The Future of Work and Workers

The fourth episode of our discussion series Paths in Emancipation, an interview by Barbora Černušáková with organizer of Uber drivers Yaseen Aslam on work and workers in the gig economy, on air Tuesday, June 22 at 7pm CET.

The link will be posted here.

The Future of Work and Workers

Organising Workers in the Gig Economy

In February this year a group of drivers won a case against Uber, in what became a landmark victory in the UK. After five years and two appeals, the Supreme Court held that the drivers were workers, and not independent contractors as the company claimed. This means they should be eligible for the minimum wage, paid annual leave and protection from unfair dismissal. As gig economy platforms are transforming the world of work – in particular the working conditions, the length of the working day, the regularity of both work and income – workers in a number of countries in Europe and beyond have launched successful legal challenges to the practices of the gig economy. Barbora Černušáková, a London-based researcher focusing on workers’ rights, in conversation with Yaseen Aslam, one of the drivers who sued Uber in the UK, will be discussing the reality of app-based drivers in London, the racialisation of workers in the gig economy and their organising for better working conditions.

Other episodes

Episode I, “Black Lives Matter: Czech Edition,” already online here
Episode II, “No Abortion? Yes, Abortion: The Black Protests in Poland,” online here
Episode III, “Free Kurdistan: On National Liberation and the Challenge of Internationalism,” online here
Episode V (July, date TBA): Against antigypsyism

Paths in Emancipation

This spring, in collaboration with the Municipal Library of Prague and the program “Resilient Society for the 21st Century” (“Strategie AV 21”), the journal Contradictions presents a series of discussions on emancipation. Each month we focus on a new theme drawn from contemporary social movements. Together with experts and activists, we’ll discuss the most pressing questions of our moment and delve into the longest-standing social problems. Because we know that the present moment will soon be history – but also that history is never entirely past. We’ll ask hard questions, because human freedom doesn’t have time for easy answers.