The unions must respond to the era of app capitalism
Apps like Uber, Bolt, Deliveroo and entities like Amazon are major employers — and a major obstacle to traditional post-1945 trade unionism. We too, must update, writes MARTIN SMITH
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UNION builders are seeing a huge expansion of platform-style working conditions across the labour market, as capitalism pursues its latest ruse to shift business risks from itself to working people.
But organisers are having notable successes building collective power among the digital disrupters — in strike action at Amazon and agreements over access, neutrality and foundation bargaining within Apple, Evri, Uber, Bolt, Boohoo and Deliveroo.
The employment algorithms shared by platform-working businesses have expanded way beyond their original boundaries and into more traditional job areas in the care, construction, retail and education sectors as software rapidly replaces management and HR.
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MARTIN SMITH says unions must be proactive if Labour's promises are to be turned into tangible gains for workers
As the prospect of a Labour government becomes increasingly likely, MARTIN SMITH looks at the lessons for unions from the 1997-2010 era and focuses on what our core goals should be today