Union Decline: Lessons from Alberta

Le déclin du syndicalisme en Alberta peut ressortir, du moins en partie, à des transformations de l'environnement survenues dans les années 1980, lesquelles se sont combinées pour accroître l'hostilité à son égard. En effet, les syndicats albertains ont dû affronter en même temps des attitudes politiques rébarbatives et une grave récession économique. Les activités syndicales dans l'arène politique et sur le marché du travail ne sont que deux aspects — et très visibles — de l'action syndicale qui ont été modifiés par ces changements macro-économiques. Un troisième aspect de l'activité syndicale, moins perceptible celui-ci, est le processus par lequel les membres sont conditionnés à une unique vision du monde, de telle sorte que, peut-on affirmer, les transformations économiques tendent à écarter l'action des syndicats de leur philosophie fondamentale, ce qui est de nature à freiner leur cheminement en tant qu'organisation.Historiquement, l'approche pratique et idéologique des syndicats albertains en matière de relations professionnelles répondait à la notion d'«antagonisme mature» exposée par Adams (1988). Ils acceptaient un partage dans l'aménagement des relations du travail entre les employeurs et eux. Le rôle de ceux-là, estimaient-ils, consistait à organiser et à diriger l'entreprise. Leur propre fonction, c'était de protéger leurs membres en s'assurant que les employeurs n'enfreindraient pas les normes négociées collectivement.Du point de vue philosophique, les syndicats acceptaient d'avoir une responsabilités limitée dans la société albertaine. Ils s'efforçaient d'améliorer les conditions de travail de leurs membres et, donc, leur bien-être. Puisqu'ils n'avaient aucun intérêt commun avec les employeurs, les syndicats estimaient qu'ils devaient rester en dehors des mécanismes de prise de décisions dans l'entreprise et s'en tenir à la négociation collective pour faire progresser les intérêts de leurs membres. Dans la pratique, les syndicats tentaient de réaliser leur propre conception des relations professionnelles en poursuivant une orientation fondée sur des intérêts d'ordre économique immédiats, soit l'augmentation du pouvoir d'achat et la sécurité d'emploi, par la négociation collective et autres activités reliées au marché du travail. Le déclin du syndicalisme en Alberta, croyons-nous, est le résultat de l'incompatibilité entre cette vision syndicale antagoniste et l'incapacité d'atteindre les objectifs économiques qu'une telle attitude suppose. Une contradiction s'est développée entre les attentes économiques des syndiqués résultant des promesses que les syndicats leur ont laissé miroiter, et l'incapacité des syndicats à les réaliser. Les syndicats ont continué d'inculquer à leurs adhérents qu'ils sont les victimes d'un milieu de travail hostile et que l'organisation syndicale constitue leur seule planche de salut.Aujourd'hui, par suite d'une opposition devenue de plus en plus farouche, les syndicats ont beaucoup plus de difficulté à «livrer la marchandise». Ceci a pu avoir pour effet d'amoindrir l'attrait du syndicalisme tant pour les salariés qui en sont membres que pour ceux qui ne le sont pas, ce qui pourrait expliquer en partie son déclin.Cet article vise à vérifier l'existence d'une incompatibilité entre la vision que peuvent avoir les syndicats du régime de relations professionnelles et leur capacité d'assurer à leurs adhérents des avantages véritables en matière de salaires. On traite ensuite des conséquences d'une telle incompatibilité sur l'organisation syndicale.Pour en évaluer la portée exacte, on a tenu compte du fait que les revenus des salariés et leur conception des relations du travail ont aussi un effet sur la probabilité d'être syndiqué. Aussi, les auteurs de l'étude estiment-ils que l'adhésion syndicale, d'une part, de même que les gains des salariés et leurs attitudes face aux relations patronales-syndicales, d'autre part, s'influencent réciproquement.On a découvert, tel que prévu, que la syndicalisation atténue l'opinion du «travail musclé» (c'est-à-dire la notion que les syndicats sont des institutions trop puissantes et qu'il faut freiner leur influence) et renforcent l'idée du «capital musclé» (c'est-à-dire la conception que les syndicats sont essentiels pour contrebalancer le pouvoir des employeurs et améliorer les conditions de travail des salariés). Aussi, les salariés croyant les syndicats trop forts étaient davantage des non-syndiqués et ceux qui, au contraire, exprimaient le sentiment du trop grand pouvoir du capital étaient plus portés à être syndiqués. On observe donc une forte socialisation des membres à cette conception antagoniste des relations du travail.Le rapport entre l'adhésion syndicale et les gains s'écartait partiellement des modèles traditionnels. En premier lieu, nous avons constaté que les salariés dont les salaires étaient les plus élevés étaient davantage des syndiqués. Alors que l'effet négatif de l'affiliation syndicale sur les salaires peut n'être qu'un cas d'espèce, puisque nous ne connaissons qu'une seule étude faisant état d'ouvriers spécialisés ayant subi une perte de salaire à la suite de leur adhésion syndicale (MacDonald et Evans 1981), on se rend de plus en plus compte que, aux États-Unis (Bernstein 1986; Freeman et Kleiner 1988) et au Canada (Adams et Saul 1988; Globe and Mail, 21 octobre 1988; Panitch et Swartz 1987:100), la valeur comparative des salaires conventionnels devient moins marquée qu'elle ne l'était auparavant. Ces constatations montrent que, dans le microcosme albertain, les syndicats éprouvent des difficultés à satisfaire les désirs de leurs membres en matière de salaires, mais qu'ils entretiennent néanmoins encore de tels espoirs et nourissent l'idée que les relations professionnelles doivent se fonder sur l'antagonisme. Si nos analyses et notre raisonnement théorique sont justes, un certain nombre de syndicats canadiens risquent de dépérir à cause de leur incapacité à adapter leur philosophie des relations du travail à des circonstances nouvelles. Qu'ils émergent handicapés de ce conflit ou qu'ils reprennent vigueur dépendra de leur aptitude à réévaluer en profondeur leur rôle premier et leurs objectifs.This paper tests whether an inconsistency exists between unions' industrial relations philosophies and their abilities to secure real wage gains. One economic measure and two attitudinal measures are related to union membership. The influence of these measures on both the likelihood that a person is a union member and union membership's impact upon these measures are simultaneously estimated. The implications of the results for private-sector union decline in Canada are then discussed

