The Gainers Strike: Capitalist Offensive, Militancy, and the Politics of Industrial Relations in Canada

The history of Alberta's meatpacking workers is closely connected with the broader historical struggles of the working class in North America. Like their counterparts from the packinghouses in Toronto and Montreal, the workers of Calgary and Edmonton organized and fought for union recognition between 1911 and 1920, thus joining a labour revolt that was spreading throughout Europe and North America in the wake of World War I and the October Revolution. They faced stiff resistance.

Commitment of women industrial workers with special reference to electronics industry in Kerala

In this study of workers of the two industrial units, it has been found that the women workers are more committed to the organization than the men workers. The organizational commitment has been a popular research topic among organizational sociologists, industrial psychologists and labour relations specialists. Much of the early research was directed on organizational commitment of men workers and studies on organizational commitment of women workers were less when compared to that of men workers. The results of this study is partially supported by the findings of Aranya and Jacobson (1975) who found that parental responsibility is linked with maintaining stable patterns of employment.

"Profile of Industrial workers in Kerala - A Comparative Study of the Socioeconomic Profile of Workers in Traditional and Modern Industries

The objective of this study is to assess the changes that have been taking place in the socio-economic profile of organized industrial workers of Kerala in the context of the changes that have been taking place in the state's industrial structure. with this object in view, the study seeks to find out the similarities and differences in the profile of workers belonging to two Segments of factory sector industries in Kerala viz., modern and traditional segments. It also seeks to examine the factors leading to the differences in profile, if any, and their consequences. As noted earlier, the profile of workers may be influenced both by external societal factors and by internal factors like the difference in industrial structure and the technologies used. It is proposed to assess the relative importance of these two groups of factors. In drawing up the profile, we seek to find out whether the workers belonging to the organised sector of industry in Kerala particularly the more modern sector have begun to form a ‘select group‘ in the Kerala society and the total work force. Wherever possible, it is proposed to compare the profile of the Kerala workers with those of workers in other states of India. As an incidental objective, it is also proposed to find out to the extent possible, whether trends towards labour embourgeoisement and class shifting have begun to set in among the industrial workers of Kerala, particularly among the workers in the modern industries as a result of their relative affluence and their middle class socioeconomic background. besides, the study seeks to find out whether there is any difference in the class consciousness of workers belonging to these two segments of organized industry, arising from the differences in their economic status and social background.

The institutional environment and its influence on political options to Protect Winnipeg’s Female garments Workers against the impact of globalization

The principal objective of this paper is to identify the relationship between the re­sults of the Canadian policies implemented to protect female workers against the impact of globalization on the garment industry and the institutional setting in which this labour market is immersed in Winnipeg. This research paper begins with a brief summary of the institutional theory appro­ach that sheds light on the analysis of the effects of institutions on the policy options to protect female workers of the Winnipeg garment industry. Next, this paper identi­fies the set of beliefs, formal procedures, routines, norms and conventions that cha­racterize the institutional environment of the female workers of Winnipeg’s garment industry. Subsequently, this paper descri­bes the impact of free trade policies on the garment industry of Winnipeg. Afterward, this paper presents an analysis of the ba­rriers that the institutional features of the garment sector in Winnipeg can set to the successful achievement of policy options addressed to protect the female workforce of this sector. Three policy options are considered: ethical purchasing; training/retraining programs and social engage­ment support for garment workers; and protection of migrated workers through promoting and facilitating bonds between Canada’s trade unions and trade unions of the labour sending countries. Finally, this paper concludes that the formation of isolated cultural groups inside of factories; the belief that there is gender and race discrimination on the part of the garment industry management against workers; the powerless social conditions of immi­grant women; the economic rationality of garment factories’ managers; and the lack of political will on the part of Canada and the labour sending countries to set effective bilateral agreements to protect migrate wor­kers, are the principal barriers that divide the actors involved in the garment industry in Winnipeg. This division among the prin­cipal actors of Winnipeg’s garment industry impedes the change toward more efficient institutions and, hence, the successful achievement of policy options addressed to protect women workers. 

Seroprevalence of Antibodies to Chlamydophila psittaci in Zoo Workers in Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Electrophoretical polypeptide pattern of hypopharyngeal glands extracts from workers and males of Scaptotrigona postica Latr. (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponinae)

In S. postica the hypopharyngeal glands are present in workers, males and queens. The glands of newly emerged workers are in a prefunctional phase, in nurse workers they reach their highest development and in forager workers they suffer reabsorption. The newly emerged males and queens, however, have well developed glands that soon start involution. The electrophoretical pattern of worker and male hypopharyngeal glands is compared with the pattern of nurse workers of A. mellifera. The results show simularities, as well as differences among the S. postica males and workers, and among the phases of worker life. The electrophoretic band pattern suggests that the hypopharyngeal glands of nurse workers of S. postica produce substances similar to the ones produced by A. mellifera. The similarity of the extracts of nurse glands of A. mellifera and S. postica, as well as the behavioural similarities of the workers, suggest the same function of this gland in both species.

Electrophoretic analysis of the protein in the midgut of stingless bees (Apidae; Meliponinae) with a comparison of necrophagous and feeding pollen workers

SDS electrophoresis of midgut proteins from two Trigonini species with different feeding habits shows many similarities and the absence of unique protein in the necrophagous stingless bee Trigona hypogea, suggesting that biochemical adaptation to necrophagy, in this bee, occurs more in the qualitative than in quantitative level. Workers of different ages display some variations in the midgut protein pattern, suggesting that it is important to know the age in studies regarding to bee digestion.

