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Transforming Society podcastConversations with authors around social justice and global social challenges Author: Bristol University Press
Brought to you by Bristol University Press and Policy Press, the Transforming Society podcast brings you conversations with our authors around social justice and global social challenges.We get to grips with the story their research tells, with a focus on the specific ways in which it could transform society for the better. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Language: en Genres: News, Politics, Science, Social Sciences Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Building worker power at Amazon and beyond
Monday, 26 January, 2026
In 2024 the news was full of stories of the GMB Union’s fight for formal recognition at Amazon’s BHX4 Coventry warehouse. Yet, despite skyrocketing membership, the union narrowly lost a ballot that would have forced Amazon to grant them this recognition. In this episode of the Transforming Business podcast, Martin Parker speaks with Tom Vickers, author of ‘Organizing Amazon’, about the union’s successes but also their unfortunate setbacks. They discuss Amazon’s formal, and informal, stances on trade unions, the innovative approach GMB took to develop leadership for the movement from the ground up, and how the lessons learned from this campaign are not only helpful for other Amazon warehouses but for workers far beyond the Amazon ecosystem.Tom Vickers is Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of the GMB-NTU Work Futures Research Observatory at Nottingham Trent University.Find out more about the book at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/professional-business/organizing-amazonThe transcript is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2026/01/26/podcast-building-worker-power-at-amazon-and-beyond/Timestamps:00:38 - How did you start writing about Amazon?03:37 - What is Amazon's background with trade unions?08:52 - Why are Amazon management so hostile to trade union organisation?11:31 - What is the story with trade unions and Amazon's Coventry BHX4 warehouse?18:11 - How did the GMB work with the workforce?23:41 - What is the present situation at the BHX4 warehouse?27:25 - What are the general lessons we can learn from the BHX4 story?30:25 - Do you think we'll see more pushback with the increase of AI driven workplaces?Intro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
