We Can Work It Out

In this episode of the We Can Work It Out podcast, Dr Jonathan Lord is joined by labour historian John Mann to explore one of the most significant yet overlooked industrial disputes in British labour history: the Bliss Mill Strike of 1913–14.Based on years of archival research, local history and family records, John reconstructs the story of a strike that transformed the Oxfordshire market town of Chipping Norton and left a legacy that continued to divide families and shape local politics for generations.  The discussion begins with the history of Bliss Tweed Mill itself, one of the most unusual textile mills in Britain. Unlike the great industrial centres of Lancashire and Yorkshire, Bliss Mill operated in a rural Cotswold town with few alternative sources of employment. At its peak, the mill employed hundreds of workers and dominated economic life in Chipping Norton, making any dispute there far more than simply a workplace disagreement.  John explains how the strike emerged following the establishment of a local branch of the Workers’ Union and the dismissal of workers involved in organising union activity. Although the national union initially discouraged industrial action, workers ultimately took matters into their own hands, launching a dispute that would last for months and attract national attention.  A major theme throughout the episode is the role of management and the complex character of mill manager Arthur Dunstan. Often remembered locally as the man responsible for provoking the strike, John reveals a more complicated picture of a manager who could be both uncompromising and unexpectedly generous, including making personal financial contributions to support the families of striking workers.  The conversation also highlights the extraordinary role played by women during the dispute. Many of the striking workers were young women, some of whom became prominent organisers and public advocates for the strike. John discusses the involvement of leading labour activist and suffragette Julia Varley, as well as local women whose letters, speeches and activism challenged assumptions about class, gender and political engagement in early twentieth-century Britain.  The episode explores how solidarity was maintained despite significant hardship, with workers surviving on union support, community aid and family assistance while continuing to resist pressure to return to work.  The discussion also examines the wider context of the Great Labour Unrest of 1910–14, placing the Bliss Mill Strike alongside the broader wave of industrial disputes that swept Britain before the First World War. While the dispute was rooted in local grievances, it reflected wider national debates about trade union recognition, workers’ rights, employer power and political representation.  Finally, John reflects on the strike’s long-term legacy. Although the dispute ended in defeat and effectively destroyed union organisation within the mill for decades, it helped shape the political identity of Chipping Norton and left a lasting imprint on local memory. More than a century later, stories of the strike continue to be told, debated and reinterpreted, demonstrating the enduring importance of community history in understanding the wider labour movement.  This episode offers a fascinating insight into a forgotten chapter of British labour history and explores what the Bliss Mill Strike can still teach us about solidarity, industrial conflict, workers’ rights and the relationship between local communities and wider social change.  

In this episode of the We Can Work It Out podcast, Dr Jonathan Lord is joined by historian, journalist and political writer David Torrance to discuss his new book The Edge of Revolution: The General Strike that Shook Britain. Together, they explore one of the most dramatic moments in modern British history and ask whether Britain in May 1926 really stood on the brink of constitutional crisis and social upheaval.  David examines the economic and political tensions that led to the General Strike, including the crisis in the coal industry, fears of revolution following the Russian Revolution and First World War, and the growing confrontation between organised labour and the British state. The discussion explores how millions of workers joined the strike in solidarity with locked out miners, bringing large parts of the country to a standstill.  The episode also looks at the personalities who shaped the strike, including Stanley Baldwin, Winston Churchill, Ramsay MacDonald and King George V, as well as the role of the media, propaganda and the BBC during the nine days that disrupted Britain. David discusses how the government prepared extensively for the strike while the TUC entered the dispute without a clear strategic endgame, something which ultimately contributed to its collapse.  Alongside the political story, the conversation focuses on the human experience of the strike, from mining communities and local strike committees to volunteers, journalists and ordinary workers trying to navigate daily life during a national stoppage. The episode also examines the role of women, religion, class divisions and public opinion throughout the crisis.  As this is the centenary of the General Strike, this episode reflects on why the events of 1926 continue to matter today and what they still reveal about work, inequality, political power and collective action in Britain.

