Socialización y proceso de construcción de la identidad profesional del educador físico de una prisión / Socialization and construction process of the professional identity of a physical educator in a prison

El objetivo de este trabajo consiste en indagar en la construcción de la identidad profesional de Alex(pseudónimo), el educador físico responsable de la actividad física y el deporte de una prisión española. Para ello hemosutilizado una perspectiva biográfico-dialéctica basada, fundamentalmente, en entrevistas, que atiende especialmente a lasexperiencias previas, las fuentes contextuales y las estrategias micropolíticas utilizadas por Alex en su lugar de trabajo. Labúsqueda de unas mejores condiciones de trabajo y reconocimiento profesional mediatizan las estrategias utilizadas en lanegociación diaria de su identidad profesional. Pero dicha identidad también se ha construido en un diálogo entre suexperiencia deportiva y el discurso del rendimiento que se encuentra presente a nivel macrosocial. Este estudio ejemplificaun caso particular, aunque no único, de socialización profesional que contribuye a iluminar la (re)construcción de laidentidad de los profesionales de la actividad física y el deporte que trabajan en contextos marginales (AU)

The purpose of this paper is to explore the construction of the professional identity of Alex (a pseudonym),a physical educator in charge of sport and physical activity in a Spanish prison. To this end, we used a biographical-dialecticperspective based mainly on interviews especially focused on prior experiences, contextual resources and the micropoliticalstrategies Alex used in his workplace. The search for better job conditions and professional recognition mediated thestrategies he used during the daily negotiation of his professional identity. Yet, this identity was also constructed in a dialoguebetween his experiences in sport and the performance discourse present at the macro-social level. This study exemplifiesa particular, yet not unique case of professional socialization that helps illuminate the (re)construction of identity ofthose physical activity and sport professionals who work in marginal contexts (AU)

Case studies on employment-related health inequalities in countries representing different types of labor markets.

The authors selected nine case studies, one country from each cluster of their labor market inequalities typology, to outline the macro-political and economic roots of employment relations and their impacts on health. These countries illustrate variations in labor markets and health, categorized into a global empirical typology. The case studies illustrated that workers' health is significantly connected with labor market characteristics and the welfare system. For a core country, the labor market is characterized by a formal sector. The labor institutions of Sweden traditionally have high union density and collective bargaining coverage and a universal health care system, which correlate closely with positive health, in comparison with Spain and the United States. For a semi-periphery country, the labor market is delineated by a growing informal economy. Although South Korea, Venezuela, and El Salvador provide some social welfare benefits, a high proportion of irregular and informal workers are excluded from these benefits and experience hazardous working conditions that adversely affect their health. Lastly, several countries in the global periphery--China, Nigeria, and Haiti--represent informal work and severe labor market insecurity. In the absence of labor market regulations, the majority of their workers toil in the informal sector in unsafe conditions with inadequate health care.

Union certification elections in nursing care facilities.

This empirical study examines 387 union certification elections conducted by the National Labor Relations Board in nursing care facilities (North American Industry Classification System 623) from January 1999 to December 2001. Unions won 60% of the elections. Service Employees International Union was involved in 42% of the elections. Bargaining unit size significantly impacted union victory. Unions had a better probability of winning elections in the northeast and midwest than in the south. Unlike other industries, American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations affiliated unions did not suffer a big labor image in nursing care facilities. Implications for union organizers and administrators of nursing care facilities are discussed.

Reflections on the health workers' strike at Malawi's major tertiary hospital, QECH, Blantyre, 2001: a case study.

Health workers and support staff at Malawi's major referral hospital, the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, were on strike between 5th and 19th October 2001. The health workers' grievances included: lack of risk allowances; poor professional allowances; low salaries; and low housing allowances. The strike resulted in almost total closure of the 1500-bed hospital; only the burns and orthopaedic wards continued to serve patients. Volunteer staff, comprising the Red Cross, and nursing and medical students provided services. Verbal and written threats by the authorities had minimal effect on terminating the strike; rather, they encouraged the resolve to continue with the industrial action. We report aspects of the genesis, progress and resolution of the strike. Although not much seems to have been achieved, both the employer and the workers need to draw lessons from the experience.

A review of data on the health sector of the United States January 2002.

This report presents data on the state of U.S. health care at the end of 2001. It provides information on access to health care, inequalities in incomes and medical care, the increasing costs of health care and health insurance, and the role of corporate money in the provision of health care and the development, marketing, and patenting of pharmaceuticals. The author also looks at the state of health maintenance organizations, the results of some recent surveys on physicians' and public opinion on managed care, and news about the nursing professions. Also provided is an update on Congressional activity on health care legislation, the role of health care industry money in politics, and some developments in health care systems elsewhere in the world.

Hospitals and union elections.

This study examines union certification elections in hospitals from October 1994 to September 1997. Results indicate that union win rates were significantly higher in single-union elections and larger bargaining units. On the other hand, union win rates were significantly lower in church-related hospitals and hospitals that belonged to a health care system or had higher payroll costs. Unions also appeared to win elections at a higher rate in this period than in the past.

Changes related to care delivery patterns.

Nurse administrators, faced with a need to increase productivity and reduce costs in response to lower inpatient volumes and increased competition, are restructuring systems of care delivery. A survey of acute care hospitals was conducted to determine the extent of changes in nursing care delivery models, skill mix, assignment of non-nursing personnel to the nursing department, use of unlicensed assistive personnel, and registered nurse role changes in healthcare delivery systems employing unlicensed personnel.

Collective bargaining in private industry, 1994.

In sum, for the last 3 years, bargainers have negotiated wage and compensation increases that have been lower, on average, than those agreed to the last time the same parties met, despite an improving national economy. While negotiators may have been taking their cue from economic conditions specific to their company or industry, rather than from overall economic conditions, the modest changes in compensation under 1994 settlements were similar to the moderate changes in compensation prevailing the economy.

Collective bargaining practices in the health care industry: an empirical analysis.

The study described in this article focuses on the effects of collective bargaining on the health care industry. Due to the wide range of bargaining groups authorized to become unionized in the health care industry, this study concentrates on how collective bargaining affects the nurses in hospitals. The authors also surveyed a number of administrators and nurses in several hospitals in the midwestern part of the United States to secure their opinions about the effect of the union on their profession. The results of the survey are presented. Finally, the authors summarize related themes and interesting points from the literature and the surveys and provide recommendations.

Instructional assignments and the recent collective bargaining agreement: effect on nursing education.

Nursing teachers employed in the community college nursing programmes in Ontario were discontent with their workloads. Along with other teachers in the community college setting, they went on strike in the fall of 1984. Attention was focused on the workload formulae. In 1986, a new contract was ratified for all the teachers in the community colleges in Ontario. What issues emerged? Discussion will focus on contract changes with respect to instructional assignments, the effects upon the nursing instructors and students, and finally the implications for the programme.