Deemed by many professionals to be the most effective vocal coach in Durham Region, Dmitri has been instrumental in helping countless singers to achieve their vocal dreams and realize their full potential.Originating from Moscow (Russia), Dmitri has a rich history as a performer as well as a teacher.
From the age of 7, he has passed the auditions to become a member of a well known Children's Choir. At the age of 8, he became its soloist. Started travel nationally at 9 years of age, and internationally at 10. Before the age of 16, Dmitri travelled as soloist in over 23 countries, singing before audiences all over the world. He has performed as well before Soviet dignitaries, including Brezshnev and Gorbachev. In 1980′s Dmitri's voice could be heard daily on state-run radio.
Dmitri works with singers of all levels and styles, from pro's to absolute beginners. Having studied with the top vocal instructors of the world and being examined by them yearly, Dmitri's continues to sharpen his craft which in turn leads to faster results for his clientele. He's also known for helping singers to get over their fear of performing in front of other people.


Bakra Eid is finally coming to the date. Hope you'll need Happy Eid Ul Adha Status and Quotes on this tremendous occasion to bring love, joy and celebrations to whoever you'll send it to.
Sacrificing your own Halal animals in the name of ALLAH is Sunnat-Ibrahimi. People on this occasion do enjoy barbecue at night with family and relatives or friends. The meat is all shared among the group and they enjoy this occasion with a great feast.
So, these Eid Ul Adha Status and Quotes will surely be handy for you to bring more Love among your loved ones as you'll send it to wish them. You can also put these Eid Ul Adha status on your Facebook and WhatsApp.
Suraj ne bheji hai roshani kiranon me Phoolon ne bheji hai mahak hawaon me Aap Eid ke chaand se jagmagaate rahen De asar itna khuda hamaari duaaon me EID MUBARAK!
Eid-ul-Adha is an Eid of sacrifice; And commitment of Allah's orders. May Allah bless us with the same in all circles of life! Eid Mubarak!
Eid-ul Adha is Eid of sacrifice and commitment to Allah's orders. May Allah bless us with the same in all circles of life and may you help all those who are helpless, wanting and waiting for His Rehmat. Eid Mubarak!
1 – Let all your obstacles vanish in just a friction for the second.
2 – Heartfelt wishes on "the Festival of Sacrifice"! Happy Eid ul-Adha!
3 – To All meat lover in Pakistan: Agar Qurbani ke ghosht ka Zaiqa change lagay tau sumjh laina. Bakra Eid Mubarak.
4 – Hope that you are guided by your faith in the almighty and shine in His divine blessings. Wishing you a happy Bakra Eid.
5 – Eid ul adha is eid of sacrifice and commitment To ALLAH orders, May ALLAH bless us with the same in All circles of life, And help all amongst us, Who are helpless, worried, and waiting for his rehmat, !! Happy Bakra Eid Mubarak !!
8 – Earth can forget rotating, Bird can forget flying, Candle can forget melting, Heart can forget beating But I'll never forget to wish You "Happy Eid".
9 – Aao milaen kay aaj Eid ka din hy Musaraton muskrahton deed ka din hai Gelay bhulaen, dilon ko saaf ab ker lyn Ranjishon ko mitaen kay saat-e-saeed ka din hai Bakra EID MUBARAK.
10 – A wish of the Happy Eid Celebrtions. Wrapped wid Sincerity, Tied wid Care, And Sealed wid a Dua keep you and your family Blessd Eid Mubarak.
11 – Everyone sent u Tradition words about Eid but I m the first one To send u "Meat Mubarak" And Keep on eating Different dishes On this season Happy Bakra Eid Mubarak.
12 – Wishing A Very Happy Eid Mubarak To You And All The Muslim Brothers Around The World Both Here And In Far Flung Places. The Peace And Grace Of Allah Rest Upon Your Shoulders And Bring You A Contended And Very Happy Eid.
14 – Eid ul adha is eid of sacrifice, and commitment to Allahs orders, May Allah bless us with the same in all circles of life, and help all amongst us, who r helpless,worried, and waiting for his rehmat, Ameen. Eid Mubarak.
15 – I wish you ALL a very happy and peaceful Eid. May Allah accept your good deeds, forgive your transgressions and ease the suffering of all peoples around the globe. Eid Mubarak.
17 – Bakra Dbit Cash Credt Qurbani Debt Gosht Credt Qasai Debt Khaal Credt Aap Debt Hum Credt Eid Mubarik Hamara Message Debit Apka Reply Credt Eid Ul Azha Mubark.
18 – Eid is a Wonderful Opportunity Love, Pray, Wish, Smile, And To Thank Allah for Blessing We Received So "EID MUBARAK".
19 – Churi ko Ker Tu Tezz itna, Kay Her Takbeer Say Pehlay . . . . . Bakra Churi Say Khud Puchay Bata mri Khata kaya hy Eid ul Azha Mubarak.
20 – About billion animals killed each day by KFC, McDonalds, Burger King etc to feed rich and make money, and no one bats an eye During EID, Muslims sacrifice them to feed the poor for free, and everyone loses their mind.
21 – May Allah give you strength to be always willing to sacrifice; and submit to His wish and command at all times! Happy Eid-ul Adha!
23 – Let all your obstacles vanish in just a friction of second. Happy Eid!!!!!
24 – Faraz Arz krtay hyn. Itna tau hamain bhi check krna ata hai faraz kay bAkra ando hai ya phir khasi happy bAkra eid in d advance ?
25 – May on this EID The Plate of your life is filled With juicy Kababs & Tikkas topped With Chatni of Happiness and Covered with Salad of Love.
26 – As you pray to Allah and offer your sacrifices; In the true Spirit of Eid-ul-AdhaHere's hoping that all your wishes are fulfilled and prayers are answered! Happy Bakr Eid!
27 – Aye Chand Q Kerta Hai Molviyon Ko Pareshan,, Tujhy Dekhny K Liye Be-chain Hen Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman,, Tujhy Dekh Nahi Paaty Pury Pakistan K Musalman,, Na Jany Kesy Dhoond Lety Hen Tujhy Peshawar K Pathan.
28 – I always wish you Happy Days And the hope that you 'll have many But still i would like this Special Day To be your best of any!.. Eid Mubarak.
29 – Lo aa gayi chaand- raat saath hai taaron ki baraat Jagmagaya hai har ghar aangan Sang laayi khushiyon ki saugaat Eid Mubarak!
30 – "Eid-ul-Azha Mubarak", May Allah shower countless blessing upon You and Your Family Keep me in your prayers.
31 – Tere bagair humne guzari hai aese eid……. Jaise safar mai sham e ghariban guzar gai.
32 – Aaya hai aaj ka din ye mubaarak Saji hai raunaqon ki mehfil har taraf Eid hai us Khuda ka nayaab tohfa Aap sabko hamaari taraf se Eid Mubarak!
33 – May your plate of life always be full of: Succulent Kebabs and Tikkas; Topped with a Chutney of Success; And accompanied with Breads of Happiness! Happy Bakr Eid!
34 – No shadows to depress you. Only joys to surround you. Allah himself to bless you. These are my wishes for you. Today tomorrow and every day… Eid Mubarak!
35 – EID MUBARAK ho Aapko, Dher sari tarif aur khusiya mile aapko, But, Jab EIDI mile aapko to Please Aap Yaad karna Sirf Humko.
36 – Eid! give the happiness to those who avoid me, give pleasure to those who tease me, give peace to those who give me unease, O Eid! Be a splendid gift to all.
37 – As you pray to Allah and offer your sacrifices in the true spirit of Eid-ul Adhahere's hoping that all your wishes are fulfilled and prayers are answered.
39 – Dosto ke Bakra Eid is like: Gosht mein le aoonga . . . . . . . . Tum log koilay le ana.
40 – Ess Qurbani Ki Eid Py Kuch Or Na Sahi.. Chalo Hum Apni Hasratain Hi Qurbaan Kartay Hain.
41 – Aasmaan me chaand chadh aaya hai Sitaron ne bhi aanchal lehraaya hai Aa gaa len hum khushi ke geet Dost mere Mubarak ho tumhein ye Eid Eid Mubarak!
42 – As you pray to Allah and offer your sacrifices in the true spirit of Eid-ul Adhahere's hoping that all your wishes are fulfilled and prayers are answered. Happy Bakr Eid!
44 – Dua ke liye uthe haath Na kisi ko nuksaan pahunchaayen Aaj is Mubarak din par Hum ye Eidi paayen Eid Mubarak!
45 – Bakkra Eid mubarak. May your plate of the life be alwayz full of the juicy kababs and tikkas, toppd wid d chutni of the happiness. Wid best wishes.
46 – Tujhay Sochna Mri Chand Raat aur Tujhay Dekhna Mri Eid Hy Bakra Eid Mubarak.
47 – Khushiyan manatey phirtey hain sab log Eid ki Mujhe to Aarzoo hai Faqat tere Deed ki.
49 – Hope that you are guided by your faith in the almighty and shine in His divine blessings. Wishing you a happy Eid-ul-Adha!
50 – Some words can be left unsaid, Some feeling can be left unexpressed, But person like u can never be forgotten on this day BAKRA EID MUBARAK.
