UnionDues

Simon chats with Arbitration and Conciliation Service Chair Clare Chapman about fairness, fire-and-rehire and the future of work.  Mel Simms wonders if hard hit hospitality workers can look forward to better times, in her #thought4theweek,  and Josiah Mortimer brings us up-to-date with his #RadicalRoundUp.  Companion blog at bit.ly/UDs4e5blog . Music by Scott Holmes. A Makes-You-Think production

In this special episode, Simon chats with GMB National Organiser Martin Smith on his union's ground-breaking deal with Uber .  A candid conversation about the opportunities and challenges of organising in a company known for its hostility to unions puts the deal in economic and historical context - and nothing is off-limits. A Makes-You-Think production. music by Scott Holmes. Companion blog here...

Featuring CSP Head of Data Jenny Andrew and Director of CSI (you'll have to listen to know what that stands for) Jon Mawby.  Plus Mel Simms #thought4theweek on why Sustainable Development Goals matter to unions, Sam Johnson on the campaign to recognise the 1888 Matchgirls' strike, plus Josiah Mortimer and David Kerr with the #RadicalRoundUp. Companion blog at bit.ly/UDs4e4blog Music by Scott Holme...

In this episode, Mel Simms reports from the front line of community activism on the links with trade unionism in #thought4theweek Simon chats with Alex Wilson and Jane Jones, two USDAW reps on the challenges shopworkers have faced during Covid and the union's success in recruiting and organising so many young workers. And Josiah Mortimer's #RadicalRoundUp has bad news on jobs but an important win...

In a jam-packed episode, Simon chats with officers of the new Union of Tech and Allied Workers (UTAW) on organising successes,  Mel Simms tackles the enigma of young workers in her #thought4theweek, Nathalie Towner of Labour Research gives us the low-down on negotiating for homeworking, and Josiah Mortimer brings us the #RadicalRoundUp. Companion blog here . Music by Scott Holmes. A Makes You Thin...

UnionDues is back for our fourth series.  Simon chats with Unite Director of Research John Earls about the necessity of a trade union approach to trade.  You only need to recall the impact of the EverGiven getting stranded in the Suez Canal to recognise its importance. Unite’s strategy  builds on the knowledge of its network of local representatives allied with checklists of what needs to be done...

UnionDues is back!  series 4 drops on 27 April.  This trailer tells you what we have in store!  You can contact the show by mailing uniondues@makes-you-think.com or tweeting us @DuesUnion

With Simon Sapper , Mel Simms and Josiah Mortimer. International Trade Union Confederation Deputy General Secretary Owen Tudor gives us a tour of the global trade union landscape, and the ITUC’s key campaign priority of reducing deaths at work. It is a sobering picture with 5 workplace deaths per minute each and every day Commemorations for the forthcoming International Workers Memorial Day on 28...

In this week’s UnionDues we have an in-depth chat with Philippa Childs , head of media union Bectu As well as most of Bectu’s substantial freelance members being excluded from government Covid support schemes , there is a new hit  as post-Brexit bureaucracy stymies work opportunities in mainland Europe . The culture of broadcasting, and the media in general,  is also very much in Bectu’s sights an...

The latest UnionDues podcast is dominated by two issues everyone is talking about. The Supreme Court ruling last week that Uber drivers are indeed workers and not self-employed -  It’s a great victory for the GMB and ADCU but in her #Thought4The Week, Mel Simms argues that strong collective bargaining trumps judicial decisions. The other issue remains Covid.  The PM’s statement yesterday encourage...

In the latest UnionDues podcast ,  we look at members’ networks as a way of meeting the challenges of Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity,  focussing on the pharmacists’ union the PDAU.  Their networks have blossomed since being established last year.  But you have to pay to join them, and they’re open to non-members.  How can this work?  We talk to officials and equality activists to find out thi...

In the latest UnionDues podcast , we take a deep dive into the world of mediation.  And goodness knows we need to, because unresolved conflict is reported to cost UK businesses £33bn a year.  That’s not to mention the stress and misery that unresolved conflict causes workers and their unions.  Is beefed up mediation a way forward? Rising to this challenge is David Liddle , a vastly experienced med...