Recommendations for myeloid-derived suppressor cell nomenclature and characterization standards

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) have emerged as major regulators of immune responses in cancer and other pathological conditions. In recent years, ample evidence supports key contributions of MDSC to tumour progression through both immune-mediated mechanisms and those not directly associated with immune suppression. MDSC are the subject of intensive research with >500 papers published in 2015 alone. However, the phenotypic, morphological and functional heterogeneity of these cells generates confusion in investigation and analysis of their roles in inflammatory responses. The purpose of this communication is to suggest characterization standards in the burgeoning field of MDSC research

A longitudinal examination of perinatal testosterone, estradiol and vitamin D as predictors of handedness outcomes in childhood and adolescence

The developmental origins of handedness remain elusive, though very early emergence suggests individual differences manifesting in utero could play an important role. Prenatal testosterone and Vitamin D exposure are considered, yet findings and interpretations remain equivocal. We examined n = 767 offspring from a population-based pregnancy cohort (The Raine Study) for whom early biological data and childhood/adolescent handedness data were available. We tested whether 18-week maternal circulatory Vitamin D (25[OH]D), and testosterone and estradiol from umbilical cord blood sampled at birth predicted variance in direction of hand preference (right/left), along with right- and left-hand speed, and the strength and direction of relative hand skill as measured by a finger-tapping task completed at 10 (Y10) and/or 16 (Y16) years. Although higher concentrations of Vitamin D predicted more leftward and less lateralized (regardless of direction) relative hand skill profiles, taken as a whole, statistically significant findings typically did not replicate across time-point (Y10/Y16) or sex (male/female) and were rarely detected across different (bivariate/multivariate) levels of analysis. Considering the number of statistical tests and generally inconsistent findings, our results suggest that perinatal testosterone and estradiol contribute minimally, if at all, to subsequent variance in handedness. Vitamin D, however, may be of interest in future studies

ABCC Multidrug Transporters in Childhood Neuroblastoma: Clinical and Biological Effects Independent of Cytotoxic Drug Efflux

