Ben Wray
@benwray1989.bsky.social
Journalist & researcher: ben.wray@hotmail.co.uk | Co-author 'Scotland After Britain' (Verso, 2022) | co-ordinator of the Gig Economy Project newsletter https://thegigeconomyproject.substack.com/
Very important day of dockworker international action against war and genocide tomorrow. Dockworkers have power, if they stop arms from passing through their ports they can't reach Gaza, the West Bank, Yemen etc. Great that LAB is participating in the Basque Country.
Ben Knowles of @pedalme.bsky.social says the gig economy model of outsourcing equipment costs to riders is leading to a surge in electric battery fires. Pedal Me, which employs its riders, is doing things differently. Watch the full video here: thegigeconomyproject.substack.com/p/podcast-al...
In 15 minutes we are going to be discussing alternative business models to Uberisation. We'll hear about 'Tap-a-taxi', which has taken Dublin by storm over the past 6 months, and 'PedalMe', which promotes itself as 'slavery-free logistics'. Join us here: open.substack.com/live-stream/...
Review of 'UberTherapy: The New Business of Mental Health', great new book on the Uberisation of mental health care by Elizabeth Cotton (@survivingwork.bsky.social). thegigeconomyproject.substack.com/p/review-ube...
Date for your diary: Join our GEP Forum next Wednesday 28 October 7pm CET to discuss alternative business models to Uberisation. We will be joined by Eamonn O'Sullivan from Tap-A-Taxi and Ben Knowles from @pedalme.bsky.social. Link here: open.substack.com/live-stream/...
Some weekend listening for you 🔊 In this episode in our Spanish election series, Chris and I put Spain's so-called economic 'growth miracle' under the microscope: has Spanish capitalism really been revived under Sánchez's leadership? www.patreon.com/conterscot/p...
Some weekend listening for you 🔊 In this episode in our Spanish election series, Chris and I put Spain's so-called economic 'growth miracle' under the microscope: has Spanish capitalism really been revived under Sánchez's leadership? www.patreon.com/conterscot/p...
Date for your diary: Join our GEP Forum next Wednesday 28 October 7pm CET to discuss alternative business models to Uberisation. We will be joined by Eamonn O'Sullivan from Tap-A-Taxi and Ben Knowles from @pedalme.bsky.social. Link here: open.substack.com/live-stream/...
When the only entry jobs in Europe are in precarious gig work, training US Big Tech’s AI systems, is it any wonder the youth are in open revolt against a broken system?
The largest risk of Uberisation for the widest section of workers comes from data annotation work. We are seeing it now: university-educated workers in Maths, Physics, Coding are having their skills broken down, fragmented & fed into AI systems thegigeconomyproject.substack.com/publish/post...
We may all be data annotators soon enough
Newsletter
thegigeconomyproject.substack.com
Chris Bambery and I cover 500 years of Spanish history in 50 minutes, from the Spanish Empire to the Civil War to the transition. Have a listen! 🔊🔊🔊 www.patreon.com/conterscot/p...
Chris Bambery and I cover 500 years of Spanish history in 50 minutes, from the Spanish Empire to the Civil War to the transition. Have a listen! 🔊🔊🔊 www.patreon.com/conterscot/p...
When companies can save €9,000 to €18,000 a year by hiring a worker as a freelancer, and the chances of there ever being a labour inspection are minimal, why would we be surprised that bogus self-employment is spreading? Book review: thegigeconomyproject.substack.com/p/review-wor...
Review: Working in the Gray Zone
Book review
thegigeconomyproject.substack.com
Chris Bambery & I discuss the housing movement in Spain and the wider political context. In the run-up to the election on 29 Nov, we are going to do one pod a week talking about Spanish history, economy, geopolitics etc: subscribe @conterscot.bsky.social and listen! www.patreon.com/conterscot/p...
Gig workers are also renters, forced into insecure housing by the poverty of their wages, and visa-versa. As the housing protests in Spain show, the struggle for the right to housing and to decent work are linked together. Latest newsletter: thegigeconomyproject.substack.com/p/gig-worker...
In Spain, they protest for the right to secure housing. In Germany, they demonstrate against military conscription. Education, housing, peace: the youth want a future worth living, but capitalism won't give it!
Ever get the feeling that, rather than being a tool for European sovereignty, the Brussels machine just makes subordination to the US more streamlined?
There will be a general strike against rentierism and the speculative housing model in Spain! ✊✊✊ bsky.app/profile/elsa...
El Salto@elsaltodiario.com · 4w ago‼️CCOO y UGT se suman al llamamiento de huelga general y acuerdan convocar para este otoño 📸Foto Alberto Astudillo.
'The housing movement has transformed Spanish politics, and might save Sánchez on 29 November' My thoughts on a high-stakes Spanish General Election ⬇️ braveneweurope.com/national-pol...
General Election in Spain, 29 November. It will be a contest over narratives: is Spain divided by social class, between those who pay rent and those who collect it, or is it divided between native and migrant, between christian and muslim? High stakes!
Glovo is already facing a labour inspectorate investigation over continuing to operate during a heatwave in Barcelona in the summer. It should also be held to account for operating during a flood in Bilbao. No rider should be pounding the streets during extreme weather. bsky.app/profile/fons...
Fonsi Loaiza@fonsiloaizap.bsky.social · last mo.Hoy, la ciudad de Bilbao está completamente inundada. Mientras, la multinacional Glovo sigue explotando a sus trabajadores, y clientes miserables siguen pidiendo comida en plenas inundaciones.
This is amazing to see. The movement is not slowing after the fall of the housing decrees - it's growing. The call from the movement for a general strike is one union leaders should take seriously: housing is a lightening rod for working class unity! bsky.app/profile/faro...
Faro de Vigo@farodevigo.es · last mo.📢 Miles de personas protagonizan una manifestación en el centro de la ciudad para reclamar «soluciones permanentes» que garanticen el acceso a una vivienda digna 🔗 Toda la información 👉https://mrf.lu/2rRmb
Finally, a country has actually transposed the EU Platform Work Directive. Well done Slovakia! We take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of 'The Act on Work Performed through Digital Labour Platforms' in this GEP briefing: thegigeconomyproject.substack.com/p/first-pwd-...
Most EU countries are failing to meet the deadline for the Platform Work Directive. @benwray1989.bsky.social explains why. thegigeconomyproject.substack.com/p/why-govern...
Why governments are not worried about missing the deadline for Platform Work Directive transposition
Newsletter + report from Platforum in Gdansk
thegigeconomyproject.substack.com
The Platform Work Directive legislative process has dragged on 5 years: in most EU states it's now set to go on even longer, cos govts arent fussed about missing the legal deadline. Every day the status quo continues is another day of poverty wages. thegigeconomyproject.substack.com/p/why-govern...
Why governments are not worried about missing the deadline for Platform Work Directive transposition
Newsletter + report from Platforum in Gdansk
thegigeconomyproject.substack.com
Important new study launched this week by @workerinfox.bsky.social and @etuc-ces.bsky.social on Uber's dynamic pay system in Europe. We have worked with drivers across 10 European countries to understand how this exploitative pay system works and what impact it has. Short 🧵about what we found.
Important new study launched this week by @workerinfox.bsky.social and @etuc-ces.bsky.social on Uber's dynamic pay system in Europe. We have worked with drivers across 10 European countries to understand how this exploitative pay system works and what impact it has. Short 🧵about what we found.
