"You wouldn't know the half of it."

🍔  What happens when McDonald's - a corporate behemoth so vast, so rich, so omnipresent that its logo is synonymous with globalisation and capitalism - is asked to compensate hourly workers for unpaid wages?

It screams.

That's where the SDA (Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association) - the union for fast food workers steps in. 

For years, they have been pursuing dozens of lawsuits against the fast food titan for a number of abuses, including: 

❌ Asking managers to take on unpaid duties (but they get a free frappé!)

❌ Denying workers legally-mandated paid breaks (but they get a soft drink!)

❌ Targeting employees for being union members

❌ Refusing to enter into negotiations under a union enterprise bargaining agreement

Josh Peak, Secretary of the SA and NT branch, shares the journey so far, including the incredible persistence of SDA members, the damning stories uncovered by the union, and McDonald's perplexing refusal to set things right.

#McDonalds #SDA #union #organise #fight #workersrights #Labor #labour #payandconditions #lawsuit #fastfood #retailworkers #bargaining #negotiating #podcast #PeterMalinauskas

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The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au

⚡ Don't miss your chance to watch 'How to Capture a Prime Minister' online - Nov 11th only at howtocaptureapm.com⚡

⌛ 11 November 2025, is the 50th anniversary of Governor-General Sir John Kerr's historic dismissal of Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.

👑 This remains the only time in Australian history that a democratically elected Prime Minister was dismissed by a representative of the Crown - sparking wild unrest across the nation but the eventual election of the Fraser Liberal government.

✊ Less than 12 months into the new government, Malcolm Fraser - who continued to be a political lightning-rod for the left, found himself trapped in the basement of Monash University, alongside his sparse security detail who were frightened for his life.

🎥 In this very special episode, Filmmaker Gary Newman @howtocaptureapm joins us to discuss his documentary 'How to Capture a Prime Minister', which centres on that moment and includes reflections from the people who were there.

Offical Trailer: 

https://vimeo.com/788096733?fl=pl&fe=sh

Democracy after the Dismissal
Sunday 23 November 2025, 12:30pm-3:30pm
Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square, Melbourne
Places are strictly limited
Visit 

events.humanitix.com/democracy-after-the-dismissal

Watch on TV using Chromecast or Airplay, or on a device
Available on 11 November 2025 for a short time only.
Visit howtocaptureapm.com for access

#goughwhitlam #malcolmfraser #governorgeneral #thedismissal #auspol #protest #50thanniversary #history #film #documentary #podcast #politics

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The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au

Happy Halloween! 🎃🎃🎃

Stephen, Jessie, and David gather around the campfire to discuss the spookiest stories of the month, including:

🤝Albanese’s meeting with Trump and the run-in with Rudd.

🗽Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral run in New York City. 

📵Anika Wells’s response to Optus outage. 

And more! Listen if you dare. 👻

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The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au

In this special overseas episode, Stephen Donnelly sits down with Harvard Senior Lecturer and veteran organiser Marshall Ganz to discuss his legendary work, and his thoughts on how we build power in the current environment. 

You can also watch the interview on Youtube.

Mentioned in the episode:

People, Power, Change by Marshall Ganz

#MarshallGanz #organizing #USA #politics #peoplepowerchange #leadership #action

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The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au

👉 Todd Pinkerton, Director for Campaigns and Strategy at Unions New South Wales, and 👉 Lissie Ratcliff, former Chief of Staff to Daniel Andrews and managing partner at FMRS Advisory - join Stephen Donnelly to answer all your burning questions - and there were plenty.

They cover:

🌀 The complex and evolving relationship between government ministers and the public servants who advise them.

🔎 The leadership of NSW Premier Chris Minns. Is he too harsh on unions and young people?

✍️ How did the First Peoples' Treaty for Victoria make it so far, while the federal Voice referendum tanked?

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics: who is stepping up to be the future leader of the Democratic party, and what can we learn from their various responses to Trump?