Comparative study of the ultrastructure and secretory dynamic of hypopharyngeal glands in queens, workers and males of Sceptotrigona postica latreille (Hymenoptera, Apinae, Meliponini)

The secretory cycle of hypopharyngeal glands (HPGs) in Scaptotrigona postica resembles that of Apis mellifera: in newly emerged workers the HPGs are in prefunctional state, their maximum development happens in the nurse workers and in forager workers they show signs of reabsorption. In S. postica these glands are also present in queens and males where they are more developed in newly emerged individuals. The ultrastructural features of the HPG secretory cycle in workers of S. postica and A. mellifera are alike: granular endoplasmic reticulum well developed, large secretion masses around the intracellular canaliculus in nurse workers and extensive degenerative structures in forager workers. Then it is suggested that the HPG secrete similar substances in both species. A second secretory cycle seems to occur in early foragers, may be with production of enzymes. The role of the HPGs in queens and males remains unknown but one possibility is enzyme production.

Effect of paprika on the ovarian development of Africanized honeybee workers (Apis mellifera L.) in queenless colonies

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Number of ovarioles in workers descendent from crossings between Africanized and Italian honeybees, Apis mellifera L.: comparison among backcrosses and ancestors colonies

Comparou-se o número de ovaríolos de operárias de abelhas Apis mellifera L. de 36 colônias de retrocruzamentos (Africanizadas e Italianas) e operárias de colônias ancestrais parentais, endocruzadas e híbridas (F1). Não houve diferença no número de ovaríolos dos ovários direito e esquerdo das operárias. As abelhas híbridas da geração F1 apresentaram de 2 a 31 ovaríolos. O número de ovaríolos nas operárias dos retrocruzamentos africanizados variou de 2 a 56 e nos retrocruzamentos italianos de 2 a 117. A grande variação no número de ovaríolos das abelhas dos retrocruzamentos deveu-se a variabilidade observada na geração parental (abelhas africanizadas: 2 - 16; italianas: 6 - 26) e no F1 (2 - 31).

Induction of the split sting trait in Africanized Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera : Apidae) by cold treatment of pupae

Split sting is the name given to a nonfunctional honey bee sting characterized by lancets not attached to the stylet. It has appeared in a mutant line in Brazil, and has provoked interest as a possible means to reduce honey bee colony defensiveness. We induced this alteration in Africanized Apis mellifera L. workers and queens by maintaining pupae at 20 degrees C. In particular, we determined the pupal phase most susceptible to alterations in the sting caused by cold treatment, and we investigated whether this treatment also affected survival to the adult phase and wing morphology. The highest frequency of split sting was detected in workers treated at the pink-eyed pupal phase. The lowest frequency was observed in the bees treated at the oldest worker pupal phase studied (brown-eyed pupae with lightly pigmented cuticle). Both queen pupal phases tested (white and pink-eyed pupae) were equally sensitive and produced high percentages of adults with split sting. However, the 20 degrees C treatment of workers and queens, at the different pupal phases, resulted in high frequencies of adults with deformed wings. Also, fewer workers and queens treated at the earlier pupal stages reached adult emergence. There was also an arrest in developmental time, corresponding to the period of cold treatment.

Behavior of Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) workers during the preparation of the leaf substrate for symbiont fungus culture

The behavioral repertory of Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) workers marked by size category was studied during the preparation of the leaf substrate in the laboratory. The workers were marked according to three physical castes, i.e., minima, generalist and forager. Seven types of behavioral acts were recorded for each caste, with the following frequencies: licking leaf fragments (64.6%), holding fragments on the surface of the fungus garden (16.4%), shredding the fragments (6.0%), chewing and crimping the edges of the fragments (9.0%), incorporating the fragments (2.7%), touching the surface of the fungus with their mandibles and other mouthparts after incorporation (0.3%), and depositing fecal fluid (0.1%). The minima workers were found to be more specialized in the activities related to the preparation of the leaf substrate, which represented 52% of the total number of tasks performed. The generalists performed 40.3% of these tasks, and the foragers 7.9%. Licking the substrate was the behavior most frequently recorded and performed for a longer period of time. In this way, the workers may feed and at the same time eliminate microorganisms that are harmful to the symbiont fungus. The smaller castes, minima and generalists, are those most responsible for the preparation of the leaf substrate and predominate within a colony. From a practical viewpoint, with the introduction of toxic bait containing insecticides, for example, these size categories will be those most intensely intoxicated, especially through the behavior of licking bait pellets. On the basis of the data obtained about these behaviors, we may raise the hypothesis that trophallaxis in not the major factor triggering contamination with an insecticide among the workers of a colony.

Enzymatic activity of the hypopharyngeal gland extract from workers and males of Scaptotrigona postica Lat. (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini)

The objective of this research was to contribute to elucidation of the function of the hypopharyngeal glands of S. postica in enzyme production, using the Api Zym kit (Bio Mérieux). Dealing with a comparative analysis between the enzymatic content of the hypopharyngeal gland extracts from newly emerged, nurse and forager workers, as well as, newly emerged males and males mature for mating of S. postica. The hypopharyngeal glands from nurse workers of Apis mellifera, that produce part of the royal jelly, were used for comparison. While in A. mellifera, the hypopharyngeal glands are present only in workers, in S. postica, the hypopharyngeal glands are present and functioning in all adult individuals of the colony. The higher enzymatic activity was observed in the hypopharyngeal gland extracts from nurse workers and may be related to a larger demand for energy, compared to other individuals. The occurrence of large quantities of leucine arylamidase in all individuals may mean that protein processing is happening.