A hundred years after the General Strike of 1926, the questions it raised still refuse to disappear.What happens when millions of workers decide they have had enough? How does the state respond when key industries stop functioning? Is industrial action simply an economic dispute, or does it become something much larger, a challenge to authority, legitimacy and political power itself?These are the themes at the centre of the latest episode of the We Can Work It Out podcast, where I’m joined by Dr Chris Kirkland, Senior Lecturer in Politics at York St John University and author of A History of Modern Britain in 12 Crises. Together, we explore the General Strike not simply as an isolated labour dispute, but as one of the defining crises of twentieth-century Britain and a moment that still echoes through contemporary politics, industrial relations and debates around work today.  Enjoy the discussion.

For nine days in May 1926, Britain stopped.Trains stood still, factories fell silent, newspapers disappeared and millions of workers walked out in what remains the only truly national general strike in British history. Nearly a century later, the General Strike still raises difficult questions about power, solidarity, democracy and the limits of collective action.In this episode of the We Can Work It Out podcast, Dr Jonathan Lord is joined by Jonathan Schneer, Professor Emeritus of Modern British History at the Georgia Institute of Technology and author of Nine Days in May: The General Strike of 1926. Together, they explore the origins, atmosphere and consequences of one of the most dramatic confrontations in British labour history.The conversation begins by tracing the economic and political tensions that led to the strike. Jonathan explains how the First World War postponed rather than resolved conflict between organised labour and employers, while the post-war years saw rising industrial militancy, fears of revolutionary politics and increasing pressure on Britain’s struggling coal industry. At the centre of the dispute were the miners, who faced wage cuts and longer working hours as mine owners attempted to restore profitability.Jonathan discusses how coal was not simply another industry but the backbone of the British economy, powering industry, transport and everyday life. The episode also explores the dangerous reality of mining work during the early twentieth century, including the exhausting conditions underground and the infamous “murder hour”, the final hour of shifts when exhausted miners were most likely to suffer serious accidents.A major theme throughout the discussion is the role of the Trades Union Congress and whether the General Strike was ever truly intended to happen. Jonathan argues that many within the TUC believed the threat of a general strike would force compromise and negotiation, but underestimated the determination of both the government and mine owners. While the government spent months preparing for national disruption, the unions largely failed to prepare, believing workers would instinctively know how to organise and sustain the strike if necessary.The episode examines the extraordinary atmosphere of the nine days themselves, with Jonathan describing the strike as a remarkable display of solidarity and collective purpose. Millions of workers participated not because they were miners themselves, but because they supported fellow workers facing severe wage cuts and worsening conditions. At the same time, many supporters of the government saw themselves as defending constitutional democracy against what they believed was an unacceptable challenge to elected authority.The role of media and propaganda also features heavily in the discussion. Jonathan explains how the government used Winston Churchill’s British Gazette to shape public opinion, while the unions responded with their own publication, the British Worker. The conversation also explores the controversial role of the BBC and how broadcasting became a battleground over legitimacy and power.As the episode progresses, attention turns to why the strike collapsed after only nine days. Jonathan argues that the TUC leadership increasingly feared both defeat and the wider implications of their own actions. While the unions hoped to pressure the government into renewed negotiations, Baldwin’s government believed the strike represented a direct challenge to state authority and therefore had to be defeated completely.The discussion concludes by examining the aftermath of the strike and its continuing relevance today, asking what the events of 1926 still tell us about work, inequality, political power and collective organisation in modern Britain.

In this episode of the We Can Work It Out podcast, I speak with Professor Gregor Gall, one of the most influential scholars of industrial relations in the UK, to move beyond the media image and examine the deeper story behind Mick Lynch, not as a caricature or a headline figure, but as someone shaped by a particular set of historical, social and political experiences that matter just as much as his now well known media performances. Enjoy the discussion.

In this episode of We Can Work It Out, we are joined by leading scholars Professor Rebecca Zahn and Professor Miriam Kullmann. We explore how exile, gender, and the hidden labour of academia shaped not only one career, but the foundations of British labour law itself.We uncover the overlooked story of Liesel Kahn Freund, a woman whose life and work sat at the heart of one of labour law’s most influential legacies, yet whose name rarely appears in the history books. This is a story about what gets remembered, what gets forgotten, and why it matters today.Enjoy the discussion.