51 – Customer: Yeh Bakra kitnay ka hy? ,Salesman: Rs ka hy. ,Customer: Itna sasta ??? ,Salesman: China ka hy….Koe gurantee nai, ho skta hy kal bhonkna shuroo ker day.
Hope you loved these Bakra Eid/ Eid Ul Adha Status For Your Facebook and WhatsApp.


text:
German Solar Firm Q-Cells to Restructure ($QCEG)
From a press release by Q-Cells today:
Q-Cells SE plans a restructuring of its financial liabilities in two steps. After intensive negotiations with different creditor groups, the Company initially aims to come to an agreement with the holders of the convertible bond due at the end of February 2012. This agreement will provide among others for a partial repayment of the outstanding bond volume in tranches over a period of time. In a second step, and in due course, the convertible bonds due in 2014 and 2015 shall be restructured via a debt-to-equity swap.
"Partial repayment in tranches" would mean that those bondholders are getting a haircut, and getting paid in new debt with later maturities. And it sounds like the 2014 and 2015 bonds are getting only shares. The company has yet to publicly announce the details, but you would expect the shareholders to be basically wiped out in this restructuring.
In the same press release, the company mentions that it does not expect to achieve operating profit until 2014. In my experience, when someone projects that something will happen more than six months away, it either means never or "I don't know".
They will apparently be cutting manufacturing operations in Germany by 50% (more excess capacity in PV solar!).
Anyway, this is all good news for the short solar trade. Tons of excess capacity, and other firms that will emerge more competitive after restructuring.
eahilf said...
BBC: The government has failed in an appeal against a decision which blocked its attempts to reduce solar subsidies.
Germans companies should have it so good.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
> Publications > Working Papers
Publications that present ongoing or already concluded research and are intended for academics and other specialists.
Digital labour in central and eastern Europe: evidence from the ETUI Internet and Platform Work Survey
Agnieszka Piasna (ETUI), Jan Drahokoupil (ETUI)
The objective is to map the extent of digital labour in central and eastern Europe (CEE) based on the analysis of two types of online sources for generating income: internet work; and its subset, platform work.
Towards a progressive EMU fiscal governance
Nacho Álvarez, Georg Feigl, Nasos Koratzanis, Markus Marterbauer, Catherine Mathieu, Tom McDonnell, Laura Pennacchi, Christos Pierros, Henri Sterdyniak, Achim Truger, Jorge Uxó
Starting from the view that the crises in the euro zone were basically triggered by financial markets and reinforced by a lack of instruments for effective economic policy at the EMU level (Economic and Monetary Union), this working paper contributes to the ongoing debate on how to reform the Eurozone.
Legislative implementation of European social partner agreements: challenges and debates
Jean-Paul Tricart
This Working Paper analyses the development of the interpretation that the European Commission has given to the TFEU provision concerning mechanisms for extensions of collective agreements. The paper examines how the Commission has reinterpreted these provision and the challenges this poses for the social partners.
She works hard for the money: tackling low pay in sectors dominated by women – evidence from health and social care
Torsten Müller (ETUI)
This working paper provides data confirming that workers in lower-skilled health and social care assistant positions earn considerably less than the national average wage in their country.
The platform economy and social law: Key issues in comparative perspective
Isabelle Daugareilh, Christophe Degryse and Philippe Pochet
This Working Paper brings together two parallel but complementary approaches to the impact of the platform economy on working conditions and social law.
'Algorithm breakers' are not a different 'species': attitudes towards trade unions of Deliveroo riders in Belgium
Kurt Vandaele, Agnieszka Piasna and Jan Drahokoupil (ETUI)
This working paper investigates a rare case of platform work performed in the realm of regulated employment and explores the attitudes of platform workers towards collective representation. Using a case study of Deliveroo, a food delivery platform, the paper argues that platform workers are not essentially different to their peers in their attitudes towards trade unions. The paper finds that the riders do not generally hold negative views towards unions, and do not consider unions incompatible with platform work. Instead, there has been a lack of union activity in reaching out to riders as a reason for their non-membership.
Convergence to fair wage growth? Evidence from European countries on the link between productivity and real compensation growth, 1970–2017
This Working Paper addresses the issue of 'fair' wage growth over the last few decades. It assesses whether growth in real compensation is systematically associated with labour productivity growth and, if so, whether the two have 'decoupled' in recent years. The paper examines country-specific evidence from 25 Member States and finds evidence for a widening of the wage-productivity gap in the 1970s and 1980s which has only been partially closed in recent years.
Socialising the European Semester?
Rayan Al-Kadi and Stefan Clauwaert (ETUI)
This Working Paper surveys the extent to which Member States comply with CSRs relating to social policy.
Phasing out coal – a just transition approach
Béla Galgóczi (ETUI)
This working paper examines what a Just Transition to a Greener but employment-rich and egalitarian economy might look like. It examines the employment structure the European economy with a focus on the coal sector in the light of European Union commitments to phase out coal and argues that policymakers should devise a specific plan for the sector.
A European Social Semester?
Björn Hacker
This working paper examines the EPSR's practical use in the context of European 'soft' governance. It studies how the EPSR has been deployed in the 2018 European Semester and suggests some areas for reform in order to enhance its role in coordinating social policy.
How to redesign the fiscal regime of the Eurozone: an alternative take on lessons from US and Eurozone experiences
Jörg Bibow
This Working Paper examines options for the design of a workable fiscal union for the euro area. It provides a comparative study of fiscal institutions in the US and euro area in order to supply lessons from the operation of the US fiscal regime that could inform the design of the, hitherto dysfunctional, euro regime.
Work in deregulated labour markets: a research agenda for precariousness
Valeria Pulignano
This Working Paper tackles two questions: what counts as work within a deregulated labour market; and what are the implications for the study of precariousness?
Work in the platform economy: Deliveroo riders in Belgium and the SMart arrangement
Jan Drahokoupil (ETUI) and Agnieszka Piasna (ETUI)
This paper presents a case study of the food delivery platform, Deliveroo, in Belgium in 2016-2018. The case offers insights on the nature of platform work, the workers who perform it, the preferences of workers, the strategy of the platforms, and the role of local regulations.
Corporate income tax in the EU, the Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB) and beyond: is it the right way to go?
Christian Valenduc
This working paper reviews key elements of the debate around the Commission's proposals to tackle the problem of low effective tax rates for multi-national companies by instituting a Common Corporate Tax Base (CCTB).
Will trade unions survive in the platform economy? Emerging patterns of platform workers' collective voice and representation in Europe
Kurt Vandaele (ETUI)
Via a non-exhaustive mapping of various examples in Western European countries, this Working Paper explores to what extent the collective representation and voice of digital platform workers are being shaped by current dynamics in the platform economy. The argument is developed that currently emerging patterns hint at a possible co-existence or combinations of mainstream trade unions and other unions and union-like organisations defending platform workers' needs and interests. Patterns in representation forms reveal a demarcation between the logic of membership and the logic of influence. Though not new, this demarcation has become more exposed, prevalent and salient since the platform economy, also in highly institutionalised labour markets. The Working Paper also emphasises that any meaningful analysis of the representation and voice of platform workers should consider the diversity of platforms and the associated variance in the power resources of platform workers.
Sectoral social dialogue in professional football: social partners, outcomes and problems of implementation
Berndt Keller
This Summer's World Cup in Russia will showcase an array of expensive footballing talent. Off the pitch, however, moves are also afoot to bring the sector under the auspices of European Union employment legislation. This Working Paper looks at regulation of the football 'industry' in the context of emerging supranational modes of sports governance and assesses the likely consequences of formalizing employment relations.
Drifting into labour market insecurity? Labour market reforms in Europe after 2010
This working paper examines the impact of fiscal austerity on EU labour market policies. Using a case study approach, it examines: the extent of change in unemployment benefit levels and policies; the effect of this on groups of workers; and whether the logic of activation policies has shifted. Overall, the broad direction of policy has not altered greatly under austerity. However, risks remain that an underlying move towards greater flexibility may lock in 'low road' growth strategies that will make it harder to bring down debt and unemployment in future.
European social dynamics: a quantitative approach
Christophe Degryse (ETUI), Philippe Pochet (ETUI)
This working paper tries to understand, through the cross-analysis of two databases, the gradual evolution of Social Europe in terms of processes and results.
Why are wages still lower in eastern and central Europe?
This new working paper explores why there is a persistent wage gap between western Europe and the new EU Member States of eastern and central Europe.
'Bad jobs' recovery? European Job Quality Index 2005-2015
Agnieszka Piasna (ETUI)
This new Working Paper offers a detailed look at the quality of jobs held by European workers, and shows what aspects of work improved or deteriorated over the last decade.
Bridging the gaps or falling short? The European Pillar of Social Rights and what it can bring to EU-level policymaking
Zane Rasnača (ETUI)
This working paper explores whether or not the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR), an initiative that has been called 'the last chance for social Europe', will succeed in filling in the gaps when it comes to making social policy at the EU level. More specifically, it assesses the EPSR's potential impact on the policy-making process at the EU level.
What drives wage gaps in Europe?
This working paper investigates wage differences across Europe. It estimates to what extent wage gaps in average wages observed between countries are related to differences in workforce composition, in workplaces, as well as the types of jobs conducted in different countries. This report also assesses the observed differences in returns on endowments by identifying which sectors and occupational groups contribute most to the wage gaps observed at the country level.
