Simon Sapper Makes You Think

22/02/2024

There’s a new episode of Union Days to enjoy.

Did you hear about the wine expert targeted by his boss for not favouring natural wines?

Or the bank clerk whose liquid lunches caused standards to slip?

What became of Quality Assurance work that endangered employees?

Hear how a legacy of beer at work was overtaken by automation, but not without many bumps, literally, in employee relations along the way.

And how one company scrapped their subsidised canteen to save money but ended up losing far more than they gained.

Thanks to Fullers' Georgina Wald, Jason Goodwin Murphy and former head brewer John Keeling for sharing the history of the brewery with me - all embellishments are mine, not theirs - and to those others who contributed to the creation of this episode - you know who you are! Any relation to real people, alive or dead, or any place, is purely co-incidental.

Produced by Makes You Think. Music by Scott Holmes. Advice on problem drinking and what to do about it from Drinkaware.co.uk

Access this and all episodes at bit.ly/UnionDays

Stories from a trade union scrapbook. Shortlisted in the 2023 Independent Podcast Awards

21/02/2024

Natural Wines and - a heady mix. Hear more on the new podcast, dropping tomorrow on you favourite platform. Access all episodes at

Stories from a trade union scrapbook. Shortlisted in the 2023 Independent Podcast Awards

10/01/2024

In the latest UnionDues podcast, which dropped today, General Federation of Trade Unions General Secretary Gawain Little impressively sets out the stall for union education.

His union journey has gone from the days of "Maggie Thatcher Milk Snatcher" and riots in his home city of Liverpool, in the 1970s and 80s, to positioning the GFTU at the leading edge of the union movement with an integrated, student-centred approach to learning, innovative strategic partnerships with, for example, StrikeMap, and a revival of politics and economics in the core syllabus.

As the Federation prepares to celebrate its 125th birthday, the future looks bright!

In her , Prof. Mel Simms also takes heart - in this instance from new academic work on the importance of employment law to mitigate capitalistic excess.

Listen now at bit.ly/DuesUnionGFTU
Companion blog at https://bit.ly/3tFbcds

20/12/2023

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 campaign.

Naomi also discusses the Work Not Play and Fair Play campaigns, and the increasingly successful efforts to get the better venues to publicise their bona fides in terms of prompt and fair payment to musicians.

Then there’s the challenge of AI and hopes for a Labour government – both very present issues for debate.

In a top-drawer Glasgow University’s Professor of Work and Employment Mel Simms reflects on being taken out of her comfort zone in the search for new understandings on the future of work – and how the Musicians’ union and others are in front of the curve by some way.

Companion blog at bit.ly/3Nxli6I
Listen at bit.ly/DuesUnionMusic
Access all episodes at bit.ly/DuesUnion

Timestamps: Mel – 1m37s, Naomi 6m24s, Total runtime 32m42s

14/12/2023

If you like UnionDues or UnionDays, please consider telling the world (ok, The Guardian) about it.

Thank you!

Tell us your favourite podcast of 2023

06/12/2023

In this special “toolkit” episode of the UnionDues podcast, 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, I am joined by leading trade union lawyer Richard Arthur to dissect the issues, place the Act in context, and point out why government hopes for union disempowerment are fundamentally flawed.

Listen now at bit.ly/DuesUnionMSL

Run time 14m11s. Music by Scott Holmes. A Makes-You-Think production.

01/12/2023

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? Where did the idea come from and what did it take to put it into practice? What needs to happen just to keep the project going?

From being "monstered" by the Daily Mail to an innovative partnership with the GFTU, this is a story not to miss.

Plus, of course, Professor Mel Simms and her

Listen at bit.ly/DuesUnionStrikemap

Companion blog with links and signposting at bit.ly/MYTStrikemap

14/11/2023

New UnionDues episode out now:

Executive Director of Unions21 Becky Wright on

• Going global, with affiliates across 12 time zones
• Why union executive committees need to act more like
Boards?
• The changing relationship between Individual members and
the union collective
• Similarities and synergies in organising work across the
industrialised world
• Why, despite the Minimum Services Act, the union glass is
half-full
• What is UXD for unions, and why does it matter?

Plus Prof. Melanie Simms and her . This time

• Why knowledge of industrial issues across Europe matters
• The link between knowledge and bargaining strength
• The importance of social partnership working
• In praise of EuroFound

Listen at bit.ly/DuesUnion
Read the companion blog at bit.ly/3QznZpe

Enjoy!

06/11/2023

Last month, I hosted a union-linked walking tour of London's East End for leading US labor podcaster Chris Garlock. You can hear me trying to put what we are seeing into words in his audio guide to the heroines of the trade union movement that are the Matchgirls.......

