David O'Connell
@daviduk.bsky.social
🍞⚘️
तत्त्वमसि
PhD | Trade Unionist | Global Labour University Alum | Occasional Jacobin Contributor | Writing on Employee Ownership, Supply Chain Industrial Relations, Philosophy
📍Germany based
https://global-labour-university.org/
तत्त्वमसि
PhD | Trade Unionist | Global Labour University Alum | Occasional Jacobin Contributor | Writing on Employee Ownership, Supply Chain Industrial Relations, Philosophy
📍Germany based
https://global-labour-university.org/
They let me into the US!, a pleasure to meet great comrades at Rutgers' Labor Education Center 🇺🇸
December 1, 2025 at 1:48 PM
They let me into the US!, a pleasure to meet great comrades at Rutgers' Labor Education Center 🇺🇸
The "Your Party" conference reminds me of my 20s, watching the usual plethora of deeply introverted Trotskyist parties rip apart the National Shop Stewards Movement (NSSN) in an effort to control it.
Perhaps building mass organizations is a more impressive task than just capturing them.
Perhaps building mass organizations is a more impressive task than just capturing them.
December 1, 2025 at 1:39 PM
The "Your Party" conference reminds me of my 20s, watching the usual plethora of deeply introverted Trotskyist parties rip apart the National Shop Stewards Movement (NSSN) in an effort to control it.
Perhaps building mass organizations is a more impressive task than just capturing them.
Perhaps building mass organizations is a more impressive task than just capturing them.
The trade union is the pathway to socialism
November 3, 2025 at 11:10 AM
The trade union is the pathway to socialism
India now has its first ever worker owned taxi company. This is good news.
Sahkar Taxi | India’s First Cooperative Taxi Service
Sahkar Taxi is India’s first cooperative taxi service where drivers earn 100% profit. Safe, affordable rides powered by local ownership and trust.
sahkar-taxi.in
October 26, 2025 at 9:33 AM
India now has its first ever worker owned taxi company. This is good news.
The problem with libertarianism is that you eventually run out of other people's money
Milei Approval Rating Hits New Low Before Midterms, Poll Finds
Argentine President Javier Milei’s approval rating fell to its lowest level in October since he took office as economic expectations remained negative and corruption topped voters’ concerns.
www.bloomberg.com
October 24, 2025 at 11:58 AM
The problem with libertarianism is that you eventually run out of other people's money
The UK Conservative Party is the most successful political party in human history. Its sudden collapse signifies a fundamental shift in class relations. The landed gentry (still beholden to feudal notions of duty) are losing out to totalitarian capitalists - two factions it used to hold together.
October 8, 2025 at 9:49 AM
The UK Conservative Party is the most successful political party in human history. Its sudden collapse signifies a fundamental shift in class relations. The landed gentry (still beholden to feudal notions of duty) are losing out to totalitarian capitalists - two factions it used to hold together.
The island of Capri, where Emperor Tiberius spent much of his later rule in seclusion, engaging in debauchery so profound it influenced the course of history itself
October 7, 2025 at 3:01 PM
The island of Capri, where Emperor Tiberius spent much of his later rule in seclusion, engaging in debauchery so profound it influenced the course of history itself
Italy is beautiful too
October 3, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Italy is beautiful too
For all interested, applications are now open for the Global Labour University Engage South Africa course 2026, at Witts University in Johannesburg.
Find more details below, or feel free to each out to me for more information.
Find more details below, or feel free to each out to me for more information.
www.wits.ac.za
October 1, 2025 at 10:21 AM
For all interested, applications are now open for the Global Labour University Engage South Africa course 2026, at Witts University in Johannesburg.
Find more details below, or feel free to each out to me for more information.
Find more details below, or feel free to each out to me for more information.
Call for Abstracts - 2026 GLU International Conference. Look forward to seeing many of you there!
More information about the conference can be found on the conference website:
global-labour-university.org/events/glu-c...
More information about the conference can be found on the conference website:
global-labour-university.org/events/glu-c...
September 30, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Call for Abstracts - 2026 GLU International Conference. Look forward to seeing many of you there!
