bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Methodologie De La Demarche De Recherche En Sociologie Didactique Du Projet De Recherche
Authors: Juan Salvador
Published: January 2010

Methodology of Sociological Research Procedure: Didactics of a Research Project. The objective of this article is to present sociological research procedure, and, more concretely, to show that sociological investigation - even in its most technical aspects - is inseparable from theoretical considerations. The problems a researcher encounters in trying to link theoretical considerations with empirical operationalization are not really treated in sociological literature. The author presents and analyzes the three components of a problematic: the frame, the approach, the prospective. The research frame - and through it, the research object - has less sociological value the closer it is to common sense knowledge. An approach can by atemporal or chronological. A perspective is an individual researcher's theoretical position in which he expresses his scientific institutional identity. The author applies these ideas to an example of the study of social mobility.
The Profile of the Difficult-yo-Interview Respondent
Authors: Loosveldt Geert
Published: January 2010

Le profil du répondant difficile à interviewer. Dans cet article nous faisons l'hypothèse que tout répondant est motivé à coopérer et qu'il a suffisamment de capacités cognitives et de communication pour remplir de façon adéquate le rôle de répondant. Une typologie des motivations et des capacités de répondants est construites avec l'analyse des classes latentes. Les classes de cette typologie peuvent être caractérisées par rapport à la difficulté ou la facilité à être interviewer des répondants. Il est possible de mettre la typologie en relations avec l'âge et l'éducation. La typologie est aussi liée à des aspects concrets du comportement de réponse: "utilisation du 'je ne sais pas"'. "réponses contradictoires", et "utilisation du style de réponse restreinte". Les répondants difficile-à-interviewer ont un niveau d'éducation plus bas, sont plus vieux, utilisant le "je ne sais pas" fréquemment et tendent à donner des réponses contradictoires.
Computer-Assisted Questioning: the New Survey Methods in the Perception of the Respondents
Authors: Beckenbach Andreas
Published: January 2010

Passation assistée par ordinateur - Méthodes nouvelles d'enquête vues du point de vue des répondants. Après une analyse de la littérature scientifique sur l'effet du mode d'enquête sur l'attitude des répondants envers des enquêtes assistées par ordinateur et sur la qualité de ces données, l'auteur présente les résultats d'une enquête en Allemagne (N=152). Cette étude compare l'Interview Personnel Assisté par Ordinateur ("Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing" - CAPI) et l'Auto-passation de Questionnaire par Ordinateur ("Computerized Self-Administered Questionnaires" - CSAQ) avec le traditionel Interview avec Papier et Crayon ("Paper and Pen Interviewing" - PAPI). L'objet de l'étude était l'acceptabilité par les répondants et la qualité des données par rapport à ces nouvelles technologies. En conclusion. il y a des indications que la passation assistée par ordinateur fournit des données de meilleure qualité. En revanche, seulement quelques études méthodologiques bien menées sur le CAPI et le CSQ ont été réalisées et d'autres recherches dans ce domaine sont vivement encouragées.
Se Souvenir de son passé professionnel: Appel a la Memoire dans les enquetes retrospectives et construction sociale des donnees
Authors: Couppié Thomas , Demazière Didier
Published: January 2010

Remembering One's Work History - Memory Recall in Retrospective Surveys and Social Construction of Data. This article analyzes the role of memory in the producuon of rétrospective data concerning work history trajectories. It is based on the comparison of two surveys carried out in 1989 and 1993 on the same sample populations of youths and concerning. in part, the three and a half years following the end of their education. The article examines the nature of the collected information and reveals two essential dimensions in the social construction of recall of career developments: the subjective production and reinterpretation of one's own trajectory for the survey: and the translation of biographical events into official categories which are increasingly vague (unemployment, work. inactivity). The article highlights the discrepancies between the answers to the two surveys, shows that the discrepancies cannot be reduced to a simple question of data reliability, and reveals the social processes governing entry into a professional career trajectory.
Panel Comparability Et La Base De Donnees Paco
Authors: CEPS/INSTEAD
Published: January 2010

Panel Comparability and the PACO Data Base. The CEPS/INSTEAD has been coordinating the European Commission-financed "Panel Comparability (PACO)" project which Involves national longitudinal surveys carried out in Luxembourg. France. Germany. Great Britain. and the United States. The authors address the numerous methodological problems involved in setting up such a data base which permits the comparative study of panel survey data from different countries.
Perspectives on Pretesting : "Cognition" in the Cognitive Interview?
Authors: Gerber Eleanor R. , Wellens Tracy R.
Published: January 2010

