The world of work continues to be one of the most pressing political issues of 2023. Here are The Big Issue’s Changemakers championing workers’ rights and pushing for a more equal society.
Find the rest of the series on the links below and pick up the magazine from your local Big Issue vendor.
- Introducing the Big Issue Changemakers of 2023
- The Big Issue Changemakers of 2023: Cost of living crisis
- The Big Issue Changemakers of 2023: Culture
- The Big Issue Changemakers of 2023: Education
- The Big Issue Changemakers of 2023: Employment
- The Big Issue Changemakers of 2023: Environment
- The Big Issue Changemakers of 2023: Equality
- The Big Issue Changemakers of 2023: Housing and homelessness
- The Big Issue Changemakers of 2023: Health and wellbeing
- The Big Issue Changemakers of 2023: Refugees and asylum
Mick Lynch
“People are fed up with having no rights in the workplace,” Lynch told The Big Issue. “They are fed up with low pay and they’re also fed up of billionaires raking in profits.” Mick Lynch has been the figurehead and even-handed spokesperson for workers across Britain who feel left behind. Seen by some as a divisive figure, he’s nevertheless changed attitudes to striking workers. In his position as secretary general of the RMT he has attracted praise for tackling hostile narratives with levity and wit. “We’re getting a wave of public sympathy and we want to see that rolled into a campaign to get a fair deal for all,” Lynch said. As we move into 2023, his position as an important leader beyond his own union grows.
Unite Hospitality
“This is for every worker who ever had to choose between walking home in the dark or spending two hours wages on a taxi home,” Unite Hospitality said. The union’s campaign, ‘Get Me Home Safely’, calls for legislation to be extended to make safe transport policies mandatory in the workplace. They want free transport home for staff to be a prerequisite for businesses seeking to hold a liquor licence. Nearly six in 10 workers report their employers have never provided them with safe transport. Unite’s members are campaigning to change this, and made great strides last year, with eight local authorities now backing them.
Nickel Support CIC
Nickel Support is a community interest company supporting neurodivergent adults and adults with learning disabilities. Employment is a key focus, but the organisation supports trainees in all aspects of their lives. It works with over 100 trainees per week. After its original hub in Carshalton was no longer large enough to meet demand, investment from Big Issue Invest will help Nickel to refurbish and equip a new premises in Cheam.
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