Lavoro agile e organizzazione del lavoro: quale scenario dopo la pandemia?

In questo saggio si propone una riflessione sul lavoro da remoto, concentrando in particolare l’attenzione sull’organizzazione del lavoro. Nella prima parte dell’articolo si ricostruisce brevemente il contesto in cui, di fronte all’esplosione della pandemia ed alla necessità di ridurre il più possibile la circolazione del virus, si è fatto ricorso in maniera inedita al lavoro da remoto sia nel settore pubblico che privato. Nella seconda parte si analizza il contenuto dell’accordo interconfederale sul telelavoro e della legge 81/2017 sul lavoro agile, sottolineando alcune delle principali criticità dei due testi in merito proprio alla definizione dell’organizzazione del lavoro. Infine, si mettono in rilievo le principali novità in materia introdotte dal protocollo nazionale sul lavoro agile sottoscritto dal Ministero del lavoro e dalle parti sociali nel dicembre 2021 e, nelle conclusioni, si propongono alcune traiettorie di intervento per il futuro

Cinquanta anni di contrattazione di secondo livello: che cosa impariamo dal caso Lamborghini?

Negli ultimi cinquanta anni, la natura e la qualità delle relazioni industriali in Italia è notevolmente cambiata. Il processo di contrattazione a livello nazionale è stato fortemente indebolito e il dialogo sociale tra le parti messo in discussione in diverse occasioni. La contrattazione aziendale nel gruppo automobilistico Fiat ha segnato una stagione dove la prova di forza tra direzione aziendale e sindacato sembrava giocata sul terreno dello sviluppo economico fondato su una rinuncia ai diritti dei lavoratori, e dove la dimensione globale delle relazioni industriali in un’impresa multinazionale non potesse essere messa in discussione perché questione non rilevante per la contrattazione aziendale. In tale quadro, l'esistenza di alcune realtà divergenti, come Lamborghini, risulta estremamente interessante, per il particolare contesto di sviluppo regionale in cui si colloca e per la svolta nelle sue alterne vicende quando, nel 1998, è stata acquisita nel gruppo Audi VW. Un’analisi longitudinale della contrattazione aziendale offre spunti per tracciare una periodizzazione delle tematiche al centro del confronto tra le parti, e le modalità stesse in cui avviene il confronto. Basata sulla ricostruzione del corpus originale relativo alla contrattazione, dal 1968 al 2016, l’analisi proposta in questo saggio utilizza i risultati dell’analisi automatica dei testi per una riflessione critica che affianca la lettura di documenti. Oltre a identificare un’efficace periodizzazione dei temi al centro della contrattazione aziendale, le conclusioni sottolineano il nesso tra livello nazionale e livello aziendale della contrattazione.In the last fifty years, the nature and quality of industrial relations in Italy has changed considerably. The national bargaining process has been severely weakened and social dialogue between the parties has been questioned on several occasions. Corporate bargaining in the Fiat automotive group marked a season where the test of strength between company management and the Trade Union seemed to be played out on the ground of economic development based on a waiver of workers' rights, and where the global dimension of industrial relations in a multinational company could not be questioned because it was not an issue relevant to corporate bargaining. In this context, the existence of some divergent situations, such as that of Lamborghini, is extremely interesting, due to the particular context of regional development in which it is located and to the turning point in its ups and downs when, in 1998, it was acquired by the Audi VW group. A longitudinal analysis of the bargaining at company level offers cues for tracing a periodisation of the issues at the centre of the comparison between the parties, and the methods in which the comparison takes place. Based on the original body of bargaining from 1968 to 2016, the analysis proposed in this essay uses the results of automatic text analysis for a critical reflection that flanks the reading of documents. In addition to identifying an effective periodisation of the issues at the heart of corporate bargaining, the conclusions underline the link between the national level and the corporate level of bargaining

