Matthew Cole
@mattcole.bsky.social
Assistant Professor of Technology, Work and Employment at the University of Sussex.
Heterodox Marxist - Les dés sont pipés!
mattcole.work
Heterodox Marxist - Les dés sont pipés!
mattcole.work
Pinned
My first book, *Unpaid: the Past, Present and Future of Wage Theft*, will be published by @versobooks.bsky.social in May, 2026!
This book is born from experience. It is written for anyone who is dissatisfied with the capitalist wage system.
UK pre-order: www.waterstones.com/book/unpaid/...
This book is born from experience. It is written for anyone who is dissatisfied with the capitalist wage system.
UK pre-order: www.waterstones.com/book/unpaid/...
Typos are a sign of authenticity in writing against Gen-AI
November 8, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Typos are a sign of authenticity in writing against Gen-AI
Petition for everyone to stop using Gen-AI to write.
Anyone who has played around with it can tell its style, particularly the overuse of these “ —“ and it’s just offensive and embarrassing to see people sharing text like this now.
Anyone who has played around with it can tell its style, particularly the overuse of these “ —“ and it’s just offensive and embarrassing to see people sharing text like this now.
November 6, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Petition for everyone to stop using Gen-AI to write.
Anyone who has played around with it can tell its style, particularly the overuse of these “ —“ and it’s just offensive and embarrassing to see people sharing text like this now.
Anyone who has played around with it can tell its style, particularly the overuse of these “ —“ and it’s just offensive and embarrassing to see people sharing text like this now.
Reposted by Matthew Cole
I’m in this week’s @newstatesman1913.bsky.social with a review of Holly Smith’s brilliant history of house rise council housing in Britain, Up in the Air
www.newstatesman.com/culture/book...
www.newstatesman.com/culture/book...
Repopulating the high-rises
A new history of Britain’s tower blocks reveals the ways architecture and ideology have combined to ensure residents are always forgotten
www.newstatesman.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:07 AM
I’m in this week’s @newstatesman1913.bsky.social with a review of Holly Smith’s brilliant history of house rise council housing in Britain, Up in the Air
www.newstatesman.com/culture/book...
www.newstatesman.com/culture/book...
Time to make the billionaires scream
November 5, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Time to make the billionaires scream
Reposted by Matthew Cole
This is especially rich given that Wiley's "AI Guidelines for Researchers" makes a point of urging authors to "protect your content while using AI". What they mean is: "make sure no other AI company gets hold of your IP, because then we can't use it ourselves."
www.wiley.com/en-us/publis...
www.wiley.com/en-us/publis...
November 3, 2025 at 6:58 PM
This is especially rich given that Wiley's "AI Guidelines for Researchers" makes a point of urging authors to "protect your content while using AI". What they mean is: "make sure no other AI company gets hold of your IP, because then we can't use it ourselves."
www.wiley.com/en-us/publis...
www.wiley.com/en-us/publis...
Absolutely fucked that I now have to consent to an AI scanning my data to improve Wiley’s systems in order to publish in a top journal.
As if they don’t profit enough from hosting my intellectual property. My data is now a training pipeline.
As if they don’t profit enough from hosting my intellectual property. My data is now a training pipeline.
November 3, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Absolutely fucked that I now have to consent to an AI scanning my data to improve Wiley’s systems in order to publish in a top journal.
As if they don’t profit enough from hosting my intellectual property. My data is now a training pipeline.
As if they don’t profit enough from hosting my intellectual property. My data is now a training pipeline.
Cutting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could make 16 million children and 28 million adults go hungry in the United States.
It is violent and I 💯 percent expect it to be met with violence.
www.npr.org/2025/10/24/n...
It is violent and I 💯 percent expect it to be met with violence.
www.npr.org/2025/10/24/n...
'Uncharted territory': Ongoing shutdown threatens food aid for 42 million people
SNAP, the country's largest anti-hunger program, dates back to the Great Depression and has never been disrupted this way. Most recipients are seniors, families with kids, and those with disabilities.
www.npr.org
October 28, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Cutting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could make 16 million children and 28 million adults go hungry in the United States.
It is violent and I 💯 percent expect it to be met with violence.
www.npr.org/2025/10/24/n...
It is violent and I 💯 percent expect it to be met with violence.
www.npr.org/2025/10/24/n...
Reposted by Matthew Cole
what exactly are university managers doing, when they put pressure on staff to dedicate months of their time applying for these?
After submitting a FOIA request UKRI, I obtained success rates by three grant call scheme and I can only say that I am disheartened by the results:
- AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2%
- ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1%
- ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%
- AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2%
- ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1%
- ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%
October 23, 2025 at 11:31 AM
what exactly are university managers doing, when they put pressure on staff to dedicate months of their time applying for these?
Reposted by Matthew Cole
bernard stiegler rules so hard bc his books are like:
"if the technical system of production is guided bu the economic system which is guided by the short term financial system, we may see terminal breakdowns in the "honestly giving a shit about any of this" system, which would be bad."
"if the technical system of production is guided bu the economic system which is guided by the short term financial system, we may see terminal breakdowns in the "honestly giving a shit about any of this" system, which would be bad."
