Organising For A Change - the podcast for union builders

Simon Sapper, Martin Smith
  • 0.0 (0)
  • NON-PROFIT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

We’re fed-up, frustrated and impatient. And you should be too. Unleashed from obligations to employers. Unfiltered by gobbledegook. Uncompromised in what we say. We ask the vital questions that go to the heart of the union movement. We have 80 years of combined union building experience and the gloves are off: No holds barred, nothing left unsaid. Thanks to our supporters: Thompsons, The General Federation of Trade Unions, Pellacraft, and Battersea and Wandsworth Trade Union Council. Contact us at organising@makes-you-think.com. Organising For A Change? Why on earth not!

  1. 12/19/2025

    22 How to be "aggresively hopeful" feat. Dave Pike

    In this episode we chat with Dave Pike, the TUC’s RegionalSecretary for the North East, Yorkshire and Humberside.  Dave walks us through an ambitious plan to boost the profile and effectiveness of union engagement in a politically diverse landscape, and how his own experiences organising workers in hospitality, catering and education make him “aggressively hopeful” for the future.  We wish all our listeners a peaceful festive season and a healthy, happy new year.

    32 min

  2. 11/28/2025

    21 No Sweat and union building feat. Jay Kerr

    Our special guest for this episode is No Sweat convenor JayKerr.  He reminds us that when NS set upshop nearly 30 years ago, “sweatshop” was a term little understood. Changing perceptions and understanding is just one of the many achievements of Jay and his colleagues.  Our discussion dives deep into the politics and practicalities fo consumer boycotts,  how to give meaning and life to international trade union solidarity, and what this can contribute to union building at home.  The key takeaway -   we can all make a difference as individualsand as part of the union movement.  Visit nosweat.org.uk for more on the campaign. For signposting and background see Simon’s post on the Loudshirts blog. Run time 30m24s. First published 28 November 2025.

    30 min

  3. 10/31/2025

    Episode 20: Countering divisive workplace narratives

    Welcome to the fourth series of O4AC.  We start with the most pressing of issues:  How to counter the type of divisive, destructive narratives in the workplace, promoted by Reform amongst others.  We discuss the practical steps that can and must be taken with Hope Not Hate Trade Union Liaison Officer Matt Collins, and get to grips with the invaluable “Five Tribes” analysis of Reform supporters. Unmissable. Runtime 34m46s

    35 min

  4. 04/11/2025

    Episode 19: Union building for pharmacists: The PDAU story

    This episode features a story of union building against the odds – disparate workers, often isolated from each other,a “sweetheart” union and employer hostility.  For Paul Day and his colleagues in the Pharmacists Defence Association Union(PDAU), the challenge in organising the pharmacists in Boots plc was significant.  We discuss with Paul the process of removing the in-houseunion sand then engaging with potential members, the experience of having to use the statutory recognition/derecognition measures and what happened next. In this instance, what happened next was further union building success for the PDAU in the former Lloyds chemists’ group and more recently Superdrug. Paul is an engaging and captivating guest – someone whoreally has “worn the t-shirT and eaten the pie” as they say. We’re grateful to have the support of Thompsons, the leading trade union and social justice law firm, The GeneralFederation of Trade Unions - delivering trade union education,building solidarity and the home of StrikeMap, Pellacraft, award winning and trusted supplier of promotional goods, and Battersea and Wandsworth Trade Union Council. Thank you all. Episode run time 32m22s. Organising For A Change ispresented by Martin Smith and Simon Sapper. Music is by Scott Holmes. It is a Makes-You-Think production. Contact the show at organising@makes-you-think.com.  This episode was first published on 11 April.  Organising For A Change willreturn in the autumn.

    32 min

  5. 03/28/2025

    Episode 18 Demystifying AI feat. Adam Cantwell- Corn

    In this episode, we eyeball AI.  It’s time to demystify what Artificial intelligence actually is and get to grips with the keyunion-building issues associated with this so-called “5th Industrial Revolution”   Our discussion is made credible with the help of our guestand AI expert, Adam Cantwell-Corn. And Adam’s starting point is that “we need to not exceptionalise AI….it’s a pay and conditions issue.”   So far so clear, but how do we make unions and unionbuilding the “champions of a positive technological future?”   What does a just tech transition look like – because “if deskilling is the result, where will our bargainingpower be?” And what would be good regulation?   The answers to these visceral questions emerge during afascinating ramble across the AI landscape – taking nebulous concepts and seeing how they apply to issues that are here now:  surge pricing, body-worn camera and advanced, accelerated data processing.   From cab drivers to teachers to legal aid solicitors, welook at how unions are already engaging with AI at the levels of design and decision-making not just deployment – and why this needs to happen far more than it currently does.   So much of the talk about AI is deliberately obscure – thatends here.  All you need to do is lend us your ears for 30 minutes!   As ever, the discussion is calm, measured and derived from a combined 80 years plus of union activism.  Where we disagree, we do so amicably.  But there’s no getting away from the importance or relevance of this debate.   We’re grateful to have the support of Thompsons, the leading trade union and social justice law firm, The General Federation of Trade Unions - delivering trade union education,building solidarity and the home of StrikeMap, Pellacraft, award winning and trusted supplier of promotional goods, and Battersea and Wandsworth Trade Union Council. Thank you all.   Episode run time 33m10s. Organising For A Change ispresented by Martin Smith and Simon Sapper. Music is by Scott Holmes. It is a Makes-You-Think production. Contact the show at organising@makes-you-think.com.  This episode was first published on 28 March 2025.  Next episode drops 11 April.

