L’implication du syndicat dans la gestion de la prestation des services municipaux : une comparaison Québec-Écosse

Pour devenir plus flexible, le secteur public a ouvert la voie à de nouveaux principes inspirés de la gestion propre aux firmes, soit la marchandisation des services (Fairbrother et Poynter, 2001). Notre recherche souhaite mieux comprendre les facteurs qui peuvent influencer l’implication du syndicat lorsque la marchandisation est introduite dans la gestion de la prestation des services municipaux. Pour se faire, nous avons choisi de comparer des cas des municipalités dans deux pays, la Ville de Québec et Edinburgh en Écosse, afin de nous aider à comprendre davantage les interactions entre les influences nationales et locales. Nous proposons que les ressources de pouvoir du syndicat local et la stratégie patronale influencent l’implication du syndicat dans la gestion de la prestation des services municipaux, peu importe le contexte national. Les résultats de la recherche nous indiquent que les ressources de pouvoir et la stratégie patronale influencent directement l’implication syndicale. Alors que les ressources de pouvoir donnent un rapport de force au syndicat face à l’employeur, la stratégie patronale peut encourager ou freiner l'implication syndicale. Nos résultats ont aussi soulevé certaines différences entre les contextes nationaux de l’Écosse et du Québec affectant l’implication syndicale: les législations de « Best Value » au Royaume-Uni et celles encadrant les conventions collectives et relations de travail au Québec. Ainsi, des recherches futures sont nécessaires pour mettre à l’épreuve les modèles nationaux couramment utilisés en relations industrielles pour contribuer à la création d’une nouvelle théorie comparative.

La sous-traitance « boomerang » : l’influence des relations industrielles sur l’internalisation d’activités manufacturières confiées en sous-traitance

Au cours de la dernière décennie, le secteur manufacturier québécois a subi d’importantes transformations. La mondialisation ayant amené les entreprises à restructurer leurs activités, 96% des établissements manufacturiers québécois ont choisi d’avoir recours à la sous-traitance (Jalette, 2004). Or, nous savons que l’octroi de contrats en sous-traitance est un processus qui se révèle parfois décevant pour les entreprises. En raison de l’évolution de certains facteurs organisationnels internes ou externes qui contribue à changer le contexte au sein duquel les décisions de sous-traitance avaient été prises initialement (ex. : augmentation des coûts de main-d’œuvre et de transport, changements technologiques), il arrive que les entreprises renversent les décisions de sous-traitance par une décision d’internalisation (OCDE, 2013). Le concept d’internalisation réfère ici à l’action d’une entreprise de ramener vers un établissement des activités de production qui avaient été antérieurement transférées en dehors de celui-ci, et ce, que ce soit en raison d’une sous-traitance d’activités à une entreprise indépendante ou d’une délocalisation au sein d’un autre établissement de l’entreprise (Jalette & Chevance, 2008). La présente étude a pour objectif d’expliquer la décision managériale d’internalisation par le biais des dynamiques sociales inhérentes aux relations industrielles, en allant au-delà des seuls facteurs économiques. L’effet sur l’internalisation de quatre variables indépendantes liées aux relations industrielles est étudié, soit la capacité stratégique du syndicat local, la solidarité interne de l’acteur syndical local et sa solidarité externe, ainsi que le climat des relations patronales-syndicales. La typologie des positions syndicales de Jalette (2005), le modèle des ressources de pouvoir syndicales de Lévesque et Murray (2003) et les travaux de Dastmalchian (2008) traitant du climat des relations industrielles constituent le cadre théorique de cette recherche. La présente étude utilise des données recueillies dans le cadre d’une enquête par questionnaire réalisée en 2005 auprès de présidents de syndicats locaux affiliés à la CSD et à la FTQ qui œuvrent dans le secteur manufacturier québécois. L’étude révèle que 24% des syndicats locaux sondés ont vécu l’internalisation d’activités antérieurement sous-traitées dans les deux années précédentes au sondage. De plus, les résultats sont à l’effet que les chances d’internalisation d’activités augmentent lorsque plusieurs stratégies et actions visant l’internalisation sont adoptées par le syndicat local, lorsque la vie syndicale d’un syndicat local s’améliore et lorsque le temps de libération syndicale d’un syndicat local augmente. Toutefois, les chances d’internalisation d’activités diminuent lorsque le rapport de force d’un syndical local augmente. L’internalisation d’activités diminue également lorsque le climat des relations du travail se détériore. Bref, les résultats de cette recherche montrent que les syndicats n’ont pas qu’à subir la mondialisation et que, par leurs actions, ils sont à même d’en influencer le cours, notamment en favorisant l’internalisation d’activités antérieurement confiées en sous-traitance.

