TUC Digital Lab, Author at TUC Digital

The benefits of technology at work should be for everyone, not just employers and big tech companies

The use of new technology to manage how we work has risen during the coronavirus pandemic. But without new rules on how we deal with this, it could mean working people losing out – two thirds of workers say there is no consultation when new tech is introduced into the workplace. Trade unions are working to change that, Mary Towers blogs for the TUC.

Which unions are the most influential on Twitter 2020?

Simon Parry’s annual roundup of how unions score using Kred’s Twitter influence measurements.

How ‘virtual CIOs’ can help trade unions join the digital revolution

TechMonitor interviews Simon Parry, vCIO at the TUC, about how unions might benefit from more CIO-type roles.

National Education Union steps up school closure campaign with new ‘Escalation’ app

Paul Waugh covers NEU’s new organising tool around escalating Covid concerns in schools into collective action. It’s a great project, allowing a process to happen at scale, supporting reps’ personalised needs and giving the union responsive insights.

Collective voices on data

Andrew Pakes blogs on Prospect’s fringe event on worker voice in data and technology at Congress 2020 – Taming the algorithm.

Trade union website league table 2020

Simon Parry has ordered all TUC affiliate unions’ websites by domain authority again for this year. Who’s had the gains and falls in online influence in 2020?

How to use webinars to reach workers and win change

Lockdown has presented huge challenges for unions. TUC Education has been using webinars to deliver training and support to union reps.

How greater transparency can help people get back to work with confidence

The Open Data Institute looks at our project to collate workplace Covid-secure risk assessments during the pandemic.

Workers’ rights: negotiating and co-governing digital systems at work

Algorithmic systems are a new front line for unions as well as a challenge to workers’ rights to autonomy, writes Christina Colclough for Social Europe.

Double-down on reps, not digital

By Eth Morgan & John Chadfield

We’re two tech workers; a software engineer and a product manager. Our role over the years has been to develop and maintain the kind of digital apps and tools that are now commonplace in people’s hands. We’re also trade unionists and members of the Tech Workers’ Coalition.

We’d been invited by TUC Digital Labs to share our expertise in working with a TUC affiliate, the Royal College of Midwives, as part of a pilot project, looking at questions around improving the accuracy of member data – something that’s key to helping the union’s work in continually improving their membership experience.