Background Although the prognostic value of the ATP-binding cassette, subfamily C (ABCC) transporters in childhood neuroblastoma is usually attributed to their role in cytotoxic drug efflux, certain observations have suggested that these multidrug transporters might contribute to the malignant phenotype independent of cytotoxic drug efflux. Methods A v-myc myelocytomatosis viral related oncogene, neuroblastoma derived (MYCN)-driven transgenic mouse neuroblastoma model was crossed with an Abcc1-deficient mouse strain (658 hMYCN1/−, 205 hMYCN+/1 mice) or, alternatively, treated with the ABCC1 inhibitor, Reversan (n = 20). ABCC genes were suppressed using short interfering RNA or overexpressed by stable transfection in neuroblastoma cell lines BE(2)-C, SH-EP, and SH-SY5Y, which were then assessed for wound closure ability, clonogenic capacity, morphological differentiation, and cell growth. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to examine the clinical significance of ABCC family gene expression in a large prospectively accrued cohort of patients (n = 209) with primary neuroblastomas. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression were used to test for associations with event-free and overall survival. Except where noted, all statistical tests were two-sided. Results Inhibition of ABCC1 statistically significantly inhibited neuroblastoma development in hMYCN transgenic mice (mean age for palpable tumor: treated mice, 47.2 days; control mice, 41.9 days; hazard ratio [HR] = 9.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.65 to 32; P < .001). Suppression of ABCC1 in vitro inhibited wound closure (P < .001) and clonogenicity (P = .006); suppression of ABCC4 enhanced morphological differentiation (P < .001) and inhibited cell growth (P < .001). Analysis of 209 neuroblastoma patient tumors revealed that, in contrast with ABCC1 and ABCC4, low rather than high ABCC3 expression was associated with reduced event-free survival (HR of recurrence or death = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.4 to 4.2; P = .001), with 23 of 53 patients with low ABCC3 expression experiencing recurrence or death compared with 31 of 155 patients with high ABCC3. Moreover, overexpression of ABCC3 in vitro inhibited neuroblastoma cell migration (P < .001) and clonogenicity (P = .03). The combined expression of ABCC1, ABCC3, and ABCC4 was associated with patients having an adverse event, such that of the 12 patients with the "poor prognosis” expression pattern, 10 experienced recurrence or death (HR of recurrence or death = 12.3, 95% CI = 6 to 27; P < .001). Conclusion ABCC transporters can affect neuroblastoma biology independently of their role in chemotherapeutic drug efflux, enhancing their potential as targets for therapeutic interventio

Interactions between the Nse3 and Nse4 Components of the SMC5-6 Complex Identify Evolutionarily Conserved Interactions between MAGE and EID Families

The SMC5-6 protein complex is involved in the cellular response to DNA damage. It is composed of 6-8 polypeptides, of which Nse1, Nse3 and Nse4 form a tight sub-complex. MAGEG1, the mammalian ortholog of Nse3, is the founding member of the MAGE (melanoma-associated antigen) protein family and Nse4 is related to the EID (E1A-like inhibitor of differentiation) family of transcriptional repressors.Using site-directed mutagenesis, protein-protein interaction analyses and molecular modelling, we have identified a conserved hydrophobic surface on the C-terminal domain of Nse3 that interacts with Nse4 and identified residues in its N-terminal domain that are essential for interaction with Nse1. We show that these interactions are conserved in the human orthologs. Furthermore, interaction of MAGEG1, the mammalian ortholog of Nse3, with NSE4b, one of the mammalian orthologs of Nse4, results in transcriptional co-activation of the nuclear receptor, steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1). In an examination of the evolutionary conservation of the Nse3-Nse4 interactions, we find that several MAGE proteins can interact with at least one of the NSE4/EID proteins.We have found that, despite the evolutionary diversification of the MAGE family, the characteristic hydrophobic surface shared by all MAGE proteins from yeast to humans mediates its binding to NSE4/EID proteins. Our work provides new insights into the interactions, evolution and functions of the enigmatic MAGE proteins

Elimination of Schistosomiasis Transmission in Zanzibar: Baseline Findings before the Onset of a Randomized Intervention Trial.