Destination brand positions of a competitive set of near-home destinations

Although the branding literature commenced during the 1940s, the first publications related to destination branding did not emerge until half a century later. A review of 74 destination branding publications by 102 authors from the first 10 years of destination branding literature (1998-2007) found at least nine potential research gaps warranting attention by researchers. In particular, there has been a lack of research examining the extent to which brand positioning campaigns have been successful in enhancing brand equity in the manner intended in the brand identity. The purpose of this paper is to report the results of an investigation of brand equity tracking for a competitive set of destinations in Queensland, Australia between 2003 and 2007. A hierarchy of consumer-based brand equity (CBBE) provided an effective means to monitor destination brand positions over time. A key implication of the results was the finding that there was no change in brand positions for any of the five destinations over the four year period. This leads to the proposition that destination position change within a competitive set will only occur slowly over a long period of time. The tabulation of 74 destination branding case studies, research papers, conceptual papers and web content analyses provides students and researchers with a useful resource on the current state of the field.

Announcement and enactment of legislation improve children’s car seating positions

Purpose: Evaluate effectiveness of new legislation Are children more likely to sit in the rear seat now than previously? ----- Are they more likely to wear an age-appropriate restraint? How easy is it for parents to comply (what are the barriers)?----- What more can be done? ----- ----- Design: 2 studies Study 1-observational 3 time phases (pre-legislation; post announcement; post enactment)----- Study 2-intercept interviews 2 time phases (post announcement; post enactment, same parents)----- Three data collection phases: T1 (before announcement, 2007) T2 (after announcement but before enactment, 2009-10) T3 (after the enactment, 2010)----- Two regional cities: Toowoomba, Rockhampton----- Site types Schools, shopping areas

Sensitivity of peak positions to flight-path parameters in a deep-inelastic scattering neutron TOF spectrometer

The effects of small changes in flight-path parameters (primary and secondary flight paths, detector angles), and of displacement of the sample along the beam axis away from its ideal position, are examined for an inelastic time-of-flight (TOF) neutron spectrometer, emphasising the deep-inelastic regime. The aim was to develop a rational basis for deciding what measured shifts in the positions of spectral peaks could be regarded as reliable in the light of the uncertainties in the calibrated flight-path parameters. Uncertainty in the length of the primary or secondary flight path has the least effect on the positions of the peaks of H, D and He, which are dominated by the accuracy of the calibration of the detector angles. This aspect of the calibration of a TOF spectrometer therefore demands close attention to achieve reliable outcomes where the position of the peaks is of significant scientific interest and is discussed in detail. The corresponding sensitivities of the position of peak of the Compton profile, J(y), to flight-path parameters and sample position are also examined, focusing on the comparability across experiments of results for H, D and He. We show that positioning the sample to within a few mm of the ideal position is required to ensure good comparability between experiments if data from detectors at high forward angles are to be reliably interpreted.