Approches des pré-tests: "Cognition" dans l'entretien cognitif? Le but de cet article est de discuter de l'entretien cognitif "penser-à-haute-voix dans une perspective historique et d'esquisser son utilisation et ses limitations dans le contexte du développement et du pré-test des questionnaires Cette technique qualitative est suivie depuis ses précurseurs en psychologie et ses utilisations originales en méthodologie d'enquêtes. Des applications telles que le questionnement rétrospectif, le questionnement de définition, et des questions d'entrainement "penser-à-haute-voix" ont été ajoutées à la technique d'une manière adaptée à chaque étude. La technique a aussi été adaptée à des populations différentes, et à des schémas de "quasi-échantillon". Les questionnaires auto-administres exigent aussi des adaptations de la technique à l'origine entièrement orale. De plus, la technique est utilisée par des interviewers qui possèdent des niveaux différents d'entrainement. L'implication de ces variations dans l'entretien est examinée. Les définitions de "cognition" et de "processus cognitifs" implicites dans ces pratiques sont discutées. Les auteurs montrent comment ces définitions ont été étendues pour comprendre des choses telles que le langage usuel, l'interprétation langagière, et la connaissance générale. L'utilité et la nécessité des analyses théoriques sont également discutées.
Methodological Issues Surrounding the Application of Cognitive Psychology in Survey Research
Authors: Tucker Clyde
Published: January 2010

Considérations méthodologiques sur l'application de la psychologie cognitive dans la recherche par questionnaire. Dans l'empressement à appliquer la psychologie cognitive et ses méthodes dans la recherche sociale par questionnaire pendant la dernière décennie, une attention insuffisante a été donnée aux principes scientifiques. Cet article fournit un cadre pour corriger ce problème en se concentrant sur des méthodes qui peuvent améliorer la validité et la fiabilité des données collectées avec l'appui de la psychologie cognitive. Ces méthodes utilisent de meilleurs plans d'expériences et de meilleures techniques de mesure. Des plans d'expériences qui facilitent la comparaison entre des procédures cognitives alternatives et des travaux de chercheurs différents sont présentes. Un autre aspect de ces plans est qu'ils demandent plus d'attention dans l'élaboration du protocole expérimental. En ce qui concerne la mesure, des techniques pour rendre l'utilisation des données qualitatives plus systématique sont discutées, et des méthodes de construction d'indicateurs ordinaux et d'intervalle sont présentés.
Applications of Computer Software in the Sociological Analysis of Qualitative Data
Authors: Fielding Nigel G. , Lee Raymond M.
Published: January 2010

Utilisations de logiciels dans l'analyse sociologique des données qualitatives. Cet article décrit l'utilisation de l'analyse informatique de données qualitatives (CAQDAS en anglais) en sociologie. II fournit un historique de la CAQDAS. montre la relation entre des types de logiciel et des approches différentes de l'analyse sociologique des données qualitatives. II examine la place de la CAQDAS dans l'environnement de recherche. et il considère les développements futurs de logiciels d'analyse de données qualitatives. L'article donne des exemples de procédures utilisant dlfférents logiciels, et présente les résultats. en utilisant la CAQDAS, d'un travail de terrain sur des expériences de chercheurs. L'article termine avec une "liste de ressources" présentant des détails sur les logiciels CAQDAS mentionnés dans l'article.
Measuring Collective Identities of Canadians: a Nested Concentricity Model
Authors: Goyder John
Published: January 2010

Mesurer l'identité collective des Canadiens: Un modèle de concentricité emboîtée. Cet article considère une mesure, par des questions d'une enquête structurée, des identités collectives associées à un territoire. C'est un probleme de mesure reconnu fréquemment dans la littérature scientifique comme étant difficile. Les données sont celles d'une enquête par courrier en 1994 dans une région de la province d'Ontario au Canada. Il y avait plus de 2.000 répondants et un taux de réponse de 71 pourcent. S'identifier avec le monde entier. avec les Canadiens, avec les gens d'Ontario. avec les résidants de la région ont été doublement et séparément mesurés par des questions en forme de matrices. Le plan d'enquête permet de séparer l'estimation valable de l'effet de méthode pour chaque question. Une application de LISREL permet l'estimation de la corrélation entre variables latentes pour chacun des quatre types d'identité. Ceci mène l'auteur à proposer un modèle de concentricité emboîtée dans lequel des identités "voisines" (i.e . Canadienne-Ontarienne versus Canadienne-régionale) ont la plus forte association.
On Going Research/Recherche En Cours
Authors: de Leeuw Edith D. , Hox Joop J.
Published: January 2010

Détecter des formes de réponses aberrantes sur des échelles multi-réponses: Des indices non-paramétriques et un logiciel. La littérature de psychologie expérimentale comprend plusieurs indices de mesurer censés identifier des formes de réponses aberrantes. Cet article examine trois indices non-paramétriques bien connus, donne des exemples d'application et présente un logiciel qui calcule ces indices.
Centre
Authors: Saganenko Galina
Published: January 2010