The latest UnionDues podcast focusses on  the key union and economic concern of workplace skills and how to get them. Very timely given news of a forthcoming government White Paper on skills for jobs which will give employers a direct role in designing new qualifications starting with the post-16 age band. But…..will employers be able to respond? In her regular Thought For The Week, Professor Mel...

With Simon Sapper, Melanie Simms and Josiah Mortimer. The first comprehensive survey of how union behaviour has been altered by Covid 19 is featured in the latest UnionDues podcast.  Tom Hunt of the Sheffield Political Economic Research Institute and Becky Wright from Unions21 argue that while there are many more questions than answers,  the willingness to explore and innovate is the true take-awa...

The new series of UnionDues kicks off with Simon in discussion with Dave Penman, General Secretary of the senior civil servants’ union, the FDA . FDA members are at the heart of government – so when legal action is launched by the union against the Prime Minister over ignoring reports of bullying by his Home Secretary, it’s arguably a case of either feeling certain to win or having nothing to lose...

A UnionDues special episode.  While the Biden-Harris ticket pushed Trump out of the White House, Californian voters adopted Proposition 22 which stripped away employment rights for potentially millions of workers.  The worst anti-worker legislation in over 70 years according to some. But what is Prop 22, and how did it get passed - and could something similar happen here in the UK? With the help o...

In a special UnionDues podcast , Simon chats with Melissa Ansell-Bridges , General Secretary of the New Zealand Council of trade Unions about the prospects and possibilities for workers following NZ Labour’s stunning election victory last month.  High on the agenda is delivery of sector-based Fair Pay Agreements which could revolutionise both the union movement and working conditions – but reform...

In this special episode, Simon chats with Brian Denny, curator of the Working River collection of songs and music from those who live and work on the Thames.  And what a journey it is. Although most of the action is in London and Essex, the 21 songs take us the entire length of the river – an emotional and political roller-coaster with tales of  poetry and literature,  music and the arts,  industr...

The latest UnionDues podcast takes us on an epic industrial journey through the twenteens as seen through the eyes of the Communication Workers’ Union ’s 100,000 plus postal members. Deputy General Secretary Terry Pullinger talks us through a story of privatisation, the rarity of legally binding collective agreements, hello to a destructive new CEO, two massive Yes votes for strike action, good-by...

Covid has dramatically changed the notion of work and workplaces. The growth of “super surveillance” was established before the pandemic hit,  but the upsurge in home and remote working has been a massive accelerant. In the latest episode of UnionDues, Simon is joined by Christina Colclough, director of the Why Not lab which looks at the future of work from the workers’ perspective: What can, shou...

In the latest UnionDues podcast episode, Simon chats with Becky Wright, Executive Director of the Unions21 “think and do” tank. What will unions look like after Covid?  What lessons will we learn?  That’s the aim of Becky’s new research project (with help from SPERI and ACTU ), and we’re all invited to take part. We also talk pivoting to deliver services and support on-line during the pandemic, wh...

In this episode of the UnionDues podcast we feature an in-depth conversation with Scottish TUC General Secretary Rozanne Foyer .  Roz took up office in February 2020 and is the 13th holder of the post – and first woman appointed to it. We covered a lot of ground in our discussion – the Better Than Zero campaign to bring collective voice and action to precarious workers, how Covid has caused a fund...

Simon assesses the prospects for growing unionisation of the self-employed, looking at the greater appetite for collective voice and belief that more can be achieved by working together on issues that matter most.  Established and new unions are reporting a new enthusiasm with NUJ recruitment up by as much as 60%, and new actors such as The Creator Union coming onto the stage.   But this should be...

In the latest episode of the UnionDues podcast, Simon chats with Equity National Industrial Organiser Jamie Briers about the relationship between catwalks and unions – epitomised by Equity’s agreement with London Fashion Week’s host – the British Fashion Council . The fashion industry is worth £35bn a year to the UK economy and employs nearly 900,000 people.  And London Fashion Week, taking place...

This week’s episode of UnionDues, Simon spends time in the company of Shavanah Taj ,  who heads up the Wales TUC and takes a look at what the annual TUC Congress can learn from changes forced upon it by the Covid pandemic. Companion blog here . Email us at uniondues@makes-you-think.com and tweet us @DuesUnion .  Rate or review us on the podcast platform of your choice.  Thank you.