Foreign Direct Investment and the development of the automotive industry in Eastern and Southern Europe
Petr Pavlínek, Ricardo Aláez-Aller, Carlos Gil-Canaleta and Miren Ullibarri-Arce
This working paper provides an overview of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the automotive industry in Eastern Europe and Spain since the 1990s.
Is Europeanised board-level employee representation specific? The case of European Companies (SEs)
Jeremy Waddington and Aline Conchon
This working paper investigates whether European board-level representation of employees in European Companies (SEs) is really 'Europeanised' or is coloured by the national system of their company's country of origin.
Why central and eastern Europe needs a pay rise
This working paper looks at wage developments in central and eastern Europe (CEE) over the past twenty years and shows that wages are not only low compared to western Europe but, as demonstrated by a number of variables, also tend to be lower than what the economic potential of these countries would allow for.
Uses and abuses of the OECD's Employment Protection Legislation index in research and EU policy making
Martin Myant and Laura Brandhuber (ETUI)
This paper provides a critical assessment of the OECD's Employment Protection Legislation (EPL). This indicator is designed to measure and compare employment protection legislation across countries and has dominated much of recent labour market policy making in the EU.
Labour market segmentation and the EU reform agenda: developing alternatives to the mainstream
Jill Rubery (Manchester Business School) and Agnieszka Piasna (ETUI)
In this paper the authors argue that the current—overwhelmingly deregulatory—reform agenda is too narrowly specified. Above all, the debate needs to be turned around from the focus on de-regulation to the role of re-regulation for inclusive labour markets. With the focus on costs-related disincentives for employers to use standard forms of employment, the dominant debate fails to recognise a more complex set of problems that may put groups of workers at risk of exclusion.
Unit labour costs: no argument for low wages in eastern and central Europe
This working paper discusses the use of unit labour costs (ULC) by the European Commission as a measure of competitiveness of exports, especially in central and Eastern Europe (CEE).
What role can minimum wages play in overcoming the low-wage model in central and eastern Europe?
Jan Drahokoupil (ETUI)
This working paper gives an overview of minimum wage policies in Central and Eastern Europe. It shows that minimum wages are an effective tool for reducing inequality by raising the lowest incomes.
Why far right parties do well at times of crisis: the role of labour market institutions
Tim Vlandas and Daphne Halikiopoulou (University of Reading)
This working paper argues with extensive statistical analysis that the rise of far-right parties in Europe has less to do with the economic crisis and unemployment levels as such but more with specific labour market policies and institutions.
Managers, BusinessEurope and the development of European Works Councils
Jeremy Waddington (ETUI and University of Manchester), Valeria Pulignano and Jeffrey Turk (University of Leuven), Thomas Swerts (University of Antwerp)
This working paper looks at the views of managers responsible for European Works Councils (EWCs) within multinational companies on the operation of the institution. It also examines the policies of Business Europe on EWCs vis-à-vis the views of these managers.
Cancer risks in the workplace: better regulation, stronger protection
Tony Musu (ETUI), Laurent Vogel (ETUI) and Henning Wriedt (Beratungs- und Informationsstelle Arbeit & Gesundheit, Hamburg)
In the context of the announced revision of the directive on carcinogenic substances, this publication reviews the limitations of the existing legislation and outlines the priorities for its reform.
Work in the digital economy: sorting the old from the new
Gérard Valenduc and Patricia Vendramin (Fondation Travail-Université (FTU) )
This paper sets out to analyse the digital economy and changes in work by sifting elements of continuity from others that are radically new. Aspects examined are: genuinely new features encountered in the digital economy model; major instances of technological change observable in the working environment; new forms of work in the digital economy; distance and employment relationships; challenges entailed in regulating a labour world shorn of its customary structures.
Economic transition, partisan politics and EU austerity: a case study of Slovakia's labour market policies
Stefan Domonkos (Institute of Economic Research of the Slovak Academy of Sciences)
This working paper provides an overview of labour market policies in the Slovak Republic, from the beginning of the post-socialist transition to the recent period, characterised by growing pressure for fiscal stringency from the European Union (EU). It investigates the differences between the prevalent trends in labour market policies before and after 2010 and it finds little difference between them.
Digitalisation of the economy and its impact on labour markets
Christophe Degryse (ETUI)
This working paper gives an overview of the new possibilities opened up by the 4th industrial revolution and tackles some specific questions in relation to its effects on the labour market, including on the status of employees, on working conditions and on training. It examines the role that trade unions can play in the digital economy and the main initiatives already proposed at European trade union level in this context.
Italy's labour market reforms of 2012: did they reduce unemployment?
Gabriele Piazza and Martin Myant (ETUI)
This Working Paper critically analyses Italy's labour market reforms of 2012 (Fornero Reform). It focuses especially on a measure designed to cut unemployment and labour-market dualism by reducing the protection against dismissal enjoyed by permanent employees.
The Court of Justice of the European Union and fixed-term workers: still fixed, but at least equal
Caroline de la Porte and Patrick Emmenegger
This Working Paper focuses on the impact of the directive on fixed-term work and the EU's Court of Justice (CJEU) case law concerning fixed-term work from 2007 and 2013. By doing so, this working paper develops an analytical framework to analyse the Europeanisation of labour law with an eye on the literature on labour-market dualisation.
The king is dead – long live the king: what follows after the Troika?
The focus of this paper is the need to reshape the financial assistance programmes and the related activities of the Troika in a way that would make them more socially and democratically acceptable. The starting point, therefore, is an analysis of the current role of the Troika and of each of its three constituent institutions in the framework of the financial assistance programmes.
Eliminating occupational cancer in Europe and globally
Jukka Takala
This working paper presents arguments for a stronger policy to eradicate occupational cancer in Europe and globally.
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP): a controversial agreement and dangerous for workers
Claude Serfati (IRES)
This Working Paper on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) highlights the controversial benefits of speeding up free trade and puts the negotiations between the EU and the US in the context of the fall-out of the financial crisis.
The public-private sector pay debate in Europe
Torsten Müller (ETUI) and Thorsten Schulten (WSI)
This Working Paper critically reviews the empirical evidence and the basic assumptions on which European and national policymakers base their strategy of cutting and freezing public sector pay as one central element of the current crisis management. Using comparative studies and new statistical data, the paper demonstrates that these assumptions are wrong, as they rely on a 'excessively narrow conception of competitiveness as cost competitiveness' and they neglect the role of wages in generating domestic demand.
Free movement of labour in Europe: a solution for better labour allocation?
Béla Galgóczi (ETUI) and Janine Leschke (Copenhagen Business School)
This Working Paper describes the main trends in post-enlargement east/west intra-EU labour mobility. It looks at how different population groups, nationals, EU8 and EU21 migrants have been affected by the turbulent processes of opening up national labour markets and subsequently by the crisis.
Spain's labour market reforms: the road to employment – or to unemployment?
Laszlo Horwitz (GIZ) and Martin Myant (ETUI)
This working paper looks at recent structural reforms of the Spanish labour market and evaluates them against the government's stated objectives to reduce unemployment.
Beyond the CEE 'black box': crisis and industrial relations in the new EU member states
Magdalena Bernaciak (ETUI)
This working paper maps out developments of industrial relations in Central-Eastern Europe (CEE) during the period 2008-2014. It looks at wage trends and public sector austerity measures, collective bargaining practices, social dialogue performance and the incidence of strikes and protests.
'Better regulation': a bureaucratic simplification with a political agenda
Eric van den Abeele, guest researcher ETUI and lecturer University of Mons.
This Working Paper aims to shed light on the machinations behind recent developments regarding the Better Regulation agenda. How should we interpret the Commission's insistence on relentlessly attacking its own legislation? Why does it constantly refer to the costs, yet never once mention the benefits? Eric van de Abeele, who has already written several publications on the subject, has taken an in-depth look at seven key components of the Better Regulation agenda with a view to unveiling the Commission's real intentions.
The European sectoral social dialogue: an uneven record of achievement?
While the European intersectoral social dialogue has been, according to the Commission's own admission, dragging its feet for the last few years on account of a lack of commitment on the part of the private sector employers, the sectoral social dialogue is often presented as a more dynamic and successful venture. A dialogue along sectoral lines has been set in motion by employer and labour organisations from a current total of 43 economic sectors of the European economy (from metalworking through road transport to public services and many others).
The TTIP's impact: bringing in the missing issue
Martin Myant, ETUI and Ronan O'Brien, independent researcher
This working paper reviews the findings of the most prominent studies on the economic impact of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), focussing on those commissioned by the European Commission and by the German government.
Trade union membership retention and workplace representation in Europe
Jeremy Waddington (ETUI)
Based on a comparative survey of members of fourteen European trade unions in twelve countries, this working paper tries to answer the questions why people retain their trade union membership in times of declining unionisation.
About the baby and the bathwater: assessing the European Platform against Poverty
Sebastiano Sabato, OSE; Bart Vanhercke, OSE
This Working Paper provides a qualitative assessment of one of Europe 2020's flagship initiatives: the 'European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion' (EPAP).
