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-amazon

The 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 | @yoitrax

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Why are liberation and independence movements so often betrayed when their leaders get into power?

In this episode, Richard Kemp speaks with Lord Peter Hain, author of ‘Liberation and Corruption’, about this uncomfortable question.

They discuss Peter’s involvement with the fight for Nelson Mandela’s freedom, the reasons why liberation movements from ANC to the Sandinistas have corrupted once in government, and what we can all do to combat corruption and stop this vicious cycle.

Lord Peter Hain served as MP for Neath (1991-2015) and held senior roles in the UK Labour Government for 12 years, including seven in the Cabinet.

Find out more about the book at: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/liberation-and-corruption

The transcript is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2026/01/19/podcast-why-freedom-movements-fail/

Timestamps:

01:37 - How are liberation movement who come into power affected by their predecessors?

03:59 - Who were the Sandinistas? What did they want? And how did they go so wrong?

07:27 - What role did the US play in the corruption of Nicaragua and quite a lot of Latin America?

09:40 - How does the UK participate in theft from the African continent?

18:06 - What is neoliberalism, and did it contribute to Robert Mugabe's descent into corruption?

22:03 - Is there a link between neoliberalism and the rise of the far right and the populist right?

26:13 - How correct was Mandela when he said that those who fought corruption could become corrupt themselves?

29:26 - Could you tell us about your involvement with campaigning for Nelson Mandela's freedom?

32:34 - What lessons should our governments and policymakers learn from liberators who come into power?

Intro music:

Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax

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creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Each January, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists adjusts the hands of its Doomsday Clock to signal how close humanity stands to catastrophe. At the end of the Cold War, the clock was set at 17 minutes to midnight. Today, it is at just 89 seconds – its closest-ever setting.

In this episode of the podcast, George Miller speaks to Patricia Shamai, Principal Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Portsmouth and author of What Are Nuclear Weapons For? They discuss why nuclear weapons have drifted from public consciousness since the 1990s, even as thousands of warheads remain in existence, major powers modernise their arsenals, and new technologies make the strategic picture yet more complex.

The conversation also touches on Vladimir Putin’s nuclear posture during the war in Ukraine, the challenges posed by strategic ambiguity, and whether – despite all this – there are any grounds for cautious optimism.

Patricia Shamai is Principal Lecturer in International Relations and Associate Head of School in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Portsmouth.

Find out more about the book at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/what-are-nuclear-weapons-for

The transcript is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2025/12/19/podcast-89-seconds-to-midnight-why-we-need-to-rethink-nuclear-weapons-now/

Timestamps:

02:33 - What prompted you to write the book?

08:33 - Did reading testimonies of people who experienced the detonations in Japan in 1945 enhance your understanding or change your perception?

14:01 - Why is the nuclear weapon picture always changing?

23:41 - What is the current climate among nuclear powers more broadly?

28:52 - Are there any signs of hope that we can begin to pull that second hand back from midnight?

Intro music:

Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax

Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com

Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.