the environmental factors that affect the Roma population. Previous studies have explored gender or identity in the strategies, but few have analysed environmental sensitivity. Based on World Health Organization (WHO) reports, we consider the following environmental factors: housing, access to basic services, urban environment, working environment and injuries at home. The sensitivity of the 27 NRIS to these factors was quantified in all crucial areas (housing, health, education, employment). An inductive analysis of the operational content (measures, actions) was conducted on nine NRIS. The Member States in the southeast of the European Union were more environmentally sensitive than their counterparts in the northwest. The salient environmental factors were housing and basic services. The nine NRIS analysed show two approaches (western/eastern) in addressing the environmental conditions of the Roma population. Finally, although we identified environmental factors in the NRIS, this issue was not systematically addressed.

All’s well that ends well: short story of Ukraine’s road towards European Union membership

All’s well that ends well: short story of Ukraine’s road towards European Union membership

NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION (NATO) AND ITS ROLE FOR SECURITY IN THE WESTERN BALKANS

Background: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is the world’s largest and most powerful collective security organisation in modern times. Membership in this organisation is the objective and effort of many countries, including most of the countries of the Western Balkans. Membership ensures collective protection, security and political stability. Since its inception, NATO has emerged as a global force for security and the spread of peace almost across the globe. Not everyone deems it as such, considering the Russian Federation sees it as its main enemy. Its military operations have been centred around protecting human rights and maintaining peace. The best example of this commitment is NATO’s humanitarian intervention in Kosovo, one of the countries of the Western Balkans. Even after June 1999, NATO was present in this country and took care of the peace and security of the entire Western Balkans. The presence of this organisation in this part of the globe remained essential, as did knowing the geopolitical history of this region. The Balkans still suffers from nationalist policies and interethnic divisions, which in either case remain a very important factor for security in this region. One fundamental issue of Western Balkan countries is the acceleration of economic reforms, the rule of law and the fight against corruption to achieve membership in the European Union. Instead of these important issues in the Western Balkans, clashes have continued over border changes and nationalist rhetoric, which could undermine peace and security in this region. The current problems of the Western Balkans are inherited from the dissolution of the Socialist Federation of Yugoslavia. The wars in the former Yugoslavia, despite being the cause for the establishment of new independent states, did not fulfil the ethnic expectations of these countries. Given that the Republic of Serbia, in the preamble of the 2006 Constitution, foresees the Republic of Kosovo as its own territory,1 legal action that expresses territorial claims against a sovereign state poses a risk for new conflicts in the Balkans. A situation with conflicting tendencies is also present in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the official policy of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia has openly shown the tendencies for secession from the Federation and union with Serbia.2 This paper deals with the role that NATO has played and continues to play with its presence in the Balkans in maintaining peace and regional security, the challenges of security and building a stable peace in this region of Europe, where nationalist tendencies dominate as well as interethnic problems, lack of political culture and deficits of democracy. Methods: Combined scientific methods were used in this paper, starting with the qualitative method and literature review. The qualitative method was used to interpret the scientific theories related to security. Reviewing the literature, we managed to combine the results of other studies related to our study topic. This paper also used the analysis method, which helped us separate the elements from the totality of the study problem. The historical method has served to show the axis of the security problem in the Balkans and to explain the development of NATO. Results and conclusions: As a security organisation, during the Cold War, it served as a mechanism for collective defence against the nuclear threats of the Warsaw Pact and the spread of democratic values of the Western world. After the fall of the Iron Curtain, it has served as an organisation that promotes global peace and security, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The existence of open political issues in the Western Balkans, in particular the territorial claims of Serbia against Kosovo, the nationalist tendencies of the Serbs from Bosnia and Herzegovina for separation from the Federation, the attempts of Russia to influence this region, using history, culture and intelligence services and some other issues such as the lack of political culture in Albania and Montenegro and the issues of North Macedonia with Bulgaria have posed risks to the regional security. In this geopolitical environment called the Western Balkans, the integration of all countries in NATO and its presence in this region is essential for the future and security. In this context, the membership of Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina in NATO will have to be a priority for Western countries. The membership of these two states would serve regional peace and security.

Is it still permissible under EU law to issue new permits for oil and gas extraction?