In this powerful episode of We Can Work It Out, we mark four years since the mass dismissal of 786 seafarers by P&O Ferries—an event that continues to reverberate across the maritime sector and beyond.Drawing on the launch of a major new research report, this episode brings together firsthand testimony, academic analysis, and policy insight to examine what really happened on 17 March 2022—and why it still matters today. Former seafarer John Lansdown recounts the shock of being dismissed via a brief video message and the devastating aftermath, highlighting the profound personal, professional, and psychological consequences experienced by workers and their families. The episode explores key findings from the study, including widespread dissatisfaction with communication, lack of consultation, and perceived failures in both legal protections and trade union responses. With 83% of participants reporting negative mental health impacts and many forced out of the industry altogether, the human cost of corporate decision-making is brought sharply into focus. Beyond the individual stories, the discussion critically examines systemic issues—legal loopholes, weak enforcement mechanisms, and enduring power imbalances in employment relations. The episode concludes with a clear call to action: stronger legislation, empowered unions, and renewed collective engagement to ensure such events cannot happen again.This is not just a story about seafarers—it is a warning about the fragility of worker protections in modern Britain. Enjoy the discussion.

In the newest episode of the We Can Work It Out podcast takes us to the picket line at the National Coal Mining Museum for England, where workers supported by UNISON have been engaged in a prolonged industrial dispute. This episode is different from the usual studio discussions. It was recorded on location, speaking directly to the workers who keep the museum running and preserve the history of Britain’s coal industry.

This episode’s guests are Iftikhar Ahmad and Asghar Jameel, authors of the ‘Islamic Labour Code’, a groundbreaking framework that seeks to reconcile Qur’anic principles with contemporary employment law.Iftikhar Ahmad is an international labour-law scholar, policy advisor, and the founder of the Centre for Labour Research. He also works as the Global Lead – Labour Law at the WageIndicator Foundation. He has worked with the ILO and the World Bank on labour law reforms in Pakistan.His research and policy work focus on how Islamic jurisprudence intersects with international labour standards and human rights. He is the co-author of The Islamic Labour Code (Islamic Labour Code Project), a landmark attempt to codify labour rights consistent with both Islamic law and ILO conventions.Iftikhar’s mission is to bridge normative gaps between secular and faith-based approaches to labour regulation, promoting a global dialogue on decent work, ethical employment, and the moral duties of employers and workers alike.Asghar Jameel is a global HR leader, management scholar, and co-author of the Islamic Labour Code. He has held senior executive roles in multinational corporations across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, combining practical expertise in human-capital management with a deep interest in the ethical foundations of work.  He currently works as Chief People Officer, VEON Group, which is a NASDAQ-listed company (a leading telecom digital operator in countries like Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and Ukraine, to name a few).Jameel’s contribution to the ILC project lies in its practical dimension, translating theological principles into concrete organisational policies on wages, contracts, leadership, and workplace justice. His work bridges the gap between faith and management practice, arguing that moral legitimacy is integral to sustainable business.

This episode’s guest is John Lansdown, one of 786 seafarers dismissed by P&O Ferries on 17th March 2022, one of the most shocking corporate acts in modern British employment history. After over 15 years of loyal service, he and his colleagues were abruptly fired via pre-recorded video, a move designed to replace experienced British crews with low-paid agency workers, many earning below the UK minimum wage.Rather than accept silence, John became one of the leading voices exposing the injustice. His decision to speak publicly, to Parliament, to national media, and alongside trade unions like the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers and Nautilus International, helped turn what might have been a quiet redundancy into a major national scandal.He has since become a symbol of worker resistance and moral courage, representing those who lost not only jobs but dignity, rights, and trust in Britain’s labour protections. John continues to campaign for reform of maritime employment law and stronger enforcement against exploitative corporate practices. His story offers a human face to questions of legal loopholes, corporate governance, and the moral responsibilities of employers in the twenty-first century. Enjoy the discussion.