Schéma de cours - Conaaissance empirique en sociologie: L'étude des principes de recherche et les approches, les possibilités cognitives des méthodes, spécificité des résultats obtenus. Ce cours a été développé à l'Académie de Culture de l'Etat de St. Petersbourg en 1990-1998 sur la base de recherches empiriques et méthodologiques depuis plus de deux décennies. Il a été employé pour enseigner des programmes universitaires de 2-3 et de 5 ans, ainsi que des cours au niveau de la matrise ou du doctorat. Il est dédié à la communication de connaissances empiriques en sociologie. Il implique l'enseignement dans des contextes différents: chaque module aide à "tenir ensemble" les autres modules et, de plus, à clarifier leur sens. Un étudiant doit continuellement les comparer et. à la fin, comprendra leur spécificité et le sens sociologique de leurs résultats empiriques. Dans le programme. il y a au moins quatre "axes" qui peuvent être considérés indépendamment ou en relation entre eux. En particulier, un aspect important concernant l'existence de trois niveaux de sens en sociologie est présenté ici. Le deuxième axe correspond à la compréhension de la structure d'un résultat empirique de recherches. Le troisième axe concerne les types de recherche. Le quatrième concerne la séquence des stades différents de la recherche. D'autres explications importantes sont données
Why Did the Polls Go Wrong in the 1998 Quebec Election? the Answer From Post Electoin Polls
Authors: Durand Claire , Blais Andre
Published: January 2010

Pourquoi les estimations de vote ont-elle échoué au Québec en 1998? La réponse des enquêtes post-élections. Cet article présente les résultats d'un sondage post-électoral réalisé auprès de répondants à trois sondages pré-électoraux conduits pendant la campagne électorale de novembre 1998 au Québec (Canada). Durant la campagne, les sondages avaient systématiquement sous-estimé les intentions de vote pour le Parti libéral, un parti fédéraliste de centre-droit, et surestimé celles pour le Parti québécois. un parti souverainiste de centre-gauche, malgré les compétences méthodologiques. plutôt orthodoxes, des sondeurs québécois. L'écart entre les intentions de vote et le vote effectif avait été attribué à une remontée du Parti libéral en fin de campagne ou à une participation au vote moindre chez les électeurs du Parti québécois. Les résultats présentés invalident ces hypothèses et permettent de conclure que les écarts doivent plutôt étre attribués aux biais liés à l'échantillonnage et à un comportement différencié des non-répondants aux sondages.
Methodological Issues in Survey Research : a Historical Review
Authors: de Heer Wim , de Leeuw Edith D. , van der Zouwen Johannes
Published: January 2010

Problèmes méthodologiques dans la recherche par enquêtes - Un historique. Dans cet article, nous présentons un survol historique des enquêtes sociales et décrivons le développement historique des statistiques et de la méthodologie empirique des enquêtes. Les origines de la recherche par enquêtes datent du début du 19ème siècle: la première enquête empirique a été faite en Angleterre en 1912 par Bowley. Les méthodes modernes d'enquête trouvent leurs origines dans les années 1930 quand trois aspects majeurs de l'enquête ont été développés et perfectionnés: techniques d'échantillonnage, techniques de collecte de données et les méthodes statistiques d'analyse de données. Dans les années 1950, l'interview en face-à-face s'est développé et des manuels ont été publiés. Au débuts des années 1970, l'interview par téléphone est apparu et l'enquête postale s'est répendue. Dans les années 1980-1990, l'interview assisté par ordinateur et les enquêtes électroniques ont été développées. En même temps, des progrès dans la mesure de l'erreur, dans l'étude de la non-réponse et dans le contrôle global de la qualité des données, ont été réalisés. Dans le nouveau millénaire, les principes de base de l'enquête empirique continueront d'avoir cours mais les statisticiens d'enquête, comme Bowley, seraient surpris de voir la structure d'une enquête en 2012. Sans doute, elle s'appuiera sur de nouvelles technologies et concentrerait sur la réduction de la tâche du répondant. tout en améliorant la qualité des données. Bowley apprecierait de voir que des méthodes sophistiquées de réduction de la non-réponse et de l'erreur de mesure incorporées dans la structure de l'enquête pour améliorer la qualité finale des résultats.
How to Use SPSS to Study Ego-Centered Networks
Authors: Müller Christophe , Wellman Barry , Marin Alexandra
Published: January 2010

Comment utiliser SPSS pour étudier des réseaux sociaux ego-centrés. Les capacités de SPSS pour manier les données le rendent utile dans l'étude dès réseaux ego-centrés. De tels réseaux sont utiles dans des études de plusieurs types, telle que celles sur le soutien social, sur l'entourage personnel et sur les relations au sien d'une organisation. Nous montrons comment les analyses de réseaux ego-centrés sont plus efficaces en commençant avec deux fichiers de données: (1) les individus centraux et leurs réseaux ego-centrés; (2) les membres du réseau et leurs liens avec les individus centraux. Nous montrons aussi comment relier ensemble ces deux fichiers pour: (a) donner des informations générales sur chaque réseau ego-centré: (b) combiner les individus centraux, les liens et les données de réseau.
Vitamin C prevents DNA damage induced by renovascular hypertension in multiple organs of Wistar rats
Authors: Nishi Erika Emy , Ribeiro Campos Ruy , Toledo Bergamaschi Cassia , Rossi de Almeida Vitor , Araki Ribeiro Daniel
Published: January 2010