Gaining and sustaining control of schistosomiasis and, whenever feasible, achieving local elimination are the year 2020 targets set by the World Health Organization. In Zanzibar, various institutions and stakeholders have joined forces to eliminate urogenital schistosomiasis within 5 years. We report baseline findings before the onset of a randomized intervention trial designed to assess the differential impact of community-based praziquantel administration, snail control, and behavior change interventions. In early 2012, a baseline parasitological survey was conducted in ∼20,000 people from 90 communities in Unguja and Pemba. Risk factors for schistosomiasis were assessed by administering a questionnaire to adults. In selected communities, local knowledge about schistosomiasis transmission and prevention was determined in focus group discussions and in-depths interviews. Intermediate host snails were collected and examined for shedding of cercariae. The baseline Schistosoma haematobium prevalence in school children and adults was 4.3% (range: 0-19.7%) and 2.7% (range: 0-26.5%) in Unguja, and 8.9% (range: 0-31.8%) and 5.5% (range: 0-23.4%) in Pemba, respectively. Heavy infections were detected in 15.1% and 35.6% of the positive school children in Unguja and Pemba, respectively. Males were at higher risk than females (odds ratio (OR): 1.45; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-2.03). Decreasing adult age (OR: 1.04; CI: 1.02-1.06), being born in Pemba (OR: 1.48; CI: 1.02-2.13) or Tanzania (OR: 2.36; CI: 1.16-4.78), and use of freshwater (OR: 2.15; CI: 1.53-3.03) showed higher odds of infection. Community knowledge about schistosomiasis was low. Only few infected Bulinus snails were found. The relatively low S. haematobium prevalence in Zanzibar is a promising starting point for elimination. However, there is a need to improve community knowledge about disease transmission and prevention. Control measures tailored to the local context, placing particular attention to hot-spot areas, high-risk groups, and individuals, will be necessary if elimination is to be achieved

Disability in young adults following major trauma: 5 year follow up of survivors

BACKGROUND: Injuries are a major cause of mortality and morbidity in young people. Despite this, the long-term consequences for young survivors of severe injury are relatively unexplored. METHODS: Population based cohort study involving 5 year post injury structured interview of all cases of major trauma (Injury Severity Score > 15) identified retrospectively for 12 month period (1988 to 1989) within former Yorkshire Health Authority area of the United Kingdom. RESULTS: 125 individuals aged 11–24 years at time of injury were identified. Of these, 109 (87%) were interviewed. Only 20% (95% CI 14–29%) of those interviewed reported no disability. Mean Office of Population Census and Surveys (OPCS) disability score of the remainder was 7.5 (median 5.8, range 0.5 to 19.4). The most commonly encountered areas of disability were behaviour (54%, 95% CI 45–63%), intellectual functioning (39%, 95% CI 31–49%) and locomotion (29%, 95% CI 22–39%). Many respondents reported that their daily lives were adversely affected by their health problems for example, causing problems with work, 54% (95% CI 45–63%), or looking after the home, 28% (95% CI 21–38%). Higher OPCS scores were usually but not always associated with greater impact on daily activities. The burden of caring responsibilities fell largely on informal carers. 51% (95% CI 42–61%) of those interviewed would have liked additional help to cope with their injury and disability. CONCLUSION: The study has revealed significant disability amongst a cohort of young people 5 years post severe injury. Whilst many of these young people were coping well with the consequences of their injuries, others reported continuing problems with the activities of daily life. The factors underpinning the young people's differing experiences and social outcome should be explored

Protein Kinase C Iota Regulates Pancreatic Acinar-to-Ductal Metaplasia

Pancreatic acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM) is associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer and is considered a precursor of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Transgenic expression of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α) or K-rasG12D in mouse pancreatic epithelium induces ADM in vivo. Protein kinase C iota (PKCι) is highly expressed in human pancreatic cancer and is required for the transformed growth and tumorigenesis of pancreatic cancer cells. In this study, PKCι expression was assessed in a mouse model of K-rasG12D-induced pancreatic ADM and pancreatic cancer. The ability of K-rasG12D to induce pancreatic ADM in explant culture, and the requirement for PKCι, was investigated. PKCι is elevated in human and mouse pancreatic ADM and intraepithelial neoplastic lesions in vivo. We demonstrate that K-rasG12D is sufficient to induce pancreatic ADM in explant culture, exhibiting many of the same morphologic and biochemical alterations observed in TGF-α-induced ADM, including a dependence on Notch activation. PKCι is highly expressed in both TGF-α- and K-rasG12D-induced pancreatic ADM and inhibition of PKCι significantly reduces TGF-α- and K-rasG12D-mediated ADM. Inhibition of PKCι suppresses K-rasG12D–induced MMP-7 expression and Notch activation, and exogenous MMP-7 restores K-rasG12D–mediated ADM in PKCι-depleted cells, implicating a K-rasG12D-PKCι-MMP-7 signaling axis that likely induces ADM through Notch activation. Our results indicate that PKCι is an early marker of pancreatic neoplasia and suggest that PKCι is a potential downstream target of K-rasG12D in pancreatic ductal metaplasia in vivo