In this episode of We Can Work It Out, we explore the history of the UK employment tribunal system and ask a deceptively simple question: how did Britain move from collective dispute resolution rooted in trade unions to an increasingly individualised, legalistic model of workplace justice?My guest is Professor Susan Corby, Emeritus Professor of Employment Relations at the University of Greenwich and one of the leading scholars of employment tribunals and dispute resolution. Susan brings a rare combination of perspectives to this discussion. Before entering academia, she was a senior trade union official with both the FDA and the Royal College of Midwives, and she has since held a range of public appointments, including as a lay member of the Employment Appeal Tribunal, a member of the Central Arbitration Committee, and an ACAS arbitrator and mediator.Together, we trace the evolution of employment tribunals from their quiet introduction in 1965 through to their contemporary role at the centre of individual employment rights. We discuss why tribunals were never intended to replace collective bargaining, how political and economic change reshaped their purpose, and why the system has become steadily more formal and legalistic over time. Along the way, we examine tribunal fees, access to justice, the declining role of lay members, and what Britain might learn from alternative models of workplace justice overseas.This episode is a deep dive into how we resolve conflict at work—and what that history tells us about power, fairness, and the future of employment relations in Britain. Enjoy the discussion.

In Episode 4 of We Can Work It Out, I was joined by Professor Douglas Brodie, one of the UK’s leading scholars of labour and employment law, to explore the long and contested history of British labour law from 1867 to 1945. Drawing on his seminal book A History of British Labour Law, 1867–1945, our conversation traced how the legal regulation of work emerged, how it was shaped by social struggle, judicial reasoning, and political reform, and why this history still matters in today’s world of precarious labour, platform work, and regulatory retreat. 

In this episode of We Can Work It Out, Dr Jonathan Lord is joined by Professor Richard Hyman, one of the most influential figures in the study of industrial and employment relations. Across a wide-ranging and reflective conversation, Richard draws on more than five decades of scholarship to examine why questions of power, control and resistance remain central to working life, even as the forms of work, technology and regulation continue to change  .The episode begins with Richard’s own intellectual journey, from philosophy and economics into trade union history and industrial relations, shaped by the turbulence of post-war Britain and a university sector that still allowed space for critical, heterodox voices. From there, the discussion moves to the profound transformations in employment relations since the 1970s: the decline of collective bargaining and union density, the restructuring of industry, globalisation, and the increasingly assertive role of employers and the state in reshaping workplace governance  .A central theme is the uneasy relationship between collective power and individual employment rights. Richard explains how the expansion of legal protections such as unfair dismissal and redundancy payments brought real gains, but also risked commodifying injustice and displacing collective solidarity with legal remedies. Drawing on classic thinkers, he warns against treating legalism as a substitute for organisation, arguing instead for a careful balance between law and collective capacity.The conversation also explores democracy within trade unions, revisiting the “iron law of oligarchy” and contrasting highly participatory traditions with the realities faced by large, heterogeneous organisations. Richard reflects on Marxism as a critical framework for understanding capitalism’s contradictions, rejecting caricatures while defending its continued relevance for analysing work, inequality and power in the twenty-first century  .Looking beyond Britain, the episode examines European employment relations, EU integration, social partnership and co-determination, as well as the tensions between market, class and society that shape different national trade union traditions. Richard is sceptical of partnership rhetoric divorced from power, yet open to institutional compromises where they provide workers with a foothold for rebuilding collective voice.The discussion closes with reflections on platform work, algorithmic management and artificial intelligence, where Richard insists that while technologies change, the underlying struggle over control and resistance persists. He offers a characteristically sober but hopeful outlook.This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in the history, theory and future of work, and in why power still matters at work today. Enjoy the discussion.

In this episode of We Can Work It Out, Dr. Jonathan Lord speaks with Paul Embery—trade unionist, writer, firefighter, and author of Despised: Why the Left Loathes the Working Class. Drawing on decades of frontline experience in the Fire Brigades Union and a lifetime rooted in East London’s working-class communities, Paul examines the growing cultural and political divide between the modern left and the people it once claimed to represent.The conversation explores the forces that reshaped working-class life in post-industrial Britain, from rapid demographic change to the erosion of stable employment and community institutions. Paul discusses how elements of the left have shifted toward a more middle-class, hyper-liberal worldview, often sidelining class-based concerns in favour of identity-driven politics. He reflects on the consequences of this shift for Labour’s electoral fortunes, the rise of political realignment, and the sense of alienation felt in former Labour heartlands.The discussion delves into the challenges facing today’s trade unions, including declining workplace solidarity, the impact of remote work, and the movement’s struggle to reconnect with younger workers. The discussion also highlights broader questions of belonging, national identity, economic justice, and the future direction of the labour movement.Through this candid and provocative exchange, you'll gain insight into the tensions shaping contemporary British politics and the enduring importance of class, community, and collective power in the fight for fair work and meaningful representation. Enjoy the discussion.