The aim of this study was to investigate, through the single-cell gel (comet) assay, whether vitamin C is able to protect against renovascular hypertension-induced genotoxicity in multiple organs. A total of 32 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: negative control (n = 6); animals treated with vitamin C (n = 6); hypertensive rats (n = 10) and hypertensive rats and treated with vitamin C (n = 10). Hypertension was induced as a result of partial obstruction of the left renal artery by means of a silver clip during 6 weeks. Vitamin C was administered at 150 mg/kg during 7 consecutive days before the end of the experimental period. The results showed that vitamin C was able to protect blood cells against hypertension-induced genotoxicity. Brain, liver and heart cells were also protected by vitamin C following hypertension-induced genotoxic damage. Regarding blood pressure, vitamin C reduced the hypertensive state. In conclusion, our results suggest that vitamin C can prevent hypertension-induced DNA damage in blood, liver, brain and heart cells as well as to normalize the blood pressure of rats.
Trade union cooperation in the NAFTA area
Authors: Gagnon Mona-Josée
Published: January 2010

When the plans for a free trade agreement were first discussed, the North American trade unions were unanimous in their opposition to the idea. However, because of the fragmented nature of their action, they were unable to bring any influence to bear on either government action or public opinion. Yet now that trade in North America is becoming liberalised, it is evident that the outcome for trade unions is not as negative as might have been thought: the trade unions are playing an increasingly important role in the development of discussions on free trade, while their organisations have succeeded in reaching closer agreement with each other on these questions and bridges have been built between the unions and numerous forms of pressure group.

The discussions on free trade have shaken up and transformed north-south trade union relations. The one-way cooperation between those who give and those who receive is a thing of the past. The trade union movements of north and south have discovered that their interests may lie together, that their needs can be reciprocal and that it is possible, therefore, for them to develop more egalitarian forms of relationship.

This article presents, first of all, a review of trade unionism in North America, followed by a summary of the free trade agreements and a description of their application and of anticipated developments. It will then look at how trade union positions have evolved, moving on to an analysis of the power relationship in which the North American trade union movement, and that of the Americas as a whole, has a part to play.
Innovative agreements on equal oppportunities: new horizons of collective bargaining?
Authors: Weiler Anni
Published: January 2010

The project revealed a broad and impressive range of innovative and encouraging equal opportunities agreements and provisions. In light of the concept of 'mainstreaming' and seeing equal opportunities as a strategic issue related to all aspects of the work organisation, the most far-reaching provisions are on organisational cultureslstructures, continuing with provisions focused on job access and the elimination of sex segregation in recruitment, promotion and training. Closely linked to these measures challenging gender hierarchies are provisions on pay equity. Provisions on sexual harassment are a new element in collective agreements covering the working environment. All these measures on improving gender equality in working life are complimented by collective bargaining on reconciliation of work and family life, covering issues such as parental leave, family leave, child care and adaptation of working time arrangements. These encouraging examples demonstrate how collective bargaining can promote equal opportunities. In addition, the innovative potential of equal opportunities agreements and provisions can be a promising stimulus to traditional bargaining.
Trade union education in Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Bridgford Jeff , Košt'al Michal , Martinek Dušan , Simeonova Yuliya , Zabiega Janusz
Published: January 2010

The changes in Central and Eastern Europe that were set in motion at the end of the 1980s threw up a variety of challenges for trade union organisations and placed new demands on their officers and representatives, which in turn produced a range of new training needs. This article intends to start a process - gaining a better understanding of trade union education provision in Central and Eastern Europe. Evidence from four case studies - KNSB (Bulgaria), ČMKOS (Czech Republic), KOZ SR (Slovak Republic) and NSZZ Solidarność (Poland)- shows that trade union organisations have continued to consider education as an integral part of their development strategy, and have established structures for the aggregation of training needs and for the delivery of training within their organisations. In the absence of systematic funding from the state or of agreements with employers' organisations, trade unions carry the financial burden themselves, on occasions with support from western trade union organisations and European or international organisations. The pattern of trade union education provision is generally structured so as to ensure a 'stepped' pathway for the learner, and emphasis is placed, unsurprisingly, on capacity-building. The twin-track approach undertaken by ETUCO provides a response to certain specific needs articulated by CEEC trade unions and also enables a limited number of CEEC trade union officers and representatives to participate in pan-European trade union education activities. However further resources will be needed to increase the number of training activities to the level required to respond adequately to the training needs of ETUC-affiliated organisations in the CEECs.
How to introduce a national minimum wage- the UK example
Authors: Callaghan Bill
Published: January 2010