The paper argues that a transformed EPAP has the potential to provide strong added value for the EU's toolbox in the fight against poverty. Rather than throwing out the baby with the bathwater, the mid-term review of the Europe 2020 Strategy should be used as a window of opportunity to revamp this tool by addressing its weaknesses. The authors propose three complementary scenarios for boosting, step by step, the effectiveness of the Platform.
Integrating social and environmental dimensions in public procurement: one small step for the internal market, one giant leap for the EU?
Éric Van den Abeele
This working paper provides a legal analysis of the inclusion of social and environmental clauses in the modernisation of the EU's public procurement directives.
A gender perspective on older workers' employment and working conditions
Patricia Vendramin et Gérard Valenduc
This working paper aims to give a structured gender analysis of the working and employment conditions of older workers (aged 50 and over).
Has the EU become more intrusive in shaping national welfare state reforms? Evidence from Greece and Portugal
This paper provides a comparative analysis of the Memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in Greece and Portugal in the areas of old-age pensions and labour market policies and shows that, compared to earlier economic governance instruments, the MoUs have entailed much greater interference in setting policy objectives, tighter surveillance and stricter enforcement.
The EU's REFIT strategy: a new bureaucracy in the service of competitiveness?
Eric Van den Abeele
This Working Paper provides a clear but critical assessment of the EU's process of simplification and qualitative improvement of the 'acquis', a process originally known as 'Better Law-making', subsequently as 'Smart regulation' and, in its latest incarnation, as 'Regulatory Fitness and Performance (REFIT)'.
Why have some countries become more unemployed than others? An investigation of changes in unemployment in EU member states since 2008
Agnieszka Piasna (ETUI), Martin Myant (ETUI)
This Working Paper investigates links between employment changes and both sectoral developments and changes in earnings levels in six EU member states
Social dumping and the EU integration process
This paper proposes a conceptualization of social dumping and applies it to an analysis of the EU integration process. Building on recent contributions in the fields of economic theory, economic sociology and institutional political economy, it defines social dumping as the practice, undertaken by self-interested market participants, of undermining or evading existing social regulations with the aim of gaining a competitive advantage. The paper also argues that the social dumping practices of market actors are encouraged by policy initiatives of liberalization and deregulation.
Labour law reforms in Europe: adjusting employment protection legislation for the worse?
Isabelle Schömann (ETUI)
This new working paper is intended to map reforms of employment protection law in the member states with the aim of addressing these legal changes in the context of the crisis, but also in the context of the deregulation agenda of the European Commission.
The Janus face of the 'New ways of Work' : rise, risks and regulation of nomadic work
Jan Popma, senior researcher University of Amsterdam
The Internet and the use of portable computers, mobile phones and tablets have increased the importance of 'new ways of work'. This work, which is place- and time-independent, can lead to more autonomy and greater flexibility for workers, but it also carries serious physical as well as psychosocial risks according to this working paper.
Reforming pensions in Europe: a comparative country analysis
David Natali, associated professor University of Bologna-Forli & senior researcher at the European Social Observatory (OSE) in Brussels and Furio Stamati, researcher OSE.
This working paper assesses the impact of the economic crisis on European pension systems and provides a comparative overview of the measures imposed on European pension systems, together with their effects.
Political economy of labour market segmentation: agency work in the automotive industry
Chiara Benassi
This paper investigates cross-company variation in the core-periphery configuration of the workforce. The empirical focus is on four automotive plants in Germany, which differ in terms of their organisation of agency work. The comparison reveals that there is no automatic relationship between skills, products and company workforce structure. As traditional employer-driven explanations such as production requirements and skills fail to make sense of the variations encountered, the main argument of the paper is based on the power-resource approach.
The Euro crisis and its impact on national and European social policies
Christophe Degryse, Maria Jepsen and Philippe Pochet (ETUI)
This critical working paper looks at the series of political choices, circumstances and windows of opportunity that have enabled one particular vision of the model of EU monetary union to gain acceptance. In the context of this model, political union is not considered an accessible way to manage the crisis, for the rescue of the euro is regarded as feasible only in a more competitive economy.
Atypical forms of employment contracts in times of crisis
Carole Lang, Isabelle Schömann and Stefan Clauwaert (ETUI)
This working paper builds on previous research undertaken by the ETUI on the impact of the economic and financial crisis on labour law reforms in EU Member States. It maps the landscape and evolutions in the regulation of atypical employment contracts, analysing how some of these evolutions can be related to the context of the economic and financial crisis.
Working time reforms in times of crisis
Carole Lang, Stefan Clauwaert and Isabelle Schömann (ETUI)
This working paper extends and complements the analysis of pre-2012 anticrisis measures published in the earlier ETUI Working Paper 'The crisis and'national labour law reforms: a mapping exercise' which dealt with anti-crisis measures on working time taken before February 2012.
Non-financial reporting beyond the strict minimum: is the workforce a well-informed stakeholder?
Jan Cremers (University of Amsterdam)
This working paper by Jan Cremers of the Amsterdam Institute of Advanced Labour Studies summarises the results of an inquiry by the SEEurope network on the current legal framework and practices in 28 European countries regarding non-financial and sustainability-related reporting by European companies and the role and involvement of trade union representatives in this form of reporting.
European enlargement and the economic crisis: impact and lasting effects
Rebecca Zahn (University of Stirling)
This working paper by Rebecca Zahn of the University of Stirling looks at the effects of the economic crisis on the enlarged European Union and the European Social Model.
The new European economic governance
This Working Paper by ETUI Senior researcher Christophe Degryse provides a thorough historical overview of how this new European economic governance came about and what the new structures for surveillance, coordination and sanctions (Euro-Plus Pact, Fiscal Compact, European Stability Mechanism, and so on) mean for the European project.
Intra-EU labour migration after Eastern enlargement and during the crisis
Béla Galgóczi and Janine Leschke (ETUI)
This paper by senior ETUI researchers Béla Galgóczi and Janine Leschke looks at recent trends in labour migration from new EU member states to the EU15, with a focus on the impact of the crisis on intra-EU labour mobility. Based on data from the European Labour Force Survey, the findings of the study contradict expectations, previously expressed in the literature, according to which deep recessions will result in a slowdown in migration flows. The overall stock of EU10 population in EU15 countries has continued to grow during the crisis, except in Ireland and Spain, two countries that were particularly hard hit by the recession and which, prior to the crisis, exhibited large EU10 migrant inflows.
European labour market policies in (the) crisis
Jochen Clasen, Daniel Clegg (University of Edinburgh) and Jon Kvist (University of Southern Denmark)
This working paper by Jochen Clasen and Daniel Clegg, of the University of Edinburgh, together with Jon Kvist of the University of Southern Denmark, examines the nature of impact of the economic and political challenges engendered by the "Great Recession" on labour market policy reforms in Europe. The authors thus consider the question of whether the economic crisis has also brought a labour market policy reform crisis in its wake.
Work less to pollute less? What contribution can or must working time reduction play in reducing carbon emissions?
Andrew Watt (Head of the department Macroeconomic Policy Institute - Hans-Böckler Foundation)
This article asks whether we can, and whether we must, work less to pollute less. After examining different scenarios, the only strategy that appears commensurate with the normative views set out in the paper, i.e. meeting emissions targets while maintaining employment – seems to be a combination of radical efforts to accelerate the decoupling of emissions from economic growth and considerably more substantial reductions in average working hours than have been the norm in recent decades.
What did they expect? Lessons for Europe from a retrospective ex-ante evaluation of the first Greek bail-out programme
Sotiria Theodoropoulou (ETUI) and Andrew Watt (Head of the department Macroeconomic Policy Institute - Hans-Böckler Foundation)
The original Greek adjustment programme, as spelled out in the Memorandum of Understanding signed in May 2010, contained, from the outset, the seeds of its own failure. This is the conclusion of the authors of the present Working paper which assesses, on its own premises, the original adjustment programme that was agreed for the Greek bail-out.
The reform of the EU's public procurement directives: a missed opportunity?
Éric Van den Abeele (Temporary lecturer at the University of Mons-Hainaut)
This Working Paper provides a critical analysis of the EU Commission's proposals to modernise and simplify its rules on public procurement. The author of the paper, Eric Van den Abeele, looks at the political background and reasons behind the EU's revision of its public procurement directives. The reform aims at making the rules simpler and more flexible, providing better access to the public procurement market by SME's and fostering a better qualitative use of public procurement through the introduction of social and environmental criteria.
Occupations and ageing at work. An analysis of the findings of the fifth European Working Conditions Survey
Patricia Vendramin and Gérard Valenduc (Fondation Travail-Université, Namur, Belgium)
This working paper analyzes the data collected by the fifth European Working Conditions Survey done in 2010 to examine how working conditions are changing for different ages and occupation types. It brings insights into the quality of work and employment amongst ageing workers that help to inform the debate on how "sustainable" work is according to one's age and occupation.
Job quality in the crisis - an update of the Job Quality Index (JQI)
Janine Leschke (ETUI), Andrew Watt (Head of the department Macroeconomic Policy Institute - Hans-Böckler Foundation) and Mairéad Finn (Research Assistant at The Economic and Social Research Instit...