October 22, 2025 at 1:15 PM
bernard stiegler rules so hard bc his books are like:
"if the technical system of production is guided bu the economic system which is guided by the short term financial system, we may see terminal breakdowns in the "honestly giving a shit about any of this" system, which would be bad."
"if the technical system of production is guided bu the economic system which is guided by the short term financial system, we may see terminal breakdowns in the "honestly giving a shit about any of this" system, which would be bad."
Quite a bit of what passes for laudable contemporary ‘scene’ literature is comprised of some of the most truly vapid, myopic and boring fucking stories I’ve ever had the displeasure of attempting to read.
October 22, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Quite a bit of what passes for laudable contemporary ‘scene’ literature is comprised of some of the most truly vapid, myopic and boring fucking stories I’ve ever had the displeasure of attempting to read.
Does anyone have a list of independent and or radical bookstores in the United States?
Please share or link me in the replies
Please share or link me in the replies
October 21, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Does anyone have a list of independent and or radical bookstores in the United States?
Please share or link me in the replies
Please share or link me in the replies
Reposted by Matthew Cole
But maybe more ambition is needed, because like @mattcole.bsky.social says, when bosses deliberately withold wages "they are stealing from their workers".
Wage theft is theft, and it should be recognised as such.
novaramedia.com/2025/10/16/e...
Wage theft is theft, and it should be recognised as such.
novaramedia.com/2025/10/16/e...
Employers Who Steal Wages Should Be Made Criminally Liable | Novara Media
A shocking investigation has revealed that employers who fail to pay wages simply get away with it. It’s time to make wage theft a criminal matter, argues Matthew Cole.
novaramedia.com
October 21, 2025 at 7:49 AM
But maybe more ambition is needed, because like @mattcole.bsky.social says, when bosses deliberately withold wages "they are stealing from their workers".
Wage theft is theft, and it should be recognised as such.
novaramedia.com/2025/10/16/e...
Wage theft is theft, and it should be recognised as such.
novaramedia.com/2025/10/16/e...
Reposted by Matthew Cole
In the UK there's no punishment for employers who refuse to pay their workers, but @mattcole.bsky.social argues that we should follow the example of New Zealand and make non-payment of wages a criminal matter.
novaramedia.com/2025/10/16/employers-who-steal-wages-should-be-made-criminally-liable/
novaramedia.com/2025/10/16/employers-who-steal-wages-should-be-made-criminally-liable/
Employers Who Steal Wages Should Be Made Criminally Liable | Novara Media
A shocking investigation has revealed that employers who fail to pay wages simply get away with it. It’s time to make wage theft a criminal matter, argues Matthew Cole.
novaramedia.com
October 21, 2025 at 7:49 AM
In the UK there's no punishment for employers who refuse to pay their workers, but @mattcole.bsky.social argues that we should follow the example of New Zealand and make non-payment of wages a criminal matter.
novaramedia.com/2025/10/16/employers-who-steal-wages-should-be-made-criminally-liable/
novaramedia.com/2025/10/16/employers-who-steal-wages-should-be-made-criminally-liable/
Reposted by Matthew Cole
Did they get the management consultants in or something?
Whereas drug gangs used to be vertically integrated, with a single kingpin supervising production, transport and distribution, they now rely heavily on outsourcing. This has fuelled specialisation and innovation
The traffickers are winning the war on drugs
New decentralised networks are even harder to disrupt than the hierarchical gangs they have replaced
econ.st
October 19, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Did they get the management consultants in or something?
Any comrades out there able to help me with a website project for reporting wage theft anonymously?
I can pay a bit out of pocket a bit and will be trying to get a grant to expand it.
I can pay a bit out of pocket a bit and will be trying to get a grant to expand it.
October 17, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Any comrades out there able to help me with a website project for reporting wage theft anonymously?
I can pay a bit out of pocket a bit and will be trying to get a grant to expand it.
I can pay a bit out of pocket a bit and will be trying to get a grant to expand it.
Reposted by Matthew Cole
While the US & Europe ramp up military spending, millions live in poverty.
Today, we launch Transition Security Project, investigating how militarisation makes us poorer and less safe amid climate crisis — and what genuine security could look like. 🧵
transitionsecurity.org
Today, we launch Transition Security Project, investigating how militarisation makes us poorer and less safe amid climate crisis — and what genuine security could look like. 🧵
transitionsecurity.org
Transition Security Project
transitionsecurity.org
October 16, 2025 at 1:00 PM
While the US & Europe ramp up military spending, millions live in poverty.
Today, we launch Transition Security Project, investigating how militarisation makes us poorer and less safe amid climate crisis — and what genuine security could look like. 🧵
transitionsecurity.org
Today, we launch Transition Security Project, investigating how militarisation makes us poorer and less safe amid climate crisis — and what genuine security could look like. 🧵
transitionsecurity.org
Reposted by Matthew Cole
we need a slopbreakers international
October 16, 2025 at 9:48 AM
we need a slopbreakers international
I feel like they had really cool names for secret revolutionary societies back in the 18th and 19th centuries.