The article deals with the introduction of the national minimum wage (NMW) in the United Kingdom. It describes the background to the debate, dealing with, among other things, developments in collective bargaining policy, deregulation and the positions of the political parties. It also touches on the changes that have occurred in the thinking of the TUC and the Labour Party. The establishment of the tripartite Low Pay Commission (LPC) and the way it has operated are described in some detail. Particular attention is paid to the procedure used by the LPC to collate evidence, and especially to the official discussions with employers, trade unions and other groups. The article presents the main recommendations of the first two LPC reports and explains their impact on income distribution. A number of specific questions are looked at in some detail, including the problems of data availability, international comparisons, methodology, young people, the periodic adjustment of the minimum wage and consequences for the trade unions.
Low pay and poor workers: a comparative study of France and the United States
Authors: Ponthieux Sophie , Concialdi Pierre
Published: January 2010

In the USA the share of low-wage earners in the labour force is twice as high as in France, although it has remained relatively constant on the other side of the Atlantic in recent years, whereas it has risen in France. The characteristics of the workers affected in the two countries are comparable: women, young people and the low-skilled are more than proportionately affected, groups that are also more frequently encountered in part-time jobs. Low-wage earners have a higher risk of living in a low-income household than the average for wage and salary earners. In the USA poor people of working age are more likely to be employed than is the case in France. In both countries there is clearly a link between the poverty risk and the annual number of hours worked. However, in France the working poor are more likely to be confronted with the problem of inadequate weekly working hours, whereas the same phenomenon in the USA is clearly due to the low level of minimum wages.
What do we know about the link between low pay, gender and part-time work?
Authors: Jepsen Maria
Published: January 2010

The interest in the nature and consequence of low pay has steadily increased during recent years. This interest is a result of the fact that certain countries in the European Union have seen an expansion of low-wage employment as a response to the increase in unemployment. Although various aspects have been identified and measured with regard to low pay, there has been little consideration of the impact of part-time work on low wages, and of the main reasons for the much higher rate of low-wage-earners among women than men. This article brings together the available information on the link between low pay, the much higher rate of low pay among women than men, and the interaction between low pay and part-time employment. Section 2 reviews the knowledge on gender differences with regard to low pay; section 3 focuses on the link between low pay and part-time work; earnings mobility being an important part of the puzzle, the existing evidence is reviewed in section 4; section 5 gathers together the information on living standards; conclusions are presented in section 6.
Work and inclusion
Authors: Valkenburg Ben , Lind Jens , Berkel Rik van
Published: January 2010

In European employment and social policy the dominant perception is that a paid job equals social inclusion and unemployment means social exclusion. In accordance with this way of thinking, unemployment policy has been restructured from paying the unemployed ‘passive’ social benefits to a policy that emphasises activating the unemployed in some sort of activation scheme. Participation in such a scheme is either considered as a substitute for a ‘normal’ job, giving the activated person the same degree of social inclusion as paid employment in a ‘normal’ job, or is supposed to provide the unemployed with better opportunities for finding a ‘normal’ job. The inclusionary potential of this workfare policy is discussed in this article that draws on some of the main findings from a European project on ‘Inclusion through participation'.
Subsidised labour in Belgium and the Netherlands
Authors: Schampheleire Jan De , Berkel Rik van
Published: January 2010

In the 1980s and 1990s subsidised work has developed into a highly differentiated system involving both reductions in labour costs and integrated employment programmes operating in the private as well as the public sector. With the ‘activation’ concept becoming the key reference in both social and employment policy in the 1990s, employment programmes are also more sensitive to (at least the formal) profile of the jobseekers. The Netherlands, notably, are characterised by a comprehensive workfare approach. Although Belgium more typically has a mixture of mutually competing programmes, there is an equal pressure on the unemployed to engage in at least one of the employment programs. A more flexible view of activation should, however, also imply more possibilities for individual choice. Not everybody should be expected to be ready for the routine of full-time regular work. There seems to be at least some indications that policy is beginning to recognise this: the Netherlands are offering a few possibilities for voluntary work, while in Belgium some programmes allow for a combination of guidance, training and work.
Telework: from distance working to new forms of flexible work organisation
Authors: Valenduc Gérard , Vendramin Patricia
Published: January 2010

The purpose of this paper is to analyse some recent developments in tele working, considered as flexible work forms linked to the widespread use of information and communication technology (ICT). First of all we draw an overview of emerging and declining forms of telework, referring to recent results of an international survey carried out for the European Commission. This overview highlights that the various teleworking practices can no longer be analysed from the single point of view of ‘working at a distance'. The second section analyses them in a more general framework: the expansion of flexible work organisation and ‘atypical’ work forms, which characterise employment in the information society. These aspects will be commented on in the light of some results of a European socio-economic research project (FLEXCOT), allowing us to pinpoint the role of ICT in these trends. In conclusion, the paper addresses some challenges for industrial relations and collective bargaining.
Recent developments in U.S. collective bargaining and employment practices
Authors: Katz Harry C.
Published: January 2010

