We Need to Talk About... The UK Union movement - ‘Alive and Kicking’…just!

For over a century, unions have been at the heart of worker power in Britain, but is that power now in its final days? From the brutal battles of the 1984-85 miners’ strike—when Margaret Thatcher took on the National Union of Mineworkers—to the growing pressures in today’s classrooms, the fight for fair wages, better conditions, and respect has never been easy.As teachers face relentless workloads, dwindling resources, and governments reluctance to negotiate, we ask: is unionism dying, and what can we learn from the clashes of the past—especially Thatcher’s war on the unions—to understand the challenges of the present?Join myself, Steve H and special guest, teacher, Alice Foreman as we unravel these threads, hear from those on the front lines, and explore what the future holds for collective action in the UK.Send us Fan MailIf you enjoy this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe. Disclaimer: As a serving Headteacher in London, UK, it’s important to please note that the views shared on this podcast- whether from me, my guests, or any associated with Educationally Outraged- are independent and do not reflect the official stance of my school, my Local Authority or the Department for Education. This independence underscores our unwavering commitment to valuing diverse opinions, including those of all staff within these institutions, and by extension, our listeners.