TUC Digital Lab, Author at TUC Digital Lab

Why reps avoid online join forms (and what it means for a union)

The JoinTogether blog looks at desire paths and what it means for a union when reps and prospective members find it easier to work around the union’s own systems for joining.

People are turning to unions again

The team behind the TUC-backed online joining tech provider Join Together blog on why they started the project, and why it’s so important as the cost of living crisis bites.

Knowledge is power – how unions can use data

The UnionDues podcast covers the publication of a new report on unions and data from Unions21.

NASUWT Conference 2022: Going back to physical events, without going backwards

Last year we wrote here about the experience of running a fully democratic and participative virtual NASUWT Annual Conference.

A year later and the Union has just held its 2022 Annual Conference at the ICC, Birmingham – our first major in-person event since Spring 2020. Such an event is almost a year in the planning, meaning we started the journey with the familiar uncertainties as to whether a physical event would even be possible in April 2022 and, if it was, under what conditions.

Our starting point was to completely refresh the way our Conference worked, including by retaining many of the innovations we developed for our virtual conference in 2021. In doing so, we aimed to run an event that was both more sustainable and accessible.

Why are we talking data in unions?

Becky Wright previews Unions21’s upcoming conference, which will feature a strand on improving the use of data in unions.

Little Tech is coming for workers

Report and database from CoWorker.org, investigating the current wave of work related tech products. A record amount of capital is being invested in developing new management software tools that are being released without proper consideration for their harmful effects on working people.

Powering the picket line: Workers are turning to tech in their labor battles

The Washington Post covers a increase in worker and union online activity around disputes in the US.

Slackers of the world, Unite!

The Atlantic covers productivity software Slack, and how adopting a new tool for work can alter workplace culture and employment relations, for the better or worse.

Can tech help boost worker power?

Here’s a recording of a Resolution Foundation fringe event from Congress 2021. Prospect’s Andrew Pakes and UNISON’s David Arnold join the Resolution Ventures’ Louise Marston to look at how tech might help build power for workers, and help unions to support them in doing that.

Building digital democracy

TSSA’s Gareth Theobald looks at the union’s next steps in increasing levels of democratic engagement for members via digital.