Diversity in employment relations is growing in the United States as a product of the growth in non-union employment and the existence of a variety of union and non-union employment practices. There is also wide variation in recent U.S. collective bargaining. In some firms heightened conflict appears, while in some others extensive partnerships have been forged. While some workers and firms are suffering as management takes advantage of the power advantages provided through non-union growth and globalization, in some other firms unions are using innovative bargaining or traditional strike leverage to make gains.
EU competition policies and public services
Authors: Hall David
Published: January 2010

This contribution examines the influence of EU policies on public services. It traces the impact and constraints of the treaty and the various EU directives that have led to the opening up of different sectors to competition. Attention is drawn to the problematic nature both of the underlying ideology — that liberalisation promotes competition and lower prices — and to the concrete outcomes in many countries and sectors.
Call-centre work: specific characteristics and the challenges of work organisation
Authors: Weinkopf Claudia
Published: January 2010

In recent years call-centres have been, in many countries, one of the fastest growing areas of employment. The services provided by them are as diverse as their corporate form: call-centres may form part of existing companies but they may equally well be new independent serviceproviders. It is frequently asserted that they are invariably a modern form of sweatshop or dark satanic mill, with low pay, poor working conditions and highly flexible working time. In this contribution the characteristics of call-centre work are analysed more closely and it is shown that the quality of jobs is in practice extremely variable. In spite of difficult general conditions, a number of starting points for a better organisation of work and collectively agreed regulation exist.
European-level bargaining in action? Joint texts negotiated by European Works Councils
Authors: Carley Mark
Published: January 2010

This article, based largely on research carried out for the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, examines the extent to which European Works Councils have concluded joint texts with management, and the content and context of such texts. The practice of negotiating joint texts appears to be very limited, but growing, with some more substantive texts starting to appear. Most joint texts are frameworks for lower-level action, and the key themes dealt with are company restructuring and social rights. It seems that the dynamics within each company that lead to the conclusion of a joint text are complex, and involve the interplay of different factors of differing strengths.
How flexible are labour markets in the CEECs? A macro level approach
Authors: Eamets Raul , Kallaste Epp , Masso Jaan , Rõõm Marit
Published: January 2010

This article analyses labour market flexibility in the Central and Eastern European countries (the CEECs). An empirical approach is taken that concentrates on macro level issues including labour protection, labour market policy and the role of trade unions in wage setting. The authors conclude that labour relations are not less strictly regulated in the CEECs than in the EU countries. Expenditure on labour market policy is relatively low in most CEECs. Decreases in wages, and especially decreases in nominal wages, indicate the flexibility of wages in the CEECs and the minor role played by the unions in the wage-bargaining process.
Creating a more dynamic European social dialogue by strengthening the sectoral dimension
Authors: Kollewe Kathleen , Kuhlmann Reinhard
Published: January 2010

The challenge facing European integration is to link up economic union with political and social union. A degree of ambivalence surrounds the European social dialogue: pronounced dead in some quarters, it has meanwhile been institutionalised at the highest level at the Tripartite Social Summit in spring 2003 and recently given rise to the ETUC and UNICE work programme. In this article the authors describe the shortcomings of the sectoral social dialogue in terms of inadequate national and European networks and the lack of binding force of its results. Social dialogue must aim to shape change and, by developing a stronger sectoral dimension, seek to take up more industrial policy topics with a view to reconciling competitiveness and social inclusion. An additional long-term orientation for the social dialogue, geared to triggering new developments by means of participation, can put in place the conditions for effective bargaining solutions.
Five years of the ECB - a mixed experience
Authors: Horn Gustav
Published: January 2010

This article examines the performance of the ECB's monetary policy. It concludes that the ECB has performed well as regards its primary goal of keeping inflation under control. However, as long as price stability is not threatened the ECB can and should contribute to growth. Here, however, after a good start, the ECB's performance has been disappointing. This article argues that greater coordination between wage and monetary policies is required: if the ECB were to take account of stability-oriented national wage formation policies, then it could pursue a monetary policy that promoted growth without putting in jeopardy price stability.
Labour supply of Italian mothers. A comparison with other EU countries: facts, data and public policies
Authors: Boca Daniela Del , Pasqua Silvia
Published: January 2010

Recent social and labour market policies in Italy have altered childcare costs and availability, increased opportunities for part-time jobs and flexibility in working hours and extended parental leave. This analysis focuses on the impact of these changes on the labour supply of mothers in Italy in comparison with other countries. Data from Eurostat and the OECD, and empirical results from the Italian Survey on Household Income and Wealth (SHIW) and from the European Community Household Panel (ECHP) are presented. The data show how the situation of Italian mothers is not dissimilar from that of mothers in other southern European countries, in particular Spain and Greece.
The European Works Councils – a role beyond the EC Directive?
Authors: Telljohann Volker
Published: January 2010