This paper is an update of the synthetic job quality index (JQI) for the EU27 countries which has been created in 2008 (see ETUI Working paper 2008.03 and 2008.07) in an attempt to shed light on the question of how European countries compare with each other and how they are developing over time in terms of job quality.
The governance of economic uncertainty: beyond the 'new social risks' analysis
Maarten Keune (Director of the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Labour Studies (AIAS) and Associate Researcher ETUI) and Colin Crouch (Emeritus Professor Warwick Business School)
This paper draws on the research done in the framework of the European Union Framework Programme 7 project The Governance of Uncertainty and Sustainability: Tensions and Opportunities (GUSTO).
Social dumping: political catchphrase or threat to labour standards?
Despite its widespread use in popular discourse, the term 'social dumping' remains poorly defined and thus subject to misconceptions or conscious abuse. This paper reviews recent public debates and academic studies on real or perceived social dumping threats, drawing attention to the simplistic understanding of the mechanism underlying such practices as well as to enduring operationalization problems.
Mind the gap: net incomes of minimum wage workers in the EU and the United States
Ive Marx (CSB, University of Antwerp and IZA), Sarah Marchal (CSB, University of Antwerp) and Brian Nolan (University College Dublin)
This working paper focuses on the role of minimum wages, in conjunction with tax and benefit policies, in protecting workers against financial poverty. It covers 20 European countries with a national minimum wage and three US States (New Jersey, Nebraska and Texas). It is shown that only for single persons and only in certain countries do net income packages at minimum wage level reach or exceed the EU's at-risk-of poverty threshold, which is set at 60 per cent of median equivalent household income in each country.
The crisis and national labour law reforms: a mapping exercise
Isabelle Schömann (ETUI), Stefan Clauwaert (ETUI), Zane Rasnača (ETUI)
This Working Paper maps the labour law reforms in various European countries either triggered by the crisis or introduced using the crisis – falsely – as an excuse. Such reforms generally render existing labour law provisions more flexible and loosen minimum standards, shifting the emphasis to soft law (deregulation).
The impact of the crisis on earnings and income distribution in the EU
Paul de Beer (University of Amsterdam)
Although the economic crisis that started in 2008 hit all EU member states hard, the impact of the crisis on employment, unemployment, earnings and inequality varied considerably. This paper analyses the variation in the consequences of the crisis among the member states of the EU.
Has the economic crisis contributed to more segmentation in labour market and welfare outcomes?
Janine Leschke (ETUI)
This paper analyses whether developments on the labour market and in the welfare system during the economic crisis can be seen as perpetuating the trend towards labour market segmentation or whether the crisis may actually have contributed to containing some of the divisions forged in recent decades.
Financing social security – business as usual?
Norman Wagner (Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour, Vienna)
This working paper assesses the impact on, and challenges to, the ability of welfare systems with different financing mechanisms to cope with the crisis. Additionally, it analyses how the crisis (stimulus measures, austerity packages) contributes to changing the structure of financing systems.
Pensions after the financial and economic crisis: a comparative analysis of recent reforms in Europe
David Natali (OSE and University of Bologna-Forlí)
This paper sheds light on the initial impact of the economic and financial crisis on pensions policy across Europe, and assesses the first measures proposed and/or introduced in four EU countries.
Employee representation in corporate governance: part of the economic or the social sphere?
Aline Conchon (ETUI)
This ETUI Working Paper aims to present a new way of understanding the processes and potential difficulties of legislating on the issue of worker participation at European level. Based on a renewed analytical framework, it helps reveal the competing political projects advanced by two actors – the ETUC and the European Commission – in this regard.
Withdrawal symptoms: an assessment of the austerity packages in Europe
Sotiria Theodoropoulou and Andrew Watt (ETUI)
Based on a survey of national experts, this Working Paper evaluates from a European and national comparative perspective the austerity packages that the governments of EU member states have announced and implemented following the recent financial crisis and the Great Recession. The study raises serious doubts about the drive for austerity being embarked upon by EU countries.
Sustaining or abandoning 'social peace'?
Providing a simple quantitative overview and a short macro-comparative analysis of strike activity in Europe since the 1990s, this working paper assesses whether three strike trends observed in the 1990s continued in the next decade.
Intra-EU labour migration: flows, effects and policy responses
Béla Galgóczi (ETUI), Janine Leschke (ETUI), Andrew Watt (ETUI)
This working paper is an update of the 2009/3 ETUI Working Paper that was itself an abridged and revised version of the introductory chapter of the book EU Labour Migration since Enlargement: Trends, Impacts and Policies.
Changes in political discourse from the Lisbon Strategy to Europe 2020
Jean-Claude Barbier (senior researcher at Centre national de la recherche scientifique in France)
The aim of this new ETUI Working paper is to identify the changes and enduring features of EU political/policy discourse and to seek to explain them by tentatively relating them to factors regarded as their determinants. While hard facts remain to be checked out in the future, some significant turnings are nevertheless already apparent and clearly identifiable.
Why trade unions seek to coordinate wages and collective bargaining in the Eurozone
Philippe Pochet (ETUI), Vera Glassner (ETUI)
In the run-up to European Monetary Union (EMU) trade unions across Europe began to coordinate their bargaining policies transnationally. This paper provides an overview of the efforts made by European and national trade unions to coordinate collective bargaining and wage formation at the sectoral and intersectoral levels to date, embedding them in the broader framework of a European industrial relations system.
The economic crisis – challenge or opportunity for gender equality in social policy outcomes?
Janine Leschke (ETUI), Maria Jepsen (ETUI)
This new working paper aims to assess the impact of the current financial and economic crisis on gender equality in terms of labour market and welfare outcomes.
The EU approach to regulating nanotechnology
The health risks posed by the commercial use of nanomaterials have recently come onto the European Commission's agenda. The Commission has not so far seen a need for specific legislation to govern nanotechnologies - a view not shared by either Parliament or the European trade union movement.
The public sector in the crisis
Vera Glassner (ETUI)
Against the background of governments' consolidation strategies, ETUI researcher Vera Glassner provides an overview of recent developments in terms of pay, employment and reforms of the pay system in the public sector. Cuts and freezes of public sector wages were most frequently imposed unilaterally by the state. The author argues that the re-establishment of collective bargaining as a mechanism to settle public sector pay is of vital importance in order to prevent downward pressures on wages, maintain workers' purchasing power and contribute to a stable and balanced economic development within the Eurozone and across the business cycle.
Wages in the crisis
The recent global recession has had differing effects on wages across Europe. This paper presents wage patterns for EU countries since the impact of the financial crisis, and compares them to previous trends. Wages in the countries hardest hit by the recession have underperformed when compared to past developments. The role of wages in determining international competitiveness is also examined and the importance of the general price level as opposed to wage levels is highlighted.
How do institutions affect the labour market adjustment to the economic crisis in different EU countries?
Andrew Watt (ETUI), Janine Leschke (ETUI)
The economic crisis which began in most European countries in mid-2008 has had severe effects on labour markets. Although no country has escaped the crisis, the extent of output losses and the number of jobs lost, as well as the resulting rise in unemployment, vary considerably between countries. In order to shed light on this issue, this paper examines empirically how the current economic crisis has affected the different European economies in terms of the impact on output, and the knock-on effects, influenced by the specific institutional frameworks, on employment and unemployment.
After Lisbon - Social Europe at the crossroads?
Lars Magnusson (Professor in Economic history, Vice-rector of Uppsala University)
This paper is the result of critical discussions held in the framework of the SALTSA project on the post-2010 continuation of the Lisbon process. The general conclusion is that Europe will continue to need, in the future, a common strategy for growth and sustainable development which builds on the experiences of the 'old' Lisbon strategy. That is why the paper starts with analysing the Lisbon process and discussing its various shortcomings. The author argues that a genuinely new strategy will have to adopt a generally different approach when setting priorities.
Not for bad weather: macroanalysis of flexicurity with regard to the crisis
Andranik Tangian
This paper written by Andranik Tangian from the Institute for Economic and Social Research at the Hans-Böckler-Stiftung presents a macroeconomic analysis of flexicurity with regard to the current economic crisis. The analysis is performed with four composite indicators based on statistical figures for 25 countries - flexibility, security, gravity of macroeconomic situation by 2010 and aggravation of macroeconomic situation in 2008–2010. The author concludes that a better alternative to flexicurity would be a normalization of employment relations, i.e. low flexibility, which also would result in less social security expenditure.
Following the 'organising model' of British unions?
Kurt Vandaele (ETUI, Janine Leschke (ETUI)
This paper aims to provide a survey of the initiatives developed by trade unions in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK for organising non-standard workers and to assess whether, and to what extent, the Dutch and German unions are influenced by British union practices for recruiting new members and among them non-standard workers.
The EU and supplementary pensions
Igor Guardiancich and David Natali
Reliance on private retirement pensions is on the increase both at Member State level, via the spread of quasi-mandatory occupational plans, and at EU level, as a result of initiatives including the IORP Directive. This Working Paper analyses the legislative and market trends that underpin this development, assessing the impact of the global financial crisis, presenting the regulatory improvements required, and delineating the future prospects of the market for supplementary pensions.