    33 min

  6. 03/14/2025

    Episode 17 - Union building in hostile environments feat. Dave Smith

    The blacklisting scandal was one of the most egregious actsof anti-unionism of the last 50 years.  One of the founder members of the Blacklist Support Group is Dave Smithwho joins us in this episode.  Dave shares his assessment of the campaign against union building in the construction industry: The motivation and organisation of anti-union employersand how union organisers had to work clandestinely to secure fair and timely payment of wages, safe working conditions, and recognition of legitimate concerns over terms and conditions – often without mentioning the word “union”at all! Unmissable!    As ever, our discussion is calm, measured and derived from acombined 80 years of union activism.  Where we disagree, we do so amicably.  But there’s no getting away from the importance or relevance of this debate.   We’re grateful to have the support of Thompsons, the leading trade union and social justice law firm, The GeneralFederation of Trade Unions - delivering trade union education,building solidarity and the home of StrikeMap, Pellacraft, award winning and trusted supplier of promotional goods, and Battersea and Wandsworth Trade Union Council. Thank you all.   Episode run time 38m14s. Organising For A Change ispresented by Martin Smith and Simon Sapper. Music is by Scott Holmes. It is a Makes-You-Think production. Contact the show at organising@makes-you-think.com.  This episode was first published on 14 March 2025.  Next episode drops 28  March.

    38 min

  7. 02/28/2025

    Episode 16 - Union building in social care

    In this episode, we sit down with Kelly Andrews to talk about union building in the social care sector.  Kelly takes us on her journey from being a lay rep in the now discredited and bust Southern Cross care providers, to leading the GMB union’s work in the sector as a whole.  It’s a helluva ride.   In what is a vital master class for union builders , Kellydescribes ·     how fragile recognition agreements can me whenconfronted by aggressive and unprincipled employers,  ·     the absolutely essential maxim of going to wheremembers are (even if that is in the proverbial middle of nowhere at 11 o’clock on a wet and windy autumn night) rather than where you want them to be ·     and why in this sector if no other, politics is never very far away.   If you think you know union building and believe that you’veseen it all, this episode could well make you think again. And if you are prevaricating about building a consensus to fix social care, listen to this and resolve to do better.   As ever, our discussion is calm, measured and derived from acombined 80 years of union activism.  Where we disagree, we do so amicably.  But there’s no getting away from the importance or relevance of this debate.   We’re grateful to have the support of Thompsons, the leading trade union and social justice law firm, The GeneralFederation of Trade Unions - delivering trade union education,building solidarity and the home of StrikeMap, Pellacraft, award winning and trusted supplier of promotional goods, and Battersea and Wandsworth Trade Union Council. Thank you all.   Episode run time 29m16s. Organising For A Change ispresented by Martin Smith and Simon Sapper. Music is by Scott Holmes. It is a Makes-You-Think production. Contact the show at organising@makes-you-think.com.  This episode was first published on 28 February 2025.  Next episode drops 14  March.

    29 min

  8. 02/14/2025

    Episode 15 - Union Building in a platform economy

    Martin and Simon are joined by Mick Rix to get behind the headlines of successful organising campaigns in, for example,Deliveroo to look at what tactics are needed to make such work successful - and what success itself looks like. Plus a quick guide to the Labor Radio Podcast Network, of which 04AC is a proud member. We’re grateful to have the support of Thompsons, the leading trade union and social justice law firm, The GeneralFederation of Trade Unions - delivering trade union education, building solidarity and the home of StrikeMap, Pellacraft, award winning and trusted supplier of promotional goods, and Battersea and Wandsworth Trade Union Council. Thank you all. Episode run time 30m24s. Organising For A Change is presented by Martin Smith and Simon Sapper. Music is by Scott Holmes. It is a Makes-You-Think production. Contact the show at organising@makes-you-think.com.  This episode was first published on 14 February 2025.  Next episode drops 28  February.

    30 min
See All (23)

Trailer

About

We’re fed-up, frustrated and impatient. And you should be too. Unleashed from obligations to employers. Unfiltered by gobbledegook. Uncompromised in what we say. We ask the vital questions that go to the heart of the union movement. We have 80 years of combined union building experience and the gloves are off: No holds barred, nothing left unsaid. Thanks to our supporters: Thompsons, The General Federation of Trade Unions, Pellacraft, and Battersea and Wandsworth Trade Union Council. Contact us at organising@makes-you-think.com. Organising For A Change? Why on earth not!

Information