The Gig Economy Project

How do gig workers take control of their data?

A Rebel’s Guide to the Gig Economy is a series of podcasts by journalist Ben Wray and researcher Marini Thorne which gets behind the tech jargon and the CEO propaganda to examine the reality of work in the gig economy and look at how gig workers can challenge the power of their algorithmic bosses. In Episode 11, Ben and Marini look at how gig workers really could be their own bosses, by taking collective control of their data. They find that their a number of potential models, but what they all have in common is a democratisation of work. Previous episodes: Ep 1: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠What is the gig economy?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6u0MPjslrWEE1H7gRelI0P] Ep 2: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why are gig workers paid-per-task?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5oTHwDcR9lRwtPvUlwQVZF] Ep 3: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠What is the algorithm?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ffx7q4UCgGdz9vUpWCLXy] Ep 4: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Are gig workers their ‘own boss’?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0QbvpLFG6VOekXLNSOkhdf] Ep 5: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Is gig work really ‘flexible’?⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0fYxMSusHbNusi0rQJHkxc] Ep 6: ⁠⁠⁠Is the gig economy really a “godsend” for women?⁠⁠⁠ [https://braveneweurope.com/is-the-gig-economy-really-a-godsend-for-women] Ep 7: ⁠⁠⁠Is the gig economy good for migrants & ethnic minorities?⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/4iGlrNAXNgW5VfGVBlPItt] Ep 8: ⁠⁠What makes platforms powerful?⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3al3v87DHVpTm1M9Dc6VYr] Ep 9: ⁠Why do gig platforms struggle to turn a profit?⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/19Y98OZrGtunlFXoxmc071] https://open.spotify.com/episode/7a0fY9aufrPmRdvOkoMJ3R The Gig Economy Project is a BRAVE NEW EUROPE media network for gig workers in Europe. Click here [https://braveneweurope.com/the-gig-economy-project] to find out more and click here [https://braveneweurope.com/gig-economy-project] to get the weekly newsletter.

Why should gig workers join a union?

A Rebel’s Guide to the Gig Economy is a series of podcasts by journalist Ben Wray and researcher Marini Thorne which gets behind the tech jargon and the CEO propaganda to examine the reality of work in the gig economy and look at how gig workers can challenge the power of their algorithmic bosses. In Episode 10, Ben and Marini look at the power gig workers have if they join together in a union. They find that despite many hurdles to victory, there are already inspiring examples of gig workers striking and winning. Previous episodes: Ep 1: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠What is the gig economy?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6u0MPjslrWEE1H7gRelI0P] Ep 2: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why are gig workers paid-per-task?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5oTHwDcR9lRwtPvUlwQVZF] Ep 3: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠What is the algorithm?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ffx7q4UCgGdz9vUpWCLXy] Ep 4: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Are gig workers their ‘own boss’?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0QbvpLFG6VOekXLNSOkhdf] Ep 5: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Is gig work really ‘flexible’?⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0fYxMSusHbNusi0rQJHkxc] Ep 6: ⁠⁠⁠Is the gig economy really a “godsend” for women?⁠⁠⁠ [https://braveneweurope.com/is-the-gig-economy-really-a-godsend-for-women] Ep 7: ⁠⁠⁠Is the gig economy good for migrants & ethnic minorities?⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/4iGlrNAXNgW5VfGVBlPItt] Ep 8: ⁠⁠What makes platforms powerful?⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3al3v87DHVpTm1M9Dc6VYr] Ep 9: ⁠Why do gig platforms struggle to turn a profit?⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/19Y98OZrGtunlFXoxmc071] Future episodes: Ep 11: How do gig workers get power over their data? You can keep up-to-date with all future episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or at BraveNewEurope.com/The-Gig-Economy-Project. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram @Project_gig. If you have any feedback on the Rebel’s Guide series, email GEP@BraveNewEurope.com.

Why do gig platforms struggle to turn a profit?