More information about the conference can be found on the conference website:
global-labour-university.org/events/glu-c...
More information about the conference can be found on the conference website:
global-labour-university.org/events/glu-c...
Towards the cooperative commonwealth!
September 28, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Towards the cooperative commonwealth!
One wonders what the radicals of the eighteenth century like Paine or Blake would make of the fact that, in our time, most Popes have proved to be more progressive than most presidents of the United States
September 24, 2025 at 12:27 PM
One wonders what the radicals of the eighteenth century like Paine or Blake would make of the fact that, in our time, most Popes have proved to be more progressive than most presidents of the United States
It was an honour to work on this survey, and write on what role the GLU alumni could play in the wider labour movement ✊🏻
Did you all see the presentation of the #Survey on our @glu-network.bsky.social #GLU-Alumni conducted by @daviduk.bsky.social and Jacqueline Wambui Wamai? #InternationalSolidarity #TradeUnions #GlobalLabourUniversity
globallabourcolumn.org/2025/05/28/m...
globallabourcolumn.org/2025/05/28/m...
Maintaining the GLU Alumni Network’s web of solidarity in a changing world
-David O’Connell and Jacqueline Wambui Wamai The Global Labour University, a project whose success was never guaranteed, has now celebrated its 20th anniversary. This milestone provides an opportun…
globallabourcolumn.org
September 24, 2025 at 12:19 PM
It was an honour to work on this survey, and write on what role the GLU alumni could play in the wider labour movement ✊🏻
A cooperative alternative, FairBnB, which is not only democratic but returns 50% of its profits to the communities in which it operates.
I've personally used it when traveling around Europe, and highly recommend it to others.
fairbnb.coop
I've personally used it when traveling around Europe, and highly recommend it to others.
fairbnb.coop
Fairbnb.coop - sustainable flats, B&B, rooms, bnb and vacation rentals
The co-op and sustainable vacation rental platform that gives back 50% of its revenues to support a local community project of your choice.
fairbnb.coop
September 22, 2025 at 9:18 AM
A cooperative alternative, FairBnB, which is not only democratic but returns 50% of its profits to the communities in which it operates.
I've personally used it when traveling around Europe, and highly recommend it to others.
fairbnb.coop
I've personally used it when traveling around Europe, and highly recommend it to others.
fairbnb.coop
Switzerland isn't ugly
September 20, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Switzerland isn't ugly
I like Corbyn (and voted for him twice), but he presents himself as a sort of atheist Anglican Vicar. His message isn't about power, it's about 'niceness' - playing into all the worst stereotypes of a lefty.
Socialism is not when magic grandpa spends lots of money.
It's about workers' control.
Socialism is not when magic grandpa spends lots of money.
It's about workers' control.
September 19, 2025 at 6:01 PM
I like Corbyn (and voted for him twice), but he presents himself as a sort of atheist Anglican Vicar. His message isn't about power, it's about 'niceness' - playing into all the worst stereotypes of a lefty.
Socialism is not when magic grandpa spends lots of money.
It's about workers' control.
Socialism is not when magic grandpa spends lots of money.
It's about workers' control.
"The gentry must come down, and the poor shall wear the crown"
- Published in "the Levellers' Standard", 1649
- Published in "the Levellers' Standard", 1649
September 19, 2025 at 11:45 AM
"The gentry must come down, and the poor shall wear the crown"
- Published in "the Levellers' Standard", 1649
- Published in "the Levellers' Standard", 1649
The Platform Coop Consortium is building a movement focused on transparency and common ownership of the platform economy. Their next conference is coming up in Nov, and I highly recommend getting involved - especially trade unionists less familiar with tech/coops.
See you in Istanbul ✊🏻
See you in Istanbul ✊🏻
Cooperative AI | Platform Cooperativism Consortium
Seats are limited and filling up fast—register now to guarantee your spot! As AI reshapes our worlds, who decides its future—and who gets left behind? Welcome to Cooperative AI…
platform.coop
September 19, 2025 at 10:54 AM
The Platform Coop Consortium is building a movement focused on transparency and common ownership of the platform economy. Their next conference is coming up in Nov, and I highly recommend getting involved - especially trade unionists less familiar with tech/coops.