Listen at

LHT’s Chris Garlock tours the East London site of the 1888 Matchgirls Strike with Union Dues podcast host Simon Sapper. On this week’s Labor History in 2:00: Birth of populist Will Rogers. Questions, comments, or suggestions are welcome, and to find out how you can be a part of Labor History Tod...

01/11/2023

If you like UnionDues, and would like to buy me a coffee, now you can!

We don't put content behind a paywall, and for some reason, advertisers are engaged by what we do. So coffee keeps us going.

If you like what you hear, and can afford a few quid, it would be very much appreciated. Absolutely no obligation.

Click on my Ko-Fi link to find out how it works - https://ko-fi.com/uniondues.

Thank you.

31/10/2023

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 , Mel Simms urges more public discourse on the role and function of unions – and so say all of us. Access all episodes at bit.ly/DuesUnion. Companion blog at bit.ly/Loudshirts

18/10/2023

Series 6 of UnionDues has just launched.

Episode 1 is available now - Prof Melanie Simms from Glasgow University reflects on how digital comms and social media are transforming industrial disputes - but we are not quite sure in what way.

And US podcasting guru (my words, not his) Chris Garlock joins us to chat about bringing 200 union-friendly podcasts and radio shows together under one umbrella, and why unions are now hip on the other side of the Atlantic.

UnionDues - the UK's only all-things podcast - listen now at https://bit.ly/DuesUnion.

Companion blog at https://bit.ly/3S2t3Ve

15/09/2023

Delighted that Union Days has been shortlisted in the News and Politics category of the Independent Podcast Awards!

Hear what all the fuss is about by accessing all episodes at bit.ly/UnionDays

28/06/2023

The scandal of s*xual harassment at work has hit organisations like the CBI and England Cricket Board hard. It’s clearly a trade union issue, not least because some unions themselves have failed to live up to their values.

In a special episode of the Union Dues podcast, we step into the fray of s*xual harassment. Guided by Andrea Oates, author of an excellent new LRD publication on s*xual harassment
We hear from Fliss Premru on how came into being to give survivors of of s*xual harassment in unions a voice, and what changes it seeks to achieve. And Sarah Wooley, General Secretary of the Bakers’ and Food Workers’ union gives her unique and powerful perspective on the steps she has taken to strength the democracy and unity of her own union, why the movement needs to get its house in order, and how we can tell if we are making progress.

This podcast is not always comfortable Listening – nor should it be. But if you want the true and complete trade union view on s*xual harassment, it is a must-hear event.

A companion blog with links, signposting and background is at https://www.makes-you-think.com/2023/06/28/tackling-s*xual-harassment/

Access the latest and all episodes at bit.ly/DuesUnion

Sexual Harassment is in the news, and that in itself is bad news. The latest UnionDues podcast gives the lowdown on how unions are protecting their members - and setting their own house in order. Listen at bit.ly/DuesUnion

01/06/2023

Enter the magic world of union conferences! Meet the heroes and villains with their horse-trading and chutzpah. Is this democracy in action or a case of "we can't go on meeting like this"?

Listen and decide! Access the latest Union Days podcast at bit.ly/UnionDays

There's a companion blog at https://www.makes-you-think.com/loudshirts-blog/

Industrial Relations and Union Consultant, Podcasting, Commentator

26/05/2023

Fab new podcast - happy to have helped make it happen.

Un/Documented is a new podcast from IMIX which tells the stories behind the headlines.

08/02/2023

The secret art of negotiation is blown open in the latest UnionDays. Why is it an art and not a science? Is it worse to “get into bed’ with the employer or to “sell the jerseys”? Who makes it into the top drawer of negotiators and what makes some people so darn good? But who are the architype villains who just say No – and why did I crash and burn when I used the same approach?

When negotiations fail, why is striking sometimes the only option left? Why will the government’s latest anti-strike bill have all the soothing quality of paraffin on a bonfire? And in the end, does the so-called secret art always boil down to a question of power?

Listen and decide for yourself. Access this and all episodes at https://bit.ly/UnionDays

Companion blog for background, links etc at https://bit.ly/3DTsJAu

Stories from a trade union scrapbook.

18/01/2023

Here's the audio (complete with NHS workers' sound effects!) of my discussion earlier today with Anjana Gadgil on the BBC News channel. Top of the agenda - why won't the government negotiate with unions to resolve the NHS disputes, and will anything persuade them to do otherwise?