This paper presents the main results of a research project which analysed the ‘inner life’ of the European Works Council (EWC), that is, the structures and processes of communication and patterns of interaction within EWCs, and between EWCs and other actors such as trade union organisations, company-level employee representatives and management. The project set out to be a qualitative investigation into the processes of communication and interaction which condition and influence the functioning of EWCs. It involved systematic case study research into the interests, motives, expectations and perceptions of the actors involved and the barriers to socio-cultural interaction which characterise the operation of EWCs. Furthermore, the project examined the concrete activities performed by EWCs in order to identify their actual role. The latter part of the analysis deals with the development of EWC activities over time, with specific reference to the involvement of Italian unions in EWCs. This paper argues that, under certain conditions, EWCs take on a role which goes beyond the tasks defined by the European Directive.
Social cohesion across Europe. Does time allocation matter?
Authors: Fontainha Elsa
Published: January 2010

The concept of social cohesion has received much attention in recent academic research as well as in policy documents. The aim of this paper is to point out the shortcomings of current indicators for social cohesion and the advantages of including time allocation data in the evaluation and measurement of social cohesion. Such data should include, for example, time spent on household work and family care or time spent on voluntary and civic activities. The paper is organised as follows: first, the Eurostat and OECD social cohesion indicators are discussed in relation to concepts of social cohesion. In section two, some aspects of social cohesion are associated with time allocated to various activities and it is argued that time use data, in some cases, provide a more accurate measure of social cohesion. In section three, empirical results are presented for European countries using indicators that illustrate social cohesion, and time use data are combined with current social cohesion indicators. Finally, conclusions are presented.
Participation in European Companies: views from social partners in three Member States
Authors: Veersma Ulke , Swinkels Sjef
Published: January 2010

The decision to establish a European Company (SE) is determined not only by the company but also by institutional factors outside the company. Employers' organisations and trade unions, with their long history of interaction within national systems of industrial relations, influence basic attitudes towards European integration, international business and related issues, such as board-level participation. This paper looks at the attitudes of social partners towards the SE and employee participation in three EU Member States: Germany, the UK and Spain. While Germany has a well-established system of co-determination, Spain and the UK had, until recently, hardly any form of employee participation. These two countries, and certainly their employers' organisations, were at least hesitant towards, and sometimes opposed to, all forms of regulation on employee participation. This attitude has long hampered policymaking on the SE and employee participation and may also determine future prospects for legislation. The authors conclude that employee participation in an SE will need to be the subject of the same learning process as has been the case with respect to European Works Councils.
Sectoral social dialogue? A quantitative analysis
Authors: Pochet Philippe
Published: January 2010

Recent studies of the sectoral social dialogue have concluded that the types of documents adopted by the sectoral social partners are undergoing a qualitative change. It appears that significant developments are underway which need to be better understood and analysed. Any such exercise poses two challenges: one quantitative, since there are no standardised data concerning texts signed, and the other qualitative, relating to the precise nature of the texts adopted. How should they be described? How should they be classified? This article presents the results of a quantitative analysis, based on a database created at the Observatoire social européen covering all 353 agreements adopted since 1978. From this analysis we can already detect certain overall trends affecting the sectoral social dialogue.
Creating perspectives, negotiating social Europe
Authors: Jacobi Otto , Kirton-Darling Judith
Published: January 2010

In this introduction to the eight reports on different sectoral dialogues, the coordinators of this issue provide an inventory of the different forms of social dialogue in the EU. It is argued that trade unions have hitherto made insufficient use of the opportunities offered by social dialogue but that the sectoral social dialogue offers a forum for unions to cooperate with employers to develop policies to safeguard Europeanised industries. Two fields of action are identified as being particularly suitable for Europe-wide campaigning: common rules for the European labour market, including a European minimum wage system, and a ‘citizens insurance’ to sustain social security systems.
Coalition building: trade union dialogues with civil society
Authors: Schmidt Eberhard
Published: January 2010

In addition to the institutionalised sectoral and central ‘social dialogues' with the employers' organisations at European level, trade unions are devoting increasing efforts to social dialogue with other civil society actors as a means of promoting improved social and ecological standards in the world of work. These efforts at cooperation are not always free of conflict. One prerequisite for successful coalition building between trade unions and NGOs is mutual acceptance of their different social goals. The presence of ‘bridge persons' in the respective partner organisations can also be a significant factor of success. An important role is played, finally, by the political environment, in particular, the preparedness of state or supra-state bodies to offer trade unions and NGOs opportunities to participate in decision-making.
The peer review procedure: some thoughts on the analysis and dissemination of good practices in the framework of the European Employment Strategy
Authors: Lefresne Florence
Published: January 2010