Case studies of automation in services

A full understanding of the technological complexity underlying robotics and automation is still lacking, most of all when focusing on the impacts on work in services. By means of a qualitative analysis based on over 50 interviews to HR managers, IT technicians, workers and trade union delegates, this work provides evidence on the main changes occurring at shopfloor level in selected Italian companies having adopted technological artefacts potentially affecting labour tasks by automating processes. The analysis of interviews complemented with visits to the companies and desk research on business documents highlights that so far labour displacement due to the adoption of automation technologies is not yet in place, while tasks and organizational reconfiguration appear more widespread. Major heterogeneity applies across plants due to the final product/service produced, the techno-organizational capabilities of the firm and the type of strategic orientation versus technological adoption. These elements also affect drivers and barriers to technological adoption. Overall, the analysis confirms the complexity in automating presumably low-value-added phases: human labour remains crucial in conducting activities that require flexibility, adaptability and reconfiguration of physical tasks. Further, human agency and worker representation, in particular the role of trade unions, are almost disregarded and not considered by the firms when deciding to introduce a new technology

Systematic pathological component scores for skin-containing vascularized composite allografts

Clinical management of skin-containing vascularized composite allografts (VCA) requires accurate assessment of the graft status, typically based on skin biopsies. The Banff 2007 Working Classification proposed 4 grades of acute rejection, but did not score individual features or include vascular rejection. Here we report a systematic scoring system developed from MHC-mismatched porcine skin-containing VCA. Biopsies from 20 VCA, 9 autologous skin flaps and 9 normal skin were analyzed to optimize the methodology and set thresholds. The components quantified were: perivascular cells/dermal vessel (pc), perivascular dermal infiltrate area (pa), luminal leukocytes/capillary or venule (c), epidermal infiltrate (ei), epidermal apoptosis or necrosis (e), endarteritis (v), and chronic allograft vasculopathy (cav). To evaluate prognostic value, we scored a separate group of 28 serial biopsies from 8 recipients (4 that were ultimately accepted and 4 that rejected. Parameters on the initial biopsies predicting later graft rejection included pc (p < 0.02), pa (p < 0.03), ei (p < 0.0005), e (p < 0.003) and c (p < 0.005). Reproducibility between 2 pathologists blinded to clinical data was acceptable, with weighted kappa scores for pc (0.673), pa (0.399), ei (0.464), e (0.663), v (0.766), and c (0.642). This component scoring system can be adapted clinically, since human and porcine skin are highly similar. Vascular lesions in VCA are also highlighted in this system and could impact graft outcome. The component score approach complements Banff 2007 grades and will enable the establishment of clinically significant thresholds

Case Studies of Automation in Services. A workplace analysis of logistics, cleaning and health sectors in Italy

A full understanding of the technological complexity underlying robotics and automation is still lacking, most of all when focusing on the impacts on work in services. By means of a qualitative analysis relying on the administration of more than 50 interviews to HR managers, IT technicians, workers and trade union delegates, this work provides evidence on the main changes occurring at shopfloor level in selected Italian companies having adopted technological artefacts potentially affecting labour tasks by automating processes. The analysis of interviews complemented with visits to the companies and desk research on business documents highlights that so far labour displacement due to the adoption of automation technologies is not yet in place, while tasks and organizational reconfiguration appear more widespread. Major heterogeneity applies across plants due to the final product/service produced, the techno-organizational capabilities of the firm and the type of strategic orientation versus technological adoption. These elements also affect drivers and barriers to technological adoption. Overall, the analysis confirms the complexity in automating presumably low-valueadded phases: human labour remains crucial in conducting activities that require flexibility, adaptability and reconfiguration of physical tasks. Further, human agency and worker representation, in particular the role of trade unions, are almost disregarded and not considered by the firms when deciding to introduce a new technology