Check it out.

#NSW #Victoria #politics #auspol #ChrisMinns #USPolitics #GavinNewsom #BernieSanders #AOC #ChuckSchumer #JacintaAllan #TreatyforVictoria #Labor #ALP #government

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The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au

In this episode of Socially Democratic, Stephen Donnelly sits down with Chris Hipkins, the 41st Prime Minister of New Zealand, to talk about his journey from the Hutt Valley to the halls of power. ​

They dive into the highs and lows of leadership, lessons learned from nine years in opposition, and the challenges of rebuilding the Labour Party after a tough election loss.

Chris also shares his thoughts on the complexities of tax reform, the need for bold leadership to address New Zealand’s narrow tax base, and how Labour plans to tackle the cost of living crisis.

Plus, stay tuned until the end for Chris's hidden talent.

Tune in for a glimpse at what’s next for the NZ Labour campaign.

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The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au

Did the Socially Democratic hiatus week leave you feeling politically deprived?

Not to worry. Stephen, Jessie, and David are back with a full episode covering all the major (and some minor) stories in politics for the month of September. 

Here’s what’s on the agenda:

• Albanese’s upcoming visit with Trump. What will it look like, and what is the aim, exactly?
• Jacinta Allan’s visit to China. Talking tunnels and making friends.
• Are the Greens returning to form? Greens Leader Larissa Waters has some choice words for Labor’s new emissions targets, and David thinks it signals something deeper.
• Charlie Kirk, the perils of extremist thinking, and the implications for Australian political discourse. 
• Migration across Europe. How it is fueling the right, and how the left is fumbling their response. 

Plus listener questions, and more!

Mentioned in the show:

Why the rise of ‘cartel parties’ in Australia threatens our democracy: https://tr.ee/ILXvns

Australia’s 10 Most Covertly Powerful People in 2025: https://tr.ee/A7rZ4j

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The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au

On August 31st, March for Australia spilled across the streets and into the headlines. 

But who organised it? And if not the neo-Nazis of Australia’s far-right National Socialist Network (NSN), then why did their notorious leader Thomas Sewell take the main stage in Melbourne?

Victorian State Correspondent Benita Kolovos sits down with Stephen to explore:

📣 the complexities behind the rally’s messaging, 

🔍 myths and lies about immigration,

❌ and the attack on Camp Sovereign. 

Plus, get the backstory on Victoria’s historic Treaty Bill, Dan Andrews’s visit to China, and the housing plans that have sent some inner Melbourne residents into a frenzy.

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The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au

When Sarah Witty de-throned Adam Bandt as the Member for Melbourne, it came as a surprise to many - none more than Adam Bandt.

“He wouldn’t have been surprised if he was out talking to people like I was,” said Sarah. “There was a definite swing.”

The newly-minted Melbourne MP joins Socially Democratic to talk about the core values that guided her - even when she didn’t know what she wanted to be when she grew up. 

She shares her journey through corporate life, foster parenting, the community sector, and finally, the halls of Parliament. 

This is part one of our special series on the ALP Class of 2025. Let us know who you want to hear from next.

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The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au

💰In June, Keir Starmer’s Labour government proposed significant cuts to disability benefits for the UK's most vulnerable citizens. 

🟢 With his party holding a clear majority in Parliament,  there should have been no issue getting it done.

💥 But in a surprise move, 126 Labour backbenchers rebelled - refusing to vote for the cuts,  which had no basis in any real vision beyond saving money, or a bald “cash grab” as Starmer’s detractors put it.

☝️ This was just one of many high profile gaffes for the troubled government, which has now been surpassed in the polls by Nigel Farage’s right-wing nationalist Reform Party.

❓❓So what went wrong, and can Labour recover before it’s too late?

John McTernan, Former communications director for Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Julia Gillard, sits down with Stephen Donnelly to spill the tea.

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The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au