AbstractThis article examines whether the discretion of European Union (EU) Member States to approve new oil and gas extraction projects is restricted by EU law. It shows that greenhouse gas emissions from such projects must be considered in environmental impact assessments under the Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment Directives. This includes emissions from the combustion of extracted oil and gas by end users (scope 3 emissions). The article also shows that Member States' discretion to approve new oil and gas extraction projects is significantly limited by their climate‐related obligations under EU law, as well as by the duty of sincere cooperation in the context of the EU's international commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Stopping the Spying: US Labor Unions’ Responses to Electronic Surveillance at Work

The use of electronic surveillance by employers has become increasingly common in recent years and can take many forms, including video surveillance, keystroke logging, and GPS tracking. While employers often claim that this surveillance is necessary to protect their property and increase productivity, it can also have negative consequences for workers, including work intensification and loss of a sense of autonomy at work. This paper examines the concerns, responses, and limitations of US labor unions in limiting electronic surveillance and its harms to workers. Expert interviews conducted with seven union leaders in 2023 reveal that US unions are aware of and concerned about electronic surveillance of members. Through political advocacy and collective bargaining, unions have a vital role to play in protecting workers’ privacy rights, though limitations to union's capacity exist due to low union membership density and high workloads.

АNALYZING THE COPENHAGEN CRITERIA AND REFORMS IN THE CONTEXT OF TURKEY’S ASPIRATION FOR EU MEMBERSHIP

This study provides a scholarly overview of Turkey's political landscape , especially in the context of its aspirations for European Union (EU) membership and its commitment to the Copenhagen Criteria. The article describes the historical trajectory of Turkey's Westernization efforts, dating back to the period of Tanzimat and thereforms of Ataturk. The author emphasizes that EU membership is a strategic imperative for Turkey.The author highlights the path of Turkey's reforms since 2001, paying special attention to significant achievements in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms, which are a constant reason for rejecting Turkey's application for membership. However, the author highlig hts the continuing problems, in particular restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, exacerbated by Turkey's withdrawal from international conventions (Istanbul Convention) protecting marginalized groups, especially women affected by gender-based violenc e . Emphasizing the urgent need to address these issues, this article highlights the path of the Republic of Turkey towards concerted efforts by domestic and international stakeholders to strengthe n democratic principles and protect human rights in a changing political environment. The article presents a scientific discourse aimed at promoting a detailed understanding of the trajectory of Turkey's accession to the EU and its broader implications for democratic governance and huma n rights in the region. For a more detailed study of the issue under study, government reporting documents were used: the Report of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights andFreedom of the United States and the Report of Turkey on the fulfillment of criteria

Process security methods and measurement in the context of standard management systems

Abstract The main purpose of the paper is to identify ways to establish process security in the constantly changing risk and control environment and to introduce a new model. The research is based on a literature review of process security components. Qualitative content analysis was used to establish a linkage between the certified management systems and the level of process security. Elaborations have been conducted based on the survey data of the International Standards Organisation (ISO) and served as a basis for analysis of certification types and their sectoral division in the European Union (EU) member states. A new Balanced Scorecard has been developed to cover the security pillars in the context of standard management systems and serve as a framework for process security measurement. The research paper processes the state-of-the-art issue of process security, introduces components that help to establish process security, and establishes a linkage between the level of process security and certified management systems. An analysis was based on the ISO certification information related to different management system standards. Management systems were analysed in the context of process security and corresponding process performance measures. A brief walkthrough has been prepared to demonstrate the processes behind the underlying performance measures. A new Balanced Scorecard approach has been developed that maps and covers different security aspects retrieved from and linked to different management system standards. The new Balanced Scorecard based on different security aspects of entities can be leveraged by any organisation, regardless of its size or business profile.

Профсоюзы и общественное мнение в Республике Башкортостан в конце XX – начале XXI в.

The article examines the dynamics of public opinion regarding trade union organizations in Bashkortostan in the post-Soviet period. The analysis of the scientific literature indicates that the problem is insufficiently studied. The main sources used in the article, in addition to archival documents, were the materials of the periodical press. The work notes that during the transition to market relations, trade unions restructured their work with an emphasis on strengthening the protection of the rights of employees, began to interact with all branches of government, negotiated with employers and concluded agreements and collective agreements. Non-fulfillment of agreements by enterprises and the state forced trade unions to organize collective actions: rallies, strikes, pickets. In the early 1990s, as sociological studies showed, citizens’ trust in trade unions remained high, paradoxically combined, however, with distrust of all political forces. Most likely, it is precisely distrust of trade unions that explains the attempts to create new public organizations in the 1990s, uniting ordinary workers. Many workers expressed dissatisfaction with the indecisive actions of the trade unions, urging them to pay attention to protecting the interests of workers. Special studies have found a decrease in the authority of trade unions among workers from the early 1990s to the early 2010s. At the same time, trade union leaders noted the passivity and inertia of ordinary trade union members, their non-participation in collective actions. Thus, on the one hand, the workers recognized the trade unions as the only defenders of their interests, on the other, they assessed its activities poorly, reluctantly participated in collective events.