Government and trade union responses to the economic crisis in the financial sector
This working paper provides an overview of government and trade union responses to the economic crisis in the financial sector. It provides a comparative presentation of trade union and government responses to the crisis with particular emphasis on the country-specific conditions and practices of collective bargaining and social dialogue. It is based on a survey carried out among financial sector unions affiliated to Uni-Europa.
Public / private mix in pensions in Europe
David Natali
This Working Paper sheds light on the multi-dimensional and changing interplay between state, market institutions and social partners in relation to supplementary pension schemes, the importance of which is growing across Europe. The paper offers a lucid analysis of the responsibility shared among these three sets of actors to protect against the risk of old age by developing the provision of privately managed fully-funded schemes
Institutional survival and return: examples from the new pension orthodoxy
Igor Guardiancich
The paper analyses the instability of paradigmatic pension reforms enacted in Croatia and Hungary in the late 1990s. Both countries' policy makers unilaterally overhauled the respective retirement systems, but the partial, incoherent or fictive institutional replacement steered the new arrangements away from their original designs.
Wage policy in Austria and the Netherlands under EMU
Alison Johnston
This paper analyses how wage policy in Austria and the Netherlands was affected by economic and monetary union (EMU). The paper concludes that EMU and the macroeconomic shifts resulting from it have had little influence on wage-setting in Austria and the Netherlands. While wage restraint outcomes did diverge for both countries after the start of EMU, this paper will argue that different wage institutions lead to this divergence. The EMU's new macroeconomic order did not significantly change either countries microeconomic wage institutions.
Limits and potential of the use of vouchers for personal services
Anna Maria Sansoni
This working paper presents how 'personal services' i.e. labour supplied within the home or the immediate environment of private individuals have developed in France and Belgium via a voucher system.The paper suggests large numbers of regular jobs have been created despite the fact that shorter working hours are a prevalent feature of these new jobs. In comparison with the actual creation of regular jobs, the quality of the jobs in question seems to be definitely more controversial.
A quantum of solace? An assessment of fiscal stimulus packages by EU Member States in response to the economic crisis
Andrew Watt (ETUI)
This ETUI Working Paper analyses the fiscal stimulus packages implemented by EU Member States against the background of the on-going economic crisis. Alongside the overall volume of the packages, the study, which is based on a survey of national experts, considers their content and also the involvement – or lack of it – of the social partners and particularly trade unions.
European Works Councils: an assessment of their social welfare impact
Sigurt Vitols (ETUI)
The working paper analyses the impact of EWCs on four different groups: shareholders, creditors, managers and employees. It argues that EWCs provide a net benefit. There are no significant negative impacts on shareholders and creditors while there are clear positive benefits for employees and managers.
Paradigm shift: social justice as a prerequisite for sustainable development
The authors argue that a new paradigm is needed for European and national policies if the challenge of sustainable development is to be answered. It will not be sufficient to simply adjust policies to short-term considerations. Rather than solely relying on economic growth, it is by promoting social cohesion and protecting the environment that a sustainable society will be created. This will require a re-examination of modes of production, distribution, transport, consumption while integrating within it as a prerequisite the notion of social justice.
Plant-level responses to the economic crisis in Europe
Béla Galgóczi (ETUI), Vera Glassner (ETUI)
How are social policy actors in major sectors of the European economy responding to the current economic and financial crisis? This working paper summarises the plant-level responses of social policy actors to the symptoms of the current recession between October and mid January 2009. It examines how organised labour and capital responded to the crisis in key sectors and countries and what collective bargaining and labour market policy tools were available to deal with its effects and thus safeguard employment.
Job quality in Europe
Janine Leschke (ETUI), Andrew Watt (ETUI)
The Lisbon Strategy that was launched in 2000 called for the creation of "more and better" jobs in Europe. Some progress has been made in bringing more Europeans into paid employment and cutting unemployment trends. The goal of better jobs on the other hand has been less ardently pursued resulting in a widespread perception that many of the new jobs that are being created are "bad jobs". Against this background the ETUI has created a job quality index (JQI) in order to shed light on whether the goal of more jobs has been pursued at the cost of better jobs and how European countries compare with each other with regard to job quality. This Working Paper outlines some of the initial results of what will be a regular monitoring exercise.
Labour cooperation or labour conflict in the enlarged EU?
Magdalena Bernaciak
This paper examines how Western and CEE trade unions are coping with intensifying cross-border competition. It asks what strategies they employ to increase or preserve employment levels and to improve working conditions in a transnationally competitive environment.
Wage differentials across sectors in Europe: an east-west comparison
François Rycx, Ilan Tojerow and Daphné Valsamis
The survey contains detailed information on wages, bonuses, age, education, sex, occupation, contracts, working time, sector and region. The findings show that there are large wage differentials between workers employed in different sectors. The results also suggest that wage differentials between sectors are significantly bigger in countries where wage bargaining is weakly coordinated and essentially organised at the firm or establishment level.
Between innovation and ambiguity
Maarten Keune
'Flexicurity' has become a core concept in the European labour market debate. This working paper argues that the concept of flexicurity appears ill-defined and highly ambiguous concerning its role in informing policy.
Putting a number on job quality?
The ETUI has created a European Job Quality Index (JQI). This working paper outlines the choice of data and variables as well as the data processing.
How do trade unions interact with the European Parliament?
Marton Kovacs
This working paper investigates the current relationship between the European Parliament and the European trade unions, and outlines the challenges from the trade union point of view.
EU enlargement and social standards: exporting the European Social Model?
To what extent is the European Union actively disseminating a social model via enlargement? This working paper examines the social effects of the transposition and implementation of the acquis communautaire, taking account of the (hard and soft) social elements of the acquis as well as some of its economic elements.
Bridging gaps - Strengthening social Europe
Reiner Hoffmann and Otto Jacobi
This text was originally published in spring 2007 as an article in volume 95 of the "Edition de Hans Boeckler Stiftung" series. The volume was entitled Social Embedding and the integration of markets: an opportunity for transnational trade union action or an impossible task?.
Andrew Watt (ETUI), Béla Galgóczi (ETUI)
Towards a European Social Model
Thomas Blanke (University of Oldenburg) and Jürgen Hoffmann (University of Hamburg)
European integration has since the mid-fifties been principally economic in nature. Market creating policy is now very much conducted at supranational level. Failure to sufficiently address social policy considerations at the same level has historically resulted in the growth of market-correcting policies in the form of different national social policies and welfare structures which now coexist within the EU.
Not balanced and hardly new: the European Commission's quest for flexicurity
Maria Jepsen (ETUI)
'Flexicurity' has become one of the more fashionable elements of the European political discourse addressing social and economic policies in general and employment and labour market policies in particular. The European Commission is strongly pushing for flexicurity as the answer to Europe's employment problems and is trying to convince other European and national actors to follow its lead.
New scope for the Community health and safety at work strategy 2007-2012
This document reviews the failings of the strategy pursued from 2002 to 2006 to recommend a new strategy built around practical initiatives and a definite timetable. The publication makes the union case against any "break from introducing new legislation".
Labour mobility and EU enlargement – a review of current trends and debates
Jan Kunz
The focus of the article is labour mobility within the European Union (EU) and how the current trends may be influenced by the impending accession of the central and eastern European Countries (CEECs).
The findings are based on a number of recent studies conducted by various authors.
A new impetus for community occupational health policy
In 2002, the European Commission issued its Community strategy on health and safety at work, 2002-2006. The ETUI stepped into the debates on framing the new strategy with a European trade union consensus paper published jointly with the ETUC.
Towards a European trade union perspective on sustainable development
Kees Le Blansch (Questions, Answers and More (QA+), Netherlands)
Sustainable development goes to issues that are fundamental for trade unions - issues like hazards, democracy, the principles of justice and access to natural resources.


text:
Kinder Morgan graphic
San Marcos joins legal challenge over Kinder Morgan Pipeline
City of San Marcos submits notice of intent to sue over Kinder Morgan pipeline
Jordan Burnham
@RJordanBurnham
jburnham@sanmarcosrecord.com
The City of San Marcos has submitted a notice of intent to sue the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in connection to the Permian Highway Pipeline.
San Marcos authorized environmental law attorney William Eubanks to submit the notice of intent (NOI) on behalf of the city early Wednesday morning. According to the NOI, the suit against the two federal entities is for violations of the Endangered Species Act, and other federal laws, in connection to the proposed Kinder Morgan Permian Highway Pipeline.
San Marcos joins the cities of Kyle and Austin, the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association and the Texas Real Estate Advocacy and Defense Coalition in issuing a notice of intent.
The NOI asserts that it would be a legal violation for Kinder Morgan to obtain a general permit from the Army Corps of Engineers under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act instead of seeking an incidental take permit (ITP) or preparing a habitat conservation plan (HCP).
"It is beyond legitimate scientific dispute that Kinder Morgan's construction and operation of its large pipeline through these sensitive areas will pose a serious threat to these aquifers and the endangered and threatened species that live there," William Eubanks said in a press release. "As a result, there are several legal obligations that the USACE, USFWS, and Kinder Morgan must satisfy to ensure compliance with the ESA, Clean Water Act, and National Environmental Policy Act."
