Serbia: Interview with SKL union leaders

Serbia: Interview with SKL union leaders

Author: Eric Lee - LabourStart October 31, 2025 Duration: 9:58
This week, we talked with two leaders of the Sindikat kontrole letenja (SKL), the union representing Serbian air traffic controllers, who have been dismissed after their security clearances were revoked based on a vague "negative opinion from the security services." Both played key roles in this year’s lawful and successful strike. In this interview we discussed how the Serbian government launched a coordinated attack on the two union leaders and why, and how trade unionists across Euro...

For trade unionists, activists, and anyone curious about the forces shaping our workplaces, LabourStart: Where trade unionists start their day on the net. serves as a daily audio bulletin from the front lines of the global labour movement. Hosted by Eric Lee, this podcast draws directly from the vast network of the LabourStart website, a volunteer-driven resource that has been aggregating union news in dozens of languages since 1998. Each episode cuts through the noise to bring you the stories that matter: from successful organising drives and difficult strikes to legislative battles and the realities of workers' rights across different industries and borders. You'll hear updates on LabourStart's own online campaigning tools, which unions use to mobilise international solidarity, often leading to tangible victories. The conversation occasionally expands to reflect on broader themes of solidarity, featuring insights from global conferences and discussions on the strategic use of digital tools for collective action. This isn't just a summary of headlines; it's a focused look at the people and strategies driving change. Tune in to this essential podcast for a grounded, informed perspective on the ongoing fight for fair work, connecting local struggles to a worldwide movement.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 47

LabourStart: Where trade unionists start their day on the net.
Podcast Episodes
USA: Interview with Shawna Bader-Blau from the Solidarity Center [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:20
Shawna Bader-Blau heads up the Solidarity Center in Washington DC which has for many years been one of the great sources of support for workers around the world trying create and sustain independent, democratic trade uni…
Azerbaijan: Interview with Nilufar Mammadrzayeva [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:53
Nilufar Mammadrzayeva is an activist in İşçi Masası (Labor Desk), an alternative Confederation of Trade Unions operating in Azerbaijan. As she explained to us, "Right now, four of our comrades are facing dire conditions…
Canada: Interview with Mark Hancock [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:27
This week, LabourStart's Pat Bulmer interviews Mark Hancock, national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees -- the largest union in the country. Mark was asked to speak about the union's recently-adopted "M…
Belarus: Interview with Liza Merliak, exiled trade unionist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:48
LabourStart's podcast this week is - unfortunately - about Belarus, which is probably the worst place in Europe to be a trade unionist. We are now coming up on the 3rd anniversary of the mass arrests of Belarusian trade…