Loan Schemes Granted for Students as a European Union Financial Instrument for Education Inclusion in Its Member States

Abstract European Union financial instruments and more specifically loan schemes are tools that have been developed and used more and more in the world we are leaving in due to their availability as well as their accessibility for the European Union member states. Due to the significant implicants in education, these loan schemes became a foundation stone in the development of education inclusion. The aim of this paper is to show the way these loan schemes have been used, the scheme of these programs, the impact they had on the beneficiaries and on the education, the challenges and possible lessons for helping in the creation of the future funding programs. In doing a better understanding and analysis, I have used a multiple case analysis representing a qualitative method that focuses on analyzing of three different case studies on three different countries that have been used loan schemes as financial instruments for giving access to higher education programs for students that were not able to and facilitate education inclusion in their state. The main findings suggests that these loan funds have a positive impact on the evolution of education inclusion, students being open to apply for them even if in some cases, the understanding of the mechanism behind it was a little bit difficult in the beginning. Overall, based on the case studies and on the number of the applicants that took advantage of these funding programs, it can be concluded that these types of financial instruments must continue to be used in the future and extended in more regions no matter of their development status.

The Impact of R&D Investments on Renewable Energy Transition. A Panel Data Approach

Abstract The transition to renewable energy is one of the main objectives at the level of the European Union to answer the problems related to global warming. In this context, the main objective of this study is to analyze the role of one of the drivers that can contribute to the achievement of this objective, namely research and development expenditure. Thus, based on a diversified research methodology, which includes in particular comparative analysis, descriptive analysis, and econometric analysis, we tested the role of research and development expenditure in stimulating final energy consumption from renewables and biofuels in the industrial sector using related statistical data from 13 European Union Member States between 2006 and 2022. The main results showed that research and development expenditure have a positive impact on the consumption of renewable energy in the industrial sector.

Evaluating Economic Efficiency through Digital Technologies

Abstract The rapid advancement of digital technologies has generated increased interest among researchers to investigate and evaluate the impact of these technologies on economic efficiency. The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the influence of digital technologies on economic efficiency in the countries of Europe and the European Union (EU) over seven years (2016-2022), for which the necessary data was found. The fundamental question of the study is: which countries in the European Union and across the entire European continent exhibit a trend of increasing revenues from the ERP system market, and among these, where is an influence on GDP observed? A group of 42 countries was analyzed, consisting of 27 countries from the European Union and 15 non-member countries, and the period studied ranges from 2016 to 2022. The study reveals that, generally, in countries where revenues from the ERP market are on the rise, there is a positive trend in economic efficiency. The study's estimates suggest that the level of internet usage in a country and the workforce with an advanced level of education significantly influence GDP per capita at the level of the countries in the European Union and the entire European continent. The conclusions of our study are based on theoretical predictions and the relevant results of other studies. The research indicates that ERP systems, as part of digital technologies and other macroeconomic factors, play an important role in stimulating economic efficiency in the European Union member states and those outside the union.

Socio-Economic Modelers of Environmental Performance: Empirical Evidence from the European Union

Abstract The environment represents one of the main collective responsibilities of the current period, marked by accelerated economic development. In the context of increasingly pronounced ecological deterioration and less sustainable practices, the level of involvement of decision-makers and the population has become a great challenge. Beyond legislative mechanisms, which can help states improve their environmental performance, an important role is also played by knowing the direct and indirect factors that can act on this performance. The specialized literature approaches environmental performance from various angles, most studies being focused on analysis tools and how to measure it, and less on the factors that can shape it at the national level. In this context, our approach takes into account the synergies between the environmental performance at the level of the European Union member states (measured by the Environmental Performance Index - EPI) and the selected economic-social factors. The selected sample includes the 27 member states of the European Union, the analysis being carried out for the period 2006-2022. The research methodology is based on Bayesian network analysis through Gaussian graphical models. The obtained results show that environmental performance is closely related to economic and social factors, through positive or negative connections, the relationship being bidirectional. Our approach is thus intended to be useful in providing a series of information to support decision-makers both in the implementation of environmental policy at the European level and in the adjustment of some national regulations.

Reconsidering Digital Strategies for Recruiting and Organising Young Emerging Teachers in Chosen Teachers' Unions in South Africa

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) reports that, in most of its member countries, the percentage of employed individuals who are members of trade unions has decreased significantly over the past few decades, with less than 20 percent. Some of the studies done on this subject unequivocally acknowledge that low membership turnover and dwindling trade union densities are caused by the incapacity to mobilize, organize, and serve members. In order to determine the most effective and efficient way to use these integrated digital strategies, this research investigates types of digital modes for organising, mobilising, and retaining new coming educators. Data were gathered through interviews with ten SADTU organisers and ten students from particular South. African universities, using the qualitative method. The data was analysed using a grounded (thematic) approach. The study's overall findings shows that digital technologies play a significant role in luring newer generations of trade union members. The findings of this study directly influenced the creation of more precise and efficient digital strategies for recruiting and organizing young emerging teachers, leading to an overall enhancement in the recruitment and retention of talent within the education sector.