Episode 2 of the We Can Work It Out podcast is out tomorrow. Here's another preview with Paul Embery discussing how Trade Unions need to get back to face to face dialogue in the workplace and explain to workers as to why unions are so relevant to their lives. Enjoy the discussion in full on 12/12/25.

In this episode of We Can Work It Out, Dr. Jonathan Lord speaks with Paul Embery—trade unionist, writer, firefighter, and author of Despised: Why the Left Loathes the Working Class. Drawing on decades of frontline experience in the Fire Brigades Union and a lifetime rooted in East London’s working-class communities, Paul examines the growing cultural and political divide between the modern left and the people it once claimed to represent.The conversation explores the forces that reshaped working-class life in post-industrial Britain, from rapid demographic change to the erosion of stable employment and community institutions. Paul discusses how elements of the left have shifted toward a more middle-class, hyper-liberal worldview, often sidelining class-based concerns in favour of identity-driven politics. He reflects on the consequences of this shift for Labour’s electoral fortunes, the rise of political realignment, and the sense of alienation felt in former Labour heartlands.The discussion delves into the challenges facing today’s trade unions, including declining workplace solidarity, the impact of remote work, and the movement’s struggle to reconnect with younger workers. The discussion also highlights broader questions of belonging, national identity, economic justice, and the future direction of the labour movement.Through this candid and provocative exchange, you'll gain insight into the tensions shaping contemporary British politics and the enduring importance of class, community, and collective power in the fight for fair work and meaningful representation. Full episode available on 12/12/25. Enjoy the discussion.

In this episode of We Can Work It Out, Dr. Jonathan Lord speaks with Paul Embery—trade unionist, writer, firefighter, and author of Despised: Why the Left Loathes the Working Class. Drawing on decades of frontline experience in the Fire Brigades Union and a lifetime rooted in East London’s working-class communities, Paul examines the growing cultural and political divide between the modern left and the people it once claimed to represent.The conversation explores the forces that reshaped working-class life in post-industrial Britain, from rapid demographic change to the erosion of stable employment and community institutions. Paul discusses how elements of the left have shifted toward a more middle-class, hyper-liberal worldview, often sidelining class-based concerns in favour of identity-driven politics. He reflects on the consequences of this shift for Labour’s electoral fortunes, the rise of political realignment, and the sense of alienation felt in former Labour heartlands.The discussion delves into the challenges facing today’s trade unions, including declining workplace solidarity, the impact of remote work, and the movement’s struggle to reconnect with younger workers. The discussion also highlights broader questions of belonging, national identity, economic justice, and the future direction of the labour movement.Through this candid and provocative exchange, you'll gain insight into the tensions shaping contemporary British politics and the enduring importance of class, community, and collective power in the fight for fair work and meaningful representation. Full episode available on 12/12/25. Enjoy the discussion.

In this maiden episode of 'We Can Work It Out,' Dr Jonathan Lord interviews Professor Ralph Darlington, a leading scholar in industrial relations and labor history. They explore the significant labor activism that occurred in Britain from 1910 to 1914, a period marked by unprecedented strikes and collective action among workers. Darlington discusses the role of key industries, the tensions between grassroots activists and union leadership, and the vital participation of women in labor movements. The conversation also delves into the state's response to labor unrest, highlighting the challenges faced by workers in their fight for rights and better conditions. Through this discussion, listeners gain insights into the historical context of labor struggles and their relevance to contemporary issues in workers' rights. This conversation delves into the historical context of the Labour Revolt from 1910 to 1914, exploring the political radicalisation of workers, the role of trade unions, and the emergence of alternative forms of worker power. It highlights the intersection of gender and class struggles, the influence of radical left activism, and draws parallels between historical and contemporary strike movements. The discussion emphasises the cyclical nature of industrial conflict and the lessons that contemporary unions can learn from past struggles, particularly the importance of collective mobilisation in building union strength.