The purpose of the peer review programme - created in 1999, and in 2005 incorporated into the mutual learning programme of the European Employment Strategy - is to identify and evaluate good practices by Member States and to promote their transferability within the European Union. But is it possible to isolate a good practice and to transpose it? On the basis of specific examples this article draws attention to the numerous inconsistencies that emerge between the supposedly universal register of the EES and the great variety of national registers through which it is interpreted. These findings lead to an adjustment of the expectations placed in mutual learning. The article goes on to show that the identification of good practices reflects, in considerable measure, a wish on the part of the Member States to make their national employment policies appear legitimate, implicitly raising, at the same time, some questions about the actual feasibility of a Community model.
The governability of collective bargaining. The case of Spain
Authors: Nonell Rosa , Alós-Moner Ramón , Artiles Antonio Martin , Molins Joaquin
Published: January 2010

The aim of this article is to analyse the concept of governability of collective bargaining proposed by Traxler, Blaschke and Kittel (2001) and to demonstrate its explanatory capacity and limitations in the Spanish case. Governability is an important subject that should be taken into account in the reform of industrial relations systems and in the debate with regard to centralisation and decentralisation of collective bargaining in Europe. The authors' main hypothesis is drawn up in line with the institutionalist approach. Their argument, based on the results of collective bargaining, is that the Spanish system of collective bargaining, in spite of the organisational weakness of the unions and of the employers' associations, is governable thanks to the role of the state, the institutions, the legal ordering, as well as tradition and custom.
Relocation: concepts, facts and policy challenges
Authors: Galgóczi Béla , Keune Maarten , Watt Andrew
Published: January 2010

Relocation has recently raised renewed concerns in Europe, being seen as reducing employment. This article examines the characteristics of relocation, the factors driving relocation and related policy issues. The authors argue that a number of factors foster relocation but there are also important reasons why firms ‘stay put’. For the moment, relocation and its negative effects on employment have been more contained than often assumed. However, certain regions and sectors have been heavily affected. Also, foreign investment is moving into more sophisticated product markets, and future impacts on Europe may be more severe. Subsequently, it is argued that relocation processes cannot simply be left to the market. Policy options are discussed in relation to three challenges: reducing incentives for relocation; what to do when relocation takes place; and how to deal with the threat of relocation and attempts to play off against each other workers in different countries.
The rise of China as an economic power: what impact on the EU economy and labour markets?
Authors: Watt Andrew
Published: January 2010

This article focuses on China and its impact on the European Union economy, labour markets and workers. It is widely claimed that, faced with competition from countries such as China, Europe needs radical reform of its economic and social institutions in order to remain ‘competitive’. This article presents two main theses. The first is that Europe remains, to a far greater extent than is commonly supposed, ‘master of its own destiny’ and the various actors should tailor their policies accordingly. The second is that one must beware of simply extrapolating from past trends. China's development trajectory is changing and will do so further, opening up opportunities for, as well as posing threats to, Europe.
Labour relations, collective bargaining and employee voice in SMEs in central and eastern Europe
Authors: Illessy Miklós , Kirov Vassil , Makó Csaba , Stoeva Svetla
Published: January 2010

Drawing upon the examples of Bulgaria and Hungary, this article explores employee representation and voice in SMEs in central and eastern Europe in the context of the spectacular development of the SME sector during the post-1990 transition and associated changes in labour relations and collective bargaining practices. The article examines the relationship between the regulation of employment relations and employee representation and voice. It suggests that the absence of formal channels of representation in SMEs hides the existence of a number of informal compromises between employers and employees over matters such as wages, working time, and health and safety conditions. The authors argue that future trade union strategies should be based on a clear understanding of these social realities.
Why do Europe's unions find it difficult to organise in small firms?
Authors: Moore Sian , Jefferys Steve , Cours-Salies Pierre
Published: January 2010

This article explores the barriers to union membership and organisation at workplace level in SMEs across Europe. It shows that the nature of social relations in SMEs makes the articulation of grievances a high risk strategy for workers and militates against the identification of collective interests as a basis for organisation. However, SMEs are dynamic organisations and organisational change can alter the conditions for representation. The article highlights the key importance of ‘pro-voice’ workers, with a collective frame of reference, for unionisation at workplace level. The general absence of such workers in SMEs compounds the problems faced by unions in addressing union renewal in the growth areas of the EU economy
Tracing trade union innovation: a framework for evaluating trade union learning projects in a time of complexity
Authors: Walker Steve , Lucio Miguel Martínez , Trevorrow Philippa
Published: January 2010

In this article we present an evaluation framework developed during the evaluation activities of TRACE – a major European trade union project centrally concerned with the anticipation of, and response to, change. The framework links the ‘micro’ project activities of training workshops, materials and networks to broader organisational and social outcomes. We demonstrate the use of the framework, presenting findings and discussing two related themes – inter-organisational networking and organisational learning – which have emerged as central in the evaluation.