UnionDues

10 years in the making and anti-apartheid docu-drama-thriller movie London Recruits premieres in November. In this special episode, Director and writer Gordon Main chats about the making of the film and the vital role unions and trade unionists have in making it the UK's most successful independent movie launch ever! Companion blog here. Running time 26m07s. A Makes You Think produ

in this episode we sit down with Gawain Little, General Secretary of the General Federation of Trade Unions which this year celebrates it’s 125th birthday. The Federation is possibly best known for its phenomenal education and training programme but that is by no means the only string to its bow. Glasgow Univesity’s Professor of Work and Employment, Melanie Simms also has educa

In the latest UnionDues episode, Musicians’ Union General Secretary Naomi Pohl talks us through the big issues facing her union’s 34,000 members. Working in a sector worth £7bn, there should be some scope for everyone to get a reasonable share of the spoils – but of course, the world’s not like that. So the union is keeping the pressure on with their #FixStreaming campaign

In this special “toolkit” episode, we look in detail at the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act – where it has come from, and why it is disproportionate, non-consensual and dangerously ill-conceived. As the Act moves into the implementation phase, Simon and leading union lawyer Richard Arthur dissect the issues, place the Act in context, and point out why government hopes fo

StrikeMap is undoubtedly a slam-dunk success. The brainchild of Rob Poole and Henry Fowler, it is a real time on line map showing industrial action. Now over 230 thousand strike actions have been mapped and StrikeMap’s data is sought out by journalists, academics and researchers. But how did it all start. What is the story of Rob and Henry’s journey that led them to StrikeMap?

Unions21 Executive Director Becky Wright on why good governance matters to unions, the role "User Experience Design" (UXD) plays in making things better, forthcoming work on unions and AI and the lessons learned from recent industrial action. Also, Prof Melanie Simms on why knowledge and social partnership are key ingredients for union effectiveness. Companion blog at bit.ly/3QznZp

In the new UnionDues episode, Alan Jones reflects on what it’s like to be the “last man standing” amongst industrial correspondents, why the Miner’s strike of 1984-5 was a turning point for unions, how the present unrest “is not just about strikes”, and why Julian Assange should be decorated rather than demonised. In her #thought4theweek, Mel Simms urges more public dis

In the first episode of season 6, Glasgow university's Prof Mel Simms on why we need to talk about use of social media in industrial disputes, and Simon chats with leading US labor podcaster Chirs Garlock about the 200-strong Labor Radio Podcast Network, and why Joe Biden standing on a picket line with a bull-horn is a game-changer. Timestamps: Melanie Simms 2m02s, Chris Garlock 7m

In a special episode of the Union Dues podcast, we step into the fray of sexual harassment. Guided by Andrea Oates, author of an excellent new LRD publication on sexual harassment, we drill down into questions of definitions, prevalence legal remedies, and effective union campaigns – on awareness, prevention, reporting, monitoring and, of course, representation. Sadly union struc

In this special episode, we have an in-depth discussion with newly elected TUC president Maria Exall. Is being the first openly LGBTQ+ president a breakthrough moment? What is the interaction between her Catholic faith and activism? How is the union-Labour relationship (she is also vice-chair of TULO)? What life is like in the CWU at present given most of the union's members are in