In this episode of 'We Can Work It Out,' Dr. Jonathan Lord interviews Professor Ralph Darlington, a leading scholar in industrial relations and labor history. They explore the significant labor activism that occurred in Britain from 1910 to 1914, a period marked by unprecedented strikes and collective action among workers. Darlington discusses the role of key industries, the tensions between grassroots activists and union leadership, and the vital participation of women in labor movements. The conversation also delves into the state's response to labor unrest, highlighting the challenges faced by workers in their fight for rights and better conditions. Through this discussion, listeners gain insights into the historical context of labor struggles and their relevance to contemporary issues in workers' rights. This conversation delves into the historical context of the Labour Revolt from 1910 to 1914, exploring the political radicalisation of workers, the role of trade unions, and the emergence of alternative forms of worker power. It highlights the intersection of gender and class struggles, the influence of radical left activism, and draws parallels between historical and contemporary strike movements. The discussion emphasises the cyclical nature of industrial conflict and the lessons that contemporary unions can learn from past struggles, particularly the importance of collective mobilisation in building union strength.

In this maiden episode of 'We Can Work It Out,' Dr. Jonathan Lord interviews Professor Ralph Darlington, a leading scholar in industrial relations and labor history. They explore the significant labor activism that occurred in Britain from 1910 to 1914, a period marked by unprecedented strikes and collective action among workers. Darlington discusses the role of key industries, the tensions between grassroots activists and union leadership, and the vital participation of women in labor movements. The conversation also delves into the state's response to labor unrest, highlighting the challenges faced by workers in their fight for rights and better conditions. Through this discussion, listeners gain insights into the historical context of labor struggles and their relevance to contemporary issues in workers' rights. This conversation delves into the historical context of the Labour Revolt from 1910 to 1914, exploring the political radicalisation of workers, the role of trade unions, and the emergence of alternative forms of worker power. It highlights the intersection of gender and class struggles, the influence of radical left activism, and draws parallels between historical and contemporary strike movements. The discussion emphasises the cyclical nature of industrial conflict and the lessons that contemporary unions can learn from past struggles, particularly the importance of collective mobilisation in building union strength.

In this episode of 'We Can Work It Out,' Dr. Jonathan Lord interviews Professor Ralph Darlington, a leading scholar in industrial relations and labor history. They explore the significant labor activism that occurred in Britain from 1910 to 1914, a period marked by unprecedented strikes and collective action among workers. Darlington discusses the role of key industries, the tensions between grassroots activists and union leadership, and the vital participation of women in labor movements. The conversation also delves into the state's response to labor unrest, highlighting the challenges faced by workers in their fight for rights and better conditions. Through this discussion, listeners gain insights into the historical context of labor struggles and their relevance to contemporary issues in workers' rights. This conversation delves into the historical context of the Labour Revolt from 1910 to 1914, exploring the political radicalisation of workers, the role of trade unions, and the emergence of alternative forms of worker power. It highlights the intersection of gender and class struggles, the influence of radical left activism, and draws parallels between historical and contemporary strike movements. The discussion emphasises the cyclical nature of industrial conflict and the lessons that contemporary unions can learn from past struggles, particularly the importance of collective mobilisation in building union strength.

In this episode of 'We Can Work It Out,' Dr. Jonathan Lord interviews Professor Ralph Darlington, a leading scholar in industrial relations and labor history. They explore the significant labor activism that occurred in Britain from 1910 to 1914, a period marked by unprecedented strikes and collective action among workers. Darlington discusses the role of key industries, the tensions between grassroots activists and union leadership, and the vital participation of women in labor movements. The conversation also delves into the state's response to labor unrest, highlighting the challenges faced by workers in their fight for rights and better conditions. Through this discussion, listeners gain insights into the historical context of labor struggles and their relevance to contemporary issues in workers' rights. This conversation delves into the historical context of the Labour Revolt from 1910 to 1914, exploring the political radicalisation of workers, the role of trade unions, and the emergence of alternative forms of worker power. It highlights the intersection of gender and class struggles, the influence of radical left activism, and draws parallels between historical and contemporary strike movements. The discussion emphasises the cyclical nature of industrial conflict and the lessons that contemporary unions can learn from past struggles, particularly the importance of collective mobilisation in building union strength.