Podcasts

To listen to any of the podcasts please click on the speaker icon on the left.

Interview with Cllr Tom Ross, Leader of Trafford MBC
In this podcast the GMLWC Co-ordinator John Hacking is in conversation with Councillor Tom Ross the leader of Trafford Council. Tom discusses the journey that has led to Trafford Council deciding to become a Real Living Wage employer and where that decision sits in the overall work that the council and it’s partners are doing to tackle poverty in Trafford and in particular to counter the impact that the cost of living crisis is having on low paid workers in the borough.

Interview with Dr Calum Carson
In this podcast recorded in December 2022, John Hacking the GMLWC Co-ordinator, speaks to Dr Calum Carson, a researcher from Manchester Metropolitan University, about his PhD on “The UK Living Wage Campaign: Experiences of Employers, Workers and Advocates.” The interview covers how the research was undertaken, what the key findings were and what it tells us about the Real Living Wage in the UK.
Released December 2022

In Conversation with Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council
Councillor Bev Craig, the new Leader of Manchester City Council, recently joined Graham Whitham, CEO of GMPA, and John Hacking, the Co-ordinator of the Greater Manchester Living Wage Campaign, in conversation prior to her officially taking up the post. The discussion covered the work Cllr Craig has been doing with Manchester City Council and partners around the issue of the real Living Wage and low pay. The conversation also covered what more can be done about tackling poverty
and particularly in-work poverty in GM and what policy ‘asks’ do we need to make at GM and national level.
Released November 2021.

In Conversation with Cllr. Eamonn O’Brien, the Leader of Bury Council
In April 2021, Tom Skinner and John Hacking from GMPA caught up with the Eamonn and discussed a range of issues related to the fight against poverty. The conversation covered the work Eamonn is doing to fight poverty in Bury though work with anti poverty programmes and in particular the plans to make
Bury Council the 4th local authority in Greater Manchester to become a Living Wage Employer.
You can find out more about GMPA’s Living Wage Campaign here.
Released May 2021.

Tameside Poverty Truth Commission
GMPA’s Tom Skinner in conversation with Fran, Beatrice and Lizzie from the Tameside Poverty Truth Commission about their hopes for the Commission,
and the benefits it will bring for those involved and for Tameside as a whole. You can find out more about the Commission here.
Released April 2021.

In December 2020 GMPA released an important report ‘Strengthening the role of local welfare assistance‘ identifying a series of recommendations for local authorities and their partners in Greater Manchester to adopt. To coincide with the report we also released a recorded conversation between the author and our CEO.

In conversation: Simon Watts, the author of a new report ‘Strengthening the role of local welfare assistance’ talks with Graham Whitham, CEO, GMPA.
The full report and further documentation can be found here.

GMPA also released a series of 4 podcasts over the Autumn 2020 on how to rebuild the economy of Greater Manchester following the COVID-19 pandemic. The podcasts are hosted by John Hacking, coordinator of the Greater Manchester Living Wage Campaign and can be listened to by simply clicking on one of the speaker icons next to the text.

In Conversation with Graham Whitham
In conversation with GMPA Director Graham Whitham, talking about ongoing work within the city region’s response to the pandemic,
the opportunities to reduce poverty and its impact, and the difference that we can make locally.
Released October 2020

Manchester Poverty Truth Commission
John talks to Lizzie, Rizvi and Gemma from the Manchester Poverty Truth Commission about the experiences facing people living in poverty
during the lockdown and what additional challenges and pressures it has brought to their everyday lives.
Released September 2020

In Conversation with Andy Burnham
John speaks to Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester,
on ‘Decent work, poverty and the Real Living Wage in post lockdown Greater Manchester’.
Released August 2020

In Conversation with Ed Heery
Ed Heery, Professor of Employment Relations at Cardiff Business School and a leading expert on the Real Living Wage,
outlines the extent of the Living Wage, the impact it has had on employees and employers and the impact of Covid-19.
Released August 2020

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