Oxidation of 4-substituted TEMPO derivatives reveals modifications at the 1-and 4-positions

Potenital pathways for the deactivation of hindered amine light stabilisers (HALS) have been investigated by observing reactions of model compounds-based on 4-substituted derivatives of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO)-with hydroxyl radicals. In these reactions, dilute aqueous suspensions of photocatalytic nanoparticulate titanium dioxide were irradiated with UV light in the presence of water-soluble TEMPO derivatives. Electron spin resonance (ESR) and electrospray ionisation mass-spectrometry (ESI-MS) data were acquired to provide complementary structural elucidation of the odd-and even-electron products of these reactions and both techniques show evidence for the formation of 4-oxo-TEMPO (TEMPONE). TEMPONE formation from the 4-substituted TEMPO compounds is proposed to be initiated by hydrogen abstraction at the 4-position by hydroxyl radical. High-level ab initio calculations reveal a thermodynamic preference for abstraction of this hydrogen but computed activation barriers indicate that, although viable, it is less favoured than hydrogen abstraction from elsewhere on the TEMPO scaffold. If a radical is formed at the 4-position however, calculations elucidate two reaction pathways leading to TEMPONE following combination with either a second hydroxyl radical or dioxygen. An alternate mechanism for conversion of TEMPOL to TEMPONE via an alkoxyl radical intermediate is also considered and found to be competitive with the other pathways. ESI-MS analysis also shows an increased abundance of analogous 4-substituted piperidines during the course of irradiation, suggesting competitive modification at the 1-position to produce a secondary amine. This modification is confirmed by characteristic fragmentation patterns of the ionised piperidines obtained by tandem mass spectrometry. The conclusions describe how reaction at the 4-position could be responsible for the gradual depletion of HALS in pigmented surface coatings and secondly, that modification at nitrogen to form the corresponding secondary amine species may play a greater role in the stabilisation mechanisms of HALS than previously considered.

Amino group positions dependent morphology and coverage of electropolymerized metallophthalocyanine (M = Ni and Co) films on electrode surfaces

Electropolymerized films of teraaminometallophthalocyanines (MTAPc; M = Ni and Co) with amino groups at α- (4α-MTAPc) and β- (4β-MTAPc) positions were prepared on glassy carbon (GC) and indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes. It was found that the electropolymerization growth rate of 4α-MTAPc was less than that of 4β-MTAPc prepared under identical conditions. Further, the surface coverage of the polymerized 4β-MTAPc film was greater than that of 4α-MTAPc polymerized film. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV–visible spectroscopic studies were carried out for the polymerized films of 4α-NiIITAPc (p-4α-NiIITAPc) and 4β-NiIITAPc (p-4β-NiIITAPc) alone because both Ni(II) and Co(II) polymerized films show similar trend in electropolymerization and surface coverage values. AFM images show that p-4α-NiIITAPc film contains islands and the thickness of this film was nearly three times less than that of p-4β-NiIITAPc. XRD patterns for the two polymerized films reveal that p-4β-NiIITAPc film was relatively more crystalline than p-4α-NiIITAPc film. Further, the compactness of these films was scrutinized from their barrier properties toward [Fe(CN)6]3−/4− redox couple. The differences in the polymerization growth rate of 4α-MTAPc and 4β-MTAPc, and the thicknesses of the resultant polymerized films suggest that unlike 4β-MTAPc one or two amino groups might have not involved in electropolymerization in the case of 4α-MTAPc. Further, the influence of surface coverage on the electrocatalytic properties of the polymerized films was studied by taking p-4β-CoIITAPc and p-4α-CoIITAPc films as examples. The electrocatalytic oxygen reduction current was almost same at both the electrodes suggesting that only the surface species were involved in the electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen.

Highly efficient C-8 oxidation of substituted xanthines with substitution at the 1-, 3-, and 7- positions using biocatalysts

A bacterial consortium consisting of strains belongings to the genus Klebsiella and Rhodococcus quantitatively converts 1-, 3- and 7-substituted xanthines to their respective 8-oxo compounds.