The audio of my discussion today on NHS strikes with Anjana Gadgil on the BBC News channel. Top of the agenda - why won't the government negotiate and will anything persuade them otherwise?

17/01/2023

Trying to get to the heart of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill. Seems to be the closer you look, the worse it gets.

Britain isn't working and the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill won't help. Here's why.

04/01/2023

Possible new anti-strike laws: What are they? Will they work?

Hot off the press at

Government is gearing up for more strike restrictions when only negotiation can resolve the impasse

22/12/2022

I was delighted to get an invite to chat about this with and on their breakfast show this morning. Thanks for having me!

“Refreshingly clear and sensible in what feels like a febrile context. Really enjoyed listening” was the view from . Hope you also like what you hear.

Talking strikes and how to solve them with on the breakfast show this morning.

21/12/2022

Had a good chat with Ben Brown on the BBC News Channel this morning. More about strikes and the prospects for resolution.

You can listen to the audio here.

Here's the audio of my interview with Ben Brown on the BBC TV News Channel this morning.

19/12/2022

Last Friday, Chris Buckler kindly invited me onto his BBC Radio5live show to talk about strikes - and how to resolve them.

Listen at

01/12/2022

Someone tell the boss - Management-by-fear is so yesteryear!

Read all about it

By demanding a long hours culture and scrapping valued employee benefits, has Elon Musk painted himself into a corner?

15/11/2022

There's a new UnionDues podcast out now - activism, faith and s*xuality.

In this special episode, we have an in-depth chat with newly-elected TUC president, Maria Exall. Is being the first LGBTQ+ president a breakthrough moment? What is the interaction between her Catholic faith and activism? How is the Union/Labour relationship (Maria is also vice-chair of the LabourUnions group)? What is life like in her own union, the CWU, with most members in dispute? Access this and all episode at bit.ly/DuesUnion A companion blog will land at bit.ly/Loudshirts soon. A www.makes-you-think.com production.

08/11/2022

Great to meet up with TUC President Maria Exall this morning to record a special UnionDues podcast. Available soon from your favourite podcast platform! Access all episodes at

The all-things-union podcast from Makes You Think...

27/07/2022

In the final episode of the series, we can’t avoid the role s*x plays in misconduct at work. Why do so many men think looking at p**n in works time on work equipment is ok? (Were they searching for tractors?) What did the telephone engineer say to the s*x worker who couldn’t get a dialling tone? Are there some cases – both linked to p**nography and not - that are so extreme, the member forfeits the right to be represented? And why we can fairly point the finger of blame at government for the hostile environment in which many workers suffer?
Background and signposting in the companion blog at bit.ly/UDaysBlog7
Listen at bit.ly/UnionDays7

21/07/2022

As promised, here is the second of this week's UnionDays instalments.

In the final episode of the series, we can’t avoid the role s*x plays in misconduct at work. Why do so many men think looking at p**n in works time on work equipment is ok? (Were they searching for tractors?) What did the telephone engineer say to the s*x worker who couldn’t get a dialling tone? Are there some cases – both linked to p**nography and not - that are so extreme, the member forfeits the right to be represented? And why we can fairly point the finger of blame at government for the hostile environment in which many workers suffer?

Listen at bit.ly/UnionDays7
Background and signposting in the companion blog at bit.ly/UDaysBlog7

In the final episode of the series, we can’t avoid the role s*x plays in misconduct at work. Why do so many men think looking at p**n in works time on work equipment is ok? (Were they searching for tractors?) What did the telephone engineer say to the s*x worker who couldn’t get a dialling tone?...

20/07/2022

Two instalments of UnionDays this week. Today.....

Casework is a large part of any union rep’s life. We meet the unfortunate and the miscreant. Hear about the devastating impact conduct cases can have on employees and their families, how Stan’s love of vines nearly cost him his job, and why disclosure of confidential information is easier to allege than prove – and above all why a learning culture is so important in minimising the destructive fall-out from high profile cases.

Listen at bit.ly/UnionDays6
Companion blog at bit.ly/UDaysBlog6

Tomorrow.....the strange role s*x seems to play in so many conduct cases.

Meet Stan, who allegedly stole a truly worthless old phone kiosk, Josie, bullied by a Stalin of a boss, and the Helpdesk Advisor whom management was sure was leaking confidential customer information, All in a typical day’s work. All kept their jobs...thanks to the union!

06/07/2022

It’s the latest instalment of UnionDays - we’re back in the 1990s and the union is trying to go green. What did we do and how did we get on? Real change or just “greenwashing”?

Listen at bit.ly/UnionDays5. The companion blog is at bit.ly/Loudshirts

And here’s a puffin.