According to the TREAD Coalition, the new NOI differs from previous NOIs because it emphasizes the need for legal compliance with respect to several aquifer-based species in the region that are protected by the ESA, specifically the Golden-cheeked Warbler, the Barton Springs salamander, the Austin Blind salamander, the San Marcos salamander, the Texas Blind salamander, the Fountain darter, the Comal Springs dryopid beetle, and the Comal Springs riffle beetle.
"This new NOI asserts that the aquifers — which are a primary source of drinking water to the region — and which provide essential habitat for the endangered species that reside therein, are under direct and indirect threat by the pipeline," Eubanks said. "Based on information and belief, Kinder Morgan has no intention of making public its plans to mitigate the damage caused by this pipeline."
Kinder Morgan said that the company will not be commenting about San Marcos' involvement in the NOI.
"While we are not commenting in length on this previously reported NOI issue, the City of Kyle's potential participation in this litigation was specifically contemplated in the settlement agreement," a representative of Kinder Morgan said in an email.
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OSTEOPATHIC.ORG
Vol. 112, No. 8
Letters to the Editor | August 2012
The Failed Theratope Vaccine: 10 Years Later
Simon B. Zeichner, DO
Department of Internal Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, Florida
The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, August 2012, Vol. 112, 482-483. doi:https://doi.org/10.7556/jaoa.2012.112.8.482
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Data Supplements
Zeichner SB. The Failed Theratope Vaccine: 10 Years Later. J Am Osteopath Assoc 2012;112(8):482–483. doi: https://doi.org/10.7556/jaoa.2012.112.8.482.
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The year was 2002. There was excitement in the air. Immunology and oncology were finally coming together in what appeared to be the most novel agent in the field of breast cancer treatment since the revolutionary introduction of trastuzumab. A vaccine had been shown to stimulate antibody- and cell-mediated immune responses against tumor-associated antigens.1 Phase I and II studies provided convincing evidence that this highly touted therapeutic breast cancer vaccine, dubbed Theratope (synthetic O-linked disaccharide, sialyl-Tn-keyhole limpet hemocyanin [STn-KLH]; Biomira Inc, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada), was the next big idea in the field.1 Hundreds of researchers around the world were eager to see the results of phase III clinical trials of this promising agent.
One of the first studies describing the use of Theratope in clinical practice had been published in 1996 by MacLean and colleagues.2 They described how Theratope produced clinically significant antibody titers and a marked increase in survival in patients with breast cancer.2 Vaccine activity was also associated with expression of CD69+ lymphocytes and CA27.29 (MUC-1), a high-molecular-weight glycoprotein rich in serine and threonine residues.3 Two phase II trials compared the use of low-dose cyclophosphamide with and without Theratope and found that there was a statistically significant increase in survival among patients treated with the STn-KLH vaccine (overall median survival, 19.1 months; n=50), compared with those patients not treated with the vaccine (overall median survival, 9.2 months; n=104).4,5 The trials reported minimal toxic effects with mild injection-site reactions and flulike symptoms.4,5 Sandmaier et al6 tested Theratope in vitro in 33 high-risk patients with breast cancer after stem cell transplantation. The researchers reported in 1999 that they observed STn antigen-specific T-cell proliferation and peripheral blood lymphocyte lytic activity.6,7
The stage was set for mid-2003. Numerous in vitro and phase II studies had delivered encouraging results for Theratope. There was a wave of optimism in the air. One June day in 2003, however, there was breaking news8:
Biomira Inc. (Nasdaq: BIOM) (TSX:BRA) and Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany, announced today that the results from a large pivotal Phase III trial of Theratope(R) vaccine for women with metastatic breast cancer did not meet the two pre-determined statistical endpoints of time to disease progression and overall survival. However, one prestratified subset of patients in the treatment group, women on hormonal treatment following chemotherapy, appeared to show a favourable trend to improvement in survival. … The Phase III randomized, double-blind trial was designed and powered primarily as a survival study. Enrolment [sic] in the trial totaled 1,030 women at more than 120 sites in 10 countries and, to date, is believed to be the largest trial of a therapeutic vaccine conducted in women with metastatic breast cancer.
In the study referred to in this June 2003 news report8—the final results of which were published in 20119—week-12 antibody testing revealed high specific immunoglobulin G titers in the group treated with Theratope and no detectable antimucin antibodies in the control group. However, median survival time between the treatment and control groups (23.1 months vs 22.3 months, respectively) was not significantly different.9
Researchers were shocked by the initial phase III results reported in 2003.8,9 The idea that vaccines could be given to stimulate antibody- and cell-mediated immune responses against tumor-associated antigens made so much sense at the cellular level, and results of phase I and II clinical trials were so promising! Patients treated with the Theratope vaccine produced clinically significant antibody titers, but—for some reason—this result was not translating into increased survival for the patients. What had gone wrong? Researchers went back to the drawing board to elucidate a clear mechanism describing the efficacy of the vaccine.
Although interest and hope waned, further research was conducted during the next few years. Epidemiologic studies showed that STn expression was highly restricted in normal tissue and was seen in approximately 25% to 30% of breast cancer cases.10 In 2005, Braun et al10 reported that tumor cells treated in vitro with an aromatase inhibitor exhibited increased sensitivity to monocyte-medicated, antibody-dependent cellular toxicity. Gilewski and colleagues11 found that the combination of 2 vaccines—STn-KLH and the immunologic adjuvant QS-21—produced clinically significant antibody titers in high-risk patients with breast cancer, with little or no resulting toxicity.
Today, almost 10 years after the disappointing report on the pivotal phase III clinical trial of Theratope,8,9 therapeutic vaccines for metastatic breast cancer no longer hold the same promise as they once did. Multiple vaccines have failed to show any meaningful benefits. Despite some encouraging recent results for the use of combination vaccines in the treatment of hormone-sensitive patients,11 these findings need to be verified in large randomized controlled trials. Meanwhile, vaccines have shown some success with other types of cancer, such as prostate cancer (sipuleucel-T)12 and melanoma (ipilimumab).13
Only time will tell whether vaccines will ever have a permanent role in treating patients with breast cancer. However, the Theratope vaccine story has ultimately become a tale of caution in the field of breast oncology.
Holmberg LA, Sandmaier BM. Theratope vaccine (STn-KLH) [review]. Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2001;1(5):881-891. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
MacLean GD, Reddish MA, Koganty RR, Longenecker BM. Antibodies against mucin-associated sialyl-Tn epitopes correlate with survival of metastatic adenocarcinoma patients undergoing active specific immunotherapy with synthetic STn vaccine. J Immunother Emphasis Tumor Immunol. 1996;19(1):59-68. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Reddish MA, MacLean GD, Poppema S, Berg A, Longenecker BM. Pre-immunotherapy serum CA27.29 (MUC-1) mucin level and CD69+ lymphocytes correlate with effects of Theratope sialyl-Tn-KLH cancer vaccine in active specific immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 1996;42(5):303-309. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
MacLean GD, Miles DW, Rubens RD, Reddish MA, Longenecker BM. Enhancing the effect of THERATOPE STn-KLH cancer vaccine in patients with metastatic breast cancer by pretreatment with low-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide. J Immunother Emphasis Tumor Immunol. 1996;19(4): 309-316. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Miles D, Papazisis K. Rationale for the clinical development of STn-KLH (Theratope) and anti-MUC-1 vaccines in breast cancer [review]. Clin Breast Cancer. 2003;3(suppl 4):S134-S138. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Sandmaier BM, Oparin DV, Holmberg LA, Reddish MA, MacLean GD, Longenecker BM. Evidence of a cellular immune response against sialyl-Tn in breast and ovarian cancer patients after high-dose chemotherapy, stem cell rescue, and immunization with Theratope STn-KLH cancer vaccine. J Immunother. 1999;22(1):54-66. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Hadden JW. The immunology and immunotherapy of breast cancer: an update [review]. Int J Immunopharmacol. 1999;21(2):79-101. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Biomira and Merck KGaA announce Phase III Theratope(R) vaccine trial does not meet primary endpoints. PR Newswire Web site. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/biomira-and-merck-kgaa-announce-phase-iii-theratoper-vaccine-trial-does-not-meet-primary-endpoints-71326627.html. Accessed May 29, 2012.
Miles D, Roché H, Martin M, et al. Theratope(r) Study Group. Phase III multicenter clinical trial of the sialyl-TN (STn)-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) vaccine for metastatic breast cancer [published online ahead of print May 14, 2011]. Oncologist. 2011;16(8):1092-1100. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Braun DP, Crist KA, Shaheen F, Staren ED, Andrews S, Parker J. Aromatase inhibitors increase the sensitivity of human tumor cells to monocyte-mediated, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Am J Surg. 2005;190(4):570-571. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Gilewski TA, Ragupathi G, Dickler Met al. Immunization of high-risk breast cancer patients with clustered sTn-KLH conjugate plus the immunologic adjuvant QS-21. Clin Cancer Res. 2007;13(10): 2977-2985. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Kantoff PW, Higano CS, Shore ND, et al. IMPACT Study Investigators. Sipuleucel-T immunotherapy for castration-resistant prostate cancer. N Engl J Med. 2010;363(5):411-422. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Hodi FS, O'Day SJ, McDermott DFet al. Improved survival with ipilimumab in patients with metastatic melanoma [published online ahead of print June 5, 2010]. N Engl J Med. 2010;363(8):711-723. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
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China Threatens Cheating Students With 7 Years in Prison
(Photo: Flickr, Creative Commons)
Students in China who are found to be cheating on their college entrance exams now face criminal charges of up to seven years in prison.