Non-reductive Physicalism, Irreducibility of the Mental and the Problem of Mental Causation : A study of Donald Davidson's and Georg Henrik von Wright's positions in the philosophy of mind

In this study I consider what kind of perspective on the mind body problem is taken and can be taken by a philosophical position called non-reductive physicalism. Many positions fall under this label. The form of non-reductive physicalism which I discuss is in essential respects the position taken by Donald Davidson (1917-2003) and Georg Henrik von Wright (1916-2003). I defend their positions and discuss the unrecognized similarities between their views. Non-reductive physicalism combines two theses: (a) Everything that exists is physical; (b) Mental phenomena cannot be reduced to the states of the brain. This means that according to non-reductive physicalism the mental aspect of humans (be it a soul, mind, or spirit) is an irreducible part of the human condition. Also Davidson and von Wright claim that, in some important sense, the mental aspect of a human being does not reduce to the physical aspect, that there is a gap between these aspects that cannot be closed. I claim that their arguments for this conclusion are convincing. I also argue that whereas von Wright and Davidson give interesting arguments for the irreducibility of the mental, their physicalism is unwarranted. These philosophers do not give good reasons for believing that reality is thoroughly physical. Notwithstanding the materialistic consensus in the contemporary philosophy of mind the ontology of mind is still an uncharted territory where real breakthroughs are not to be expected until a radically new ontological position is developed. The third main claim of this work is that the problem of mental causation cannot be solved from the Davidsonian - von Wrightian perspective. The problem of mental causation is the problem of how mental phenomena like beliefs can cause physical movements of the body. As I see it, the essential point of non-reductive physicalism - the irreducibility of the mental - and the problem of mental causation are closely related. If mental phenomena do not reduce to causally effective states of the brain, then what justifies the belief that mental phenomena have causal powers? If mental causes do not reduce to physical causes, then how to tell when - or whether - the mental causes in terms of which human actions are explained are actually effective? I argue that this - how to decide when mental causes really are effective - is the real problem of mental causation. The motivation to explore and defend a non-reductive position stems from the belief that reductive physicalism leads to serious ethical problems. My claim is that Davidson's and von Wright's ultimate reason to defend a non-reductive view comes back to their belief that a reductive understanding of human nature would be a narrow and possibly harmful perspective. The final conclusion of my thesis is that von Wright's and Davidson's positions provide a starting point from which the current scientistic philosophy of mind can be critically further explored in the future.

Openness to experience as a predictor and outcome of upward job changes into managerial and professional positions

In industrial and organizational psychology, there is a long tradition of studying personality as an antecedent of work outcomes. Recently, however, scholars have suggested that personality characteristics may not only predict, but also change due to certain work experiences, a notion that is depicted in the dynamic developmental model (DDM) of personality and work. Upward job changes are an important part of employees’ careers and career success in particular, and we argue that these career transitions can shape personality over time. In this study, we investigate the Big Five personality characteristics as both predictors and outcomes of upward job changes into managerial and professional positions. We tested our hypotheses by applying event history analyses and propensity score matching to a longitudinal dataset collected over five years from employees in Australia. Results indicated that participants’ openness to experience not only predicted, but that changes in openness to experience also followed from upward job changes into managerial and professional positions. Our findings thus provide support for a dynamic perspective on personality characteristics in the context of work and careers.

Method for evaluation of the acoustical impedance of a black box, with or without mean flow, measuring pressures at fixed positions

The transmission-line or the impedance-tube method for the measurement of the acoustic impedance of any termination involves a search for various minima and maxima of pressure. For this purpose, arrangement has to be made for the microphone to travel along the length of the impedance tube, and this complicates the design of the tube considerably. The present paper discusses a method which consists in evaluating the tube attenuation factor at any convenient frequency by making use of measured SPL's at two (or more) fixed locations with a rigid termination, calculating the tube attenuation factor and wave number at the required frequency of interest with or without mean flow (as applicable), and finally evaluating the impedance of the given termination by measuring and using SPL's at three (or more) fixed locations. Thus, the required impedance tube is considerably smaller in length, simpler in design, easier to manufacture, cheaper in cost and more convenient to use. The design of the tube is also discussed. Incidentally, it is also possible to evaluate the impedance at any low frequency without having to use a larger impedance tube.