Comic artist, illustrator and writer Tom Humberstone has published a new comic that spotlights the workers rights, that follows up on his previous work, Luddites, first published in the Future issue of The Nib.
Just Work: The Gig Economy, Platform Capitalism, and the Battle For Worker Rights is about delivery riders (Uber Eats, Just Eat and Deliveroo etc.), platform capitalism, gig work, the history of couriers, “how the media and politicians are engaging in the dog whistle demonisation of riders, and how the riders’ struggle for rights and respect at work will be our struggle in the not too distant future,” Tom explains.
The comic follows the Dismantling Tech Futures event last year, which interrogated the false promises of AI, discussing employment in the digital economy, platform labour, precarious gig work, and the pitfalls of being a Delivery Rider.
“The conversation lit a fire under me,” Tom explains. “Ever since researching and producing my comic about the Luddites, I’ve been wanting to make more comics about worker exploitation and the fight for worker rights.
“Attacks on labour are becoming more pronounced and shameless in the age of AI, with any attempts at organising facing aggressive union-busting and legal skulduggeries. With the advent of platform capitalism, companies can now treat their employees as freelancers and thereby skirt any employment rights or responsibilities on their end.
“I’m not sure I’m good at many things, but I think I’m decent at getting angry about something and communicating that anger in comic form. So I decided I’d try and make a comic about delivery riders, platform capitalism, and how their fight for worker rights is a fight that concerns all of us.
“And almost a year later, it is finally ready to share!”
Tom has written about his reasons for making the comic, and his process, in his latest newsletter here.
This version is free to read to everyone as an educational resource
• Download a PDF of Just Work from Tom’s shop here
• Buy a riso-printed version of the comic from my online store here
- About the Author
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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