Think “union” and what comes to mind? Collective agreements and community building? Power struggles and strikes? Sepia-toned photographs of early-20th century factory floors? If you’ve never been in or around a union, they can carry a whiff of mystique—even old-fashionedness. That’s why we asked Ready member Tanisi Pooran, who’s worked in the field of labor organizing and workers’ rights, to help us demystify the process a bit.

In this episode of Brave New Work, Aaron Dignan and Rodney Evans talk with Tanisi about the common people-positive practices both unions and The Ready uphold, how our two worlds could cooperate and help each other evolve, and why anti-union feelings still persist at even the most progressive and forward-thinking organizations.

Learn more about Tanisi and their work here on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Mentioned references:

• spaetzle
• "the five boroughs"
• IDM episode: BNW Ep. 43
• experimentation episode: BNW Ep. 62
• "Nietzsche quote" from Beyond Good and Evil by Fredrich Neitzsche, Chapter 4,146
• "Gimlet and union kerfuffle"
• American Factory, documentary

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