The new rule was confirmed as 9.4 million students in the country prepared to take the exam, called the gaokao, which has been in use since the Cultural Revolution. Students put all their efforts into studying for the June exams, with wealthier parents paying thousands for tutoring and prep courses.
In an effort to put a stop to instances of cheating, test monitors in Ruijin, east China's Jiangxi Province, were even found using devices in order to scan the shoes worn by students as they entered the exam room. Additional devices were used to block any wireless signal that students may have been trying to use to share answers, writes Aftab Ali for The Independent.
Across the nation, police offers were sent to testing centers in order to watch for "suspicious behavior." Beijing had an average of eight policemen at each location.
The gaokao exam is used throughout the country to determine which students will continue their education at the university level. However, the agency said that the allegations of cheating occurring between teachers and students has resulted in a drop in the reputation that the exam holds.
"Safeguarding fairness in the gaokao and education, in general, is the baseline for China to maintain social justice," said Xiong Bingqi, vice-president of the 21st Century Education Research Institute in Beijing.
While parents around the country had both positive and negative views of instituting prison time for cheating, one educationalist pointed out, "To fully eliminate cheating, not only must the punishment be strengthened but also the admission system must be reformed," writes Max Bearak for The Washington Post.
Countries around the world have begun to crack down on instances of cheating, particularly with the introduction of the Internet and digital age.
Last month, a group of prospective medical students in a Thai university made national headlines after they were caught using high-tech gadgets such as "spy movie-style glasses" that had cameras inside as well as smartwatches to cheat on their entrance exams. As a result, the school was forced to cancel the exams.
The university has announced that the students in question have been blacklisted from the school. According to local media, the students will be appearing at a police inquiry.
Just this week, 85 students at Ohio State University faced disciplinary action as the result of their cheating on a test. An investigation carried out by university officials uncovered that the students involved had been sharing answers to an online take-home test.
Meanwhile, universities in Britain have been found to be involved in a "plagiarism epidemic," the result of an investigation by The Times newspaper earlier in the year that revealed that close to 50,000 students had been caught cheating over the last three years.
The highest number of academic misconduct cases in the UK were found at the University of Kent, with a total of 1,947. According to a university spokesman, "robust systems" were being used by the school in order to find out if anyone was trying to cheat, adding that the university "will not tolerate academic misconduct."
Kristin Decarr
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Home | Media Center | News | H.E President of AAAID Pays Review Visits to the Affiliate Companies in the Headquarters Host Country- Sudan
H.E President of AAAID Pays Review Visits to the Affiliate Companies in the Headquarters Host Country- Sudan
Date: 03 Sep, 2019
H.E Mohamed bin Obaid Al Mazrooei, President of the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID), accompanied by a delegation from the Arab Authority, toured a number of AAAID's Affiliate Companies in the Republic of Sudan on 31/08/2019- 01/09/2019. The visit came in support of the economic development process taking place in the country and the keenness of the Arab Authority to provide sustainable agricultural and food products to reinforce food security in the Republic of Sudan as well as an interest in following up on the level of performance and achievement in agricultural companies.
His Excellency the President of AAAID personally inspected the fields and the performance of Al Mutamayiza for Vegetables and Crops Production in the Umm Dom region, which is engaged in contracting with farmers to grow, sort, grade and package vegetables and fruits. The company has refrigerated warehouses with a capacity of 2,500 tons, three lines for grading and packaging, irrigation channels, 16 greenhouses, as well as some agricultural machinery.
H.E also reviewed the performance of El Bagair Red Meat Company, which works on the production, fattening, slaughter, marketing and export of red meat of international quality (live animals, meat cutters and meat factories). The production capacity of the company is 500 thousand sheep for live export, and fattening and for Hajj sacrifice purposes, while 150 thousand head of sheep are for processing for the local market and export. In addition to fattening of 45 thousand heads of cows and preparing them for the local market and for exporting, and allocating 15 thousand head of calves to manufacture meat.
H.E Al Mazrooie also paid a visit to the Arab Poultry Production and Processing Company located at Al Taybah Al Hassanab, whose main activity includes the production of poultry meat and table eggs. The production capacity includes (12) breeder coops that can accommodate 50,000 chicks and produce about 4.5 million hatching eggs annually. Al-Badari farms (broilers) contain 30 coops with a production capacity of 4.4 million chicks to produce about 5 thousand tons of poultry meat annually. The laying section consists of 3 sheds with a production capacity of 15 million table eggs per year, while the hatchery has 12 incubators and 4 hatchers, the hatchers' production capacity is 5 million chicks per year. The slaughterhouse section contains a freezing room and cold stores for conservation and has a production capacity of 3000 birds per hour. The fodder plant, with a production capacity of 10 tons per hour, consists of 3 silos with a storage capacity of 6 thousand tons in addition to external warehouses and an administrative building.
Additionally, H.E President of AAAID also visited the Arab Company for Drugs LTD, which is engaged in the production, manufacture and marketing of veterinary medicines through 3 production lines. These include the sterile injection production line producing 900,000 liters per year, 1.8 million liters per year from the veterinary oral liquid line and 80,000 kilograms of powder, tablets and capsules from the solid production line.
His Excellency met with officials in the Affiliate Companies and listened to a detailed explanation of the performance of the companies and stages of production processes, constraints and difficulties facing those companies, and how to find appropriate solutions for the suggested issues.
Last updated: August 12, 2020 12:07:40pm


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Župnija Senovo je rimskokatoliška teritorialna župnija Dekanije Videm ob Savi Škofije Celje.

Župnija je bila ustanovljena 1. januarja 1964 z odcepitvijo od Župnije Brestanica. Prvi župnijski upravitelj je postal brestaniški kaplan Janez Nanut, ki je leta 1984 uradno postal župnik. Do 7. aprila 2006, ko je bila ustanovljena Škofija Celje, je bila župnija del Savskega naddekanata Škofije Maribor. Od leta 2022 župnijo upravlja župnik iz Brestanice.

Sakralni objekti

Glej tudi

 Seznam rimskokatoliških župnij v Sloveniji

Zunanje povezave

 Zupnija-senovo.weebly.com, uradna stran
 Skofija-celje.si
 Radio1.si, novica o novem župniku Janezu Turineku
 Youtube.com, predstavitveni video

Senovo
Dekanija Videm ob Savi
Senovo
Ustanovitve leta 1964
Posavje

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Preparing for Birth is having an online scavenger hunt to ring in December.
You could win this cute pocket diaper.
1) How many births has Desirre Andrews attended?
2) Name a doula that is working through Preparing For Birth?
3) How many on average gel capped pills can be made from a placenta?
4) What breast pump brand does Preparing for Birth have for sale?
5) What is the most common risk of induction?
6) What is an evidence based reason for induction?
7) What is the Bishop Score used for?
8) What are Daniel Berwick's three principals of patient centered care?
9) A picture of a child nursing in a funny position.
10) A picture of artwork that's at least 100 years old depicting a woman in labor.
1) What is your favorite pregnancy or childbirth related blog?
2) What is your favorite pregnancy or childbirth related book?
Send your entry to nichole@prepforbirth.com by 9pm Wednesday December 5th.
The winner will be announced Thursday, December 6, 2012, and must be able to pick up the prize in person. Everyone who enters will get a coupon for a free birth or postpartum plan session with one of the doulas from Preparing For Birth.


Tibet Lhasa Tsedang Tour – 5 Nights 6 Days allows you to explore its natural and cultural beauties; people from all over the world often visit Tibet via different routes. People arrive Lhasa either by flight or train from Mainland China or Kathmandu, Nepal. There are nearly 850 settlements in Tibet. Lhasa is Tibet's capital and the capital of Tibet Autonomous region. It contains two world heritage sites – the Potala Palace and Norbulingka Palace which used to be the residences of the Dalai Lama.
In addition, Lhasa contains number of significant monasteries and temples, and Jokhang and Bharkhor bazaar are other attractions where you can wander around and get popular restaurant to experience different Tibetan foods and shops to buy souvenirs. Moreover, Sera and Drepung monasteries can keep you amused due to its debating dance and other aspects.
While choosing Tibet Lhasa Tsedang Tour – 5 Nights 6 Days could be the best option for those who have holiday time as you will also visit to Tsedang and Samye Monastery that is about 120 KM from Lhasa. However, if you want to explore some other popular attractions near Lhasa such as Namtso, Yamdroktso, Hot springs, Shigatse, Gyantse and etc; you definitely need to extent your stay in Tibet and we have other wonderful itineraries that can help you explore those locations.
Fly to Lhasa crossing over the highest Himalayan ranges of the world (1 Hr.). Transfer and check-in to your hotel. Full rest for acclimatization – Hotel.
Two full day sight-seeing tour of Lhasa including Jokhang temple, Barkhor bazaar, Potala palace, Sera & Drepung monasteries, etc. – Hotel.
Scenic drive LHASA- TSEDANG with a visit to SAMYE MONASTERY en route – overnight at Hotel.
Transfer to airport and fly to Kathmandu or to your onward destination.