See you in Istanbul ✊🏻
See you in Istanbul ✊🏻
Taxi drivers and trade unionists in NYC set up a cooperative worker-owned alternative to Uber and Lyft. It pays its drivers a higher faire while charging customers less, built on the principles of democracy and ownership.
If you're in NYC, please support them, use the app or recommend to others ✊🏻
If you're in NYC, please support them, use the app or recommend to others ✊🏻
The Drivers Cooperative
drivers.coop
September 17, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Taxi drivers and trade unionists in NYC set up a cooperative worker-owned alternative to Uber and Lyft. It pays its drivers a higher faire while charging customers less, built on the principles of democracy and ownership.
If you're in NYC, please support them, use the app or recommend to others ✊🏻
If you're in NYC, please support them, use the app or recommend to others ✊🏻
One of the best cures for burnout is not rest but victory. Seeing that the left can win, and having had a part in achieving it, is the biggest morale boost.
Abstract "big picture" goals are usually unobtainable and therefore demoralizing. Try to set up campaigns with a beginning middle and end.
Abstract "big picture" goals are usually unobtainable and therefore demoralizing. Try to set up campaigns with a beginning middle and end.
September 17, 2025 at 3:54 PM
One of the best cures for burnout is not rest but victory. Seeing that the left can win, and having had a part in achieving it, is the biggest morale boost.
Abstract "big picture" goals are usually unobtainable and therefore demoralizing. Try to set up campaigns with a beginning middle and end.
Abstract "big picture" goals are usually unobtainable and therefore demoralizing. Try to set up campaigns with a beginning middle and end.
For any trade union strategists out there, I'd highly recommend looking at the 'Power Resources Approach', partly developed by the FES. If you're unfamiliar, here's a concise overview;
youtu.be/B3zRCVs7tXM?...
youtu.be/B3zRCVs7tXM?...
Which strategic choices do Trade Unions have to (re-)gain power?
YouTube video by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
youtu.be
September 17, 2025 at 2:19 PM
For any trade union strategists out there, I'd highly recommend looking at the 'Power Resources Approach', partly developed by the FES. If you're unfamiliar, here's a concise overview;
youtu.be/B3zRCVs7tXM?...
youtu.be/B3zRCVs7tXM?...
It was a pleasure to speak at the Global Labour University Alumni Workshop this weekend, exploring how our network of over 1,000 labour scholars from around the world can play a pivotal role in strengthening organized labour and democracy
September 16, 2025 at 9:51 AM
It was a pleasure to speak at the Global Labour University Alumni Workshop this weekend, exploring how our network of over 1,000 labour scholars from around the world can play a pivotal role in strengthening organized labour and democracy
"Wrong in principle, and tactically self-destructive. When we move to the arena of violence, the most brutal guys win – that’s the worst outcome (and, incidentally, it’s not us). The right response is to use the opportunity for education and exposure, not to give a gift to the hard right" Chomsky
September 14, 2025 at 11:02 AM
"Wrong in principle, and tactically self-destructive. When we move to the arena of violence, the most brutal guys win – that’s the worst outcome (and, incidentally, it’s not us). The right response is to use the opportunity for education and exposure, not to give a gift to the hard right" Chomsky
Labour is entitled to all it creates
September 14, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Labour is entitled to all it creates
Union membership continues to fall, in the UK and globally.
Will unions accept defeat and linger on as bureaucractic managers of a declining status quo? Or take a pragmatic and transformative view of trade unionism as the movement for industrial democracy?
Will unions accept defeat and linger on as bureaucractic managers of a declining status quo? Or take a pragmatic and transformative view of trade unionism as the movement for industrial democracy?
September 9, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Union membership continues to fall, in the UK and globally.
Will unions accept defeat and linger on as bureaucractic managers of a declining status quo? Or take a pragmatic and transformative view of trade unionism as the movement for industrial democracy?
Will unions accept defeat and linger on as bureaucractic managers of a declining status quo? Or take a pragmatic and transformative view of trade unionism as the movement for industrial democracy?