A Rebel's Guide to the Gig Economy is a series of podcasts by journalist Ben Wray and researcher Marini Thorne which gets behind the tech jargon and the CEO propaganda to examine the reality of work in the gig economy and look at how gig workers can challenge the power of their algorithmic bosses. In Episode 9, Ben and Marini explain the apparent paradox of the big digital platforms being powerful globally but struggling to be profitable. They find that the core problem is that, despite being hailed as 'innovative', these platforms have not transformed the economic fundamentals of the industry sectors they operate within, which have traditionally been low-margin. Previous episodes: Ep 1: ⁠⁠⁠What is the gig economy?⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6u0MPjslrWEE1H7gRelI0P] Ep 2: ⁠⁠⁠Why are gig workers paid-per-task?⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5oTHwDcR9lRwtPvUlwQVZF] Ep 3: ⁠⁠⁠What is the algorithm?⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ffx7q4UCgGdz9vUpWCLXy] Ep 4: ⁠⁠⁠Are gig workers their ‘own boss’?⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0QbvpLFG6VOekXLNSOkhdf] Ep 5: ⁠⁠Is gig work really ‘flexible’?⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0fYxMSusHbNusi0rQJHkxc] Ep 6: ⁠Is the gig economy really a “godsend” for women?⁠ [https://braveneweurope.com/is-the-gig-economy-really-a-godsend-for-women] Ep 7: ⁠Is the gig economy good for migrants & ethnic minorities?⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/4iGlrNAXNgW5VfGVBlPItt] Ep 8: What makes platforms powerful? [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3al3v87DHVpTm1M9Dc6VYr] Future episodes: Ep 10: Why should gig workers join a union? Ep 11: How do gig workers get power over their data? You can keep up-to-date with all future episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or at BraveNewEurope.com/The-Gig-Economy-Project. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram @Project_gig. If you have any feedback on the Rebel’s Guide series, email GEP@BraveNewEurope.com.

What makes platforms powerful?

A Rebel's Guide to the Gig Economy is a series of podcasts by journalist Ben Wray and researcher Marini Thorne which gets behind the tech jargon and the CEO propaganda to examine the reality of work in the gig economy and look at how gig workers can challenge the power of their algorithmic bosses. In Episode 8, Ben and Marini explain why big digital labour platforms like Uber have been able to accumulate so much power so quickly. They find that technology is only a small part of the answer. Previous episodes: Ep 1: ⁠⁠What is the gig economy?⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6u0MPjslrWEE1H7gRelI0P] Ep 2: ⁠⁠Why are gig workers paid-per-task?⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5oTHwDcR9lRwtPvUlwQVZF] Ep 3: ⁠⁠What is the algorithm?⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ffx7q4UCgGdz9vUpWCLXy] Ep 4: ⁠⁠Are gig workers their ‘own boss’?⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0QbvpLFG6VOekXLNSOkhdf] Ep 5: ⁠Is gig work really ‘flexible’?⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0fYxMSusHbNusi0rQJHkxc] Ep 6: Is the gig economy really a “godsend” for women? [https://braveneweurope.com/is-the-gig-economy-really-a-godsend-for-women] Ep 7: Is the gig economy good for migrants & ethnic minorities? [https://open.spotify.com/episode/4iGlrNAXNgW5VfGVBlPItt] Future episodes: Ep 9: Why do platforms struggle to turn a profit? Ep 10: Why should gig workers join a union? Ep 11: How do gig workers get power over their data? You can keep up-to-date with all future episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or at BraveNewEurope.com/The-Gig-Economy-Project. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram @Project_gig. If you have any feedback on the Rebel’s Guide series, email GEP@BraveNewEurope.com.

Is the gig economy good for migrants and ethnic minorities?

A Rebel's Guide to the Gig Economy is a series of podcasts by journalist Ben Wray and researcher Marini Thorne which gets behind the tech jargon and the CEO propaganda to examine the reality of work in the gig economy and look at how gig workers can challenge the power of their algorithmic bosses. In Episode 7, Ben and Marini question the notion that the gig economy is a labour market boon for migrants and ethnic minorities. While the low barriers to entry mean many marginalised workers can access gig work easier than standard jobs, the low pay and precarity of the gig economy keeps these workers on the margins. Previous episodes: Ep 1: ⁠⁠What is the gig economy?⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6u0MPjslrWEE1H7gRelI0P] Ep 2: ⁠⁠Why are gig workers paid-per-task?⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5oTHwDcR9lRwtPvUlwQVZF] Ep 3: ⁠⁠What is the algorithm?⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ffx7q4UCgGdz9vUpWCLXy] Ep 4: ⁠⁠Are gig workers their ‘own boss’?⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0QbvpLFG6VOekXLNSOkhdf] Ep 5: ⁠Is gig work really ‘flexible’?⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0fYxMSusHbNusi0rQJHkxc] Ep 6: Is the gig economy really a "godsend" for women? [https://braveneweurope.com/is-the-gig-economy-really-a-godsend-for-women] Future episodes: Ep 8: What makes platforms powerful? Ep 9: Why do platforms struggle to turn a profit? Ep 10: Why should gig workers join a union? Ep 11: How do gig workers get power over their data? You can keep up-to-date with all future episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or at BraveNewEurope.com/The-Gig-Economy-Project. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram @Project_gig. If you have any feedback on the Rebel’s Guide series, email GEP@BraveNewEurope.com.