The new carbon symbiotic star IPHAS J205836.43+503307.2

We are performing a search for symbiotic stars using IPHAS, the INT Halpha survey of the northern Galactic plane, and follow-up observations. Candidate symbiotic stars are selected on the basis of their IPHAS and near-IR colours, and spectroscopy and photometry are obtained to determine their nature. We present here observations of the symbiotic star candidate IPHAS J205836.43+503307.2. The optical spectrum shows the combination of a number of emission lines, among which are the high-excitation species of [OIII], HeII, [Ca V], and [Fe VII], and a red continuum with the features of a star at the cool end of the carbon star sequence. The nebular component is spatially resolved: the analysis of the spatial profile of the [NII]6583 line in the spectrum indicates a linear size of ~2.5 arcsec along the east-west direction. Its velocity structure suggests an aspherical morphology. The near-infrared excess of the source, which was especially strong in 1999, indicated that a thick circumstellar dust shell was also present in the system. The carbon star has brightened in the last decade by two to four magnitudes at red and near-infrared wavelengths. Photometric monitoring during a period of 60 days from November 2010 to January 2011 reveals a slow luminosity decrease of 0.2 magnitudes. From the observed spectrophotometric properties and variability, we conclude that the source is a new Galactic symbiotic star of the D-type, of the rare kind that contains a carbon star, likely a carbon Mira. Only two other systems of this type are known in the Galaxy.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Upper extremity transplantation in non-human primates: an orthotopic model for translational research

Vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) offers unparalleled restoration of function and form following devastating musculoskeletal and soft tissue injury. However, the potential adverse effects of life-long immunosuppression remain a significant cause for concern. Therefore, while the surgical techniques necessary for VCA have developed rapidly, the immunological aspects of these procedures and the potential functional significance of immunological processes on vascularized composite allografts remain areas in which further research is required. The functional complexity of these procedures, combined with the preclinical nature of many of the research questions, necessitates the use of large animal models to most effectively address some of the outstanding hypotheses. Cynomolgus macaques are among the premier large animal models for immunological research. This manuscript describes development of an orthotopic model of upper extremity transplantation in cynomolgus macaques. Following study of the anatomy to determine feasibility, in vivo proof of concept was achieved by autologous amputation and replantation in two animals, following which a preliminary series of four allotransplants was performed. The anatomy encountered and techniques required for successful transplantation are closely comparable to those in clinical upper extremity transplantation. This is a technically challenging model, but offers a rigorous pre-clinical platform for translational research in transplant immunology, and is suitable for detailed study of the impact of immunologic processes on functional outcomes following VCA

Effects of transient donor chimerism on rejection of MHC-mismatched vascularized composite allografts in swine

Background: Despite encouraging outcomes in vascularized composite allograft (VCA) transplantation, the risks of chronic immunosuppression limit widespread applicability. It has been suggested that infusion of donor bone marrow along with the VCA may reduce the level of immunosuppression required to prevent clinical VCA rejection. However, no clear evidence has yet been presented to confirm the role of donor bone marrow in the prevention of rejection. In this study we investigated the immunologic effects of concurrent bone marrow transplantation in a large animal VCA model. Methods: MGH miniature swine (n=4) received a non-myeloablative conditioning regimen consisting of low-dose total body irradiation, T-cell depletion, a short course of Cyclosporine A, with or without varying doses of donor bone marrow cells in combination with a complete MHC-mismatched VCA. Animals were monitored daily for signs of rejection or graft versus host disease. Chimerism levels were assessed using flow cytometry and in vitro assays were performed to assess for donor-specific responses. Results: Transient chimerism was prolonged with increased bone marrow cell doses and total body irradiation. While animals that received BMC infusions did not have significantly prolonged VCA acceptance following cessation of immunosuppression compared to animals that received conditioning without BMCs, they demonstrated better early clinical outcomes and demonstrated donor-specific unresponsiveness during the presence of detectable chimerism. Conclusions: Detectable mixed chimerism following bone marrow transplantation and VCA mitigates donor-specific responses and acute rejection episodes, but does not appear to be sufficient for tolerance induction