I’ve yet to hear good names for like, a new luddite movement against AI, for example.
Someone has to have some good ideas right? Please share them.
I’ve yet to hear good names for like, a new luddite movement against AI, for example.
Someone has to have some good ideas right? Please share them.
October 16, 2025 at 8:47 AM
I feel like they had really cool names for secret revolutionary societies back in the 18th and 19th centuries.
I’ve yet to hear good names for like, a new luddite movement against AI, for example.
Someone has to have some good ideas right? Please share them.
I’ve yet to hear good names for like, a new luddite movement against AI, for example.
Someone has to have some good ideas right? Please share them.
No one:
UK Universities: Lets grass on students for private death merchants.
libertyinvestigates.org.uk/articles/uni...
UK Universities: Lets grass on students for private death merchants.
libertyinvestigates.org.uk/articles/uni...
UK universities offered to monitor students' social media for arms firms, emails show - Liberty Investigates
libertyinvestigates.org.uk
October 15, 2025 at 12:53 PM
No one:
UK Universities: Lets grass on students for private death merchants.
libertyinvestigates.org.uk/articles/uni...
UK Universities: Lets grass on students for private death merchants.
libertyinvestigates.org.uk/articles/uni...
Reposted by Matthew Cole
This is gonna be good!!
My first book, *Unpaid: the Past, Present and Future of Wage Theft*, will be published by @versobooks.bsky.social in May, 2026!
This book is born from experience. It is written for anyone who is dissatisfied with the capitalist wage system.
UK pre-order: www.waterstones.com/book/unpaid/...
This book is born from experience. It is written for anyone who is dissatisfied with the capitalist wage system.
UK pre-order: www.waterstones.com/book/unpaid/...
October 13, 2025 at 1:24 PM
This is gonna be good!!
Reposted by Matthew Cole
I got to read an early draft of this excellent book by my friend @mattcole.bsky.social! Absolute must read for anyone wondering how wage theft became so normalized across our economies & how things could be otherwise 💸🤑💰🪙💳👷🏼♂️👩🏿💼👨🏻🏭🧑🏾🍳👨🏾🏭🧑🏼🔧👩🏿🏫👩🏻🌾❤️🔥🚩🌹🍞
My first book, *Unpaid: the Past, Present and Future of Wage Theft*, will be published by @versobooks.bsky.social in May, 2026!
This book is born from experience. It is written for anyone who is dissatisfied with the capitalist wage system.
UK pre-order: www.waterstones.com/book/unpaid/...
This book is born from experience. It is written for anyone who is dissatisfied with the capitalist wage system.
UK pre-order: www.waterstones.com/book/unpaid/...
October 13, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I got to read an early draft of this excellent book by my friend @mattcole.bsky.social! Absolute must read for anyone wondering how wage theft became so normalized across our economies & how things could be otherwise 💸🤑💰🪙💳👷🏼♂️👩🏿💼👨🏻🏭🧑🏾🍳👨🏾🏭🧑🏼🔧👩🏿🏫👩🏻🌾❤️🔥🚩🌹🍞
Reposted by Matthew Cole
just pre-ordered - will be a fantastic read, I know bsky.app/profile/matt...
My first book, *Unpaid: the Past, Present and Future of Wage Theft*, will be published by @versobooks.bsky.social in May, 2026!
This book is born from experience. It is written for anyone who is dissatisfied with the capitalist wage system.
UK pre-order: www.waterstones.com/book/unpaid/...
This book is born from experience. It is written for anyone who is dissatisfied with the capitalist wage system.
UK pre-order: www.waterstones.com/book/unpaid/...
October 13, 2025 at 1:15 PM
just pre-ordered - will be a fantastic read, I know bsky.app/profile/matt...
Reposted by Matthew Cole
🌹 Hi there: I'm still looking for a job & short-term gigs 🌹
• Main research interests: financialisation studies, French philosophy/political phil, French econ history & francophone colonial hist & activism.
• Journalism: French politics & activism & long-form on French thought & culture.
• Main research interests: financialisation studies, French philosophy/political phil, French econ history & francophone colonial hist & activism.
• Journalism: French politics & activism & long-form on French thought & culture.
September 8, 2025 at 8:59 AM
🌹 Hi there: I'm still looking for a job & short-term gigs 🌹
• Main research interests: financialisation studies, French philosophy/political phil, French econ history & francophone colonial hist & activism.
• Journalism: French politics & activism & long-form on French thought & culture.
• Main research interests: financialisation studies, French philosophy/political phil, French econ history & francophone colonial hist & activism.
• Journalism: French politics & activism & long-form on French thought & culture.
My first book, *Unpaid: the Past, Present and Future of Wage Theft*, will be published by @versobooks.bsky.social in May, 2026!
This book is born from experience. It is written for anyone who is dissatisfied with the capitalist wage system.
UK pre-order: www.waterstones.com/book/unpaid/...
This book is born from experience. It is written for anyone who is dissatisfied with the capitalist wage system.
UK pre-order: www.waterstones.com/book/unpaid/...
October 13, 2025 at 1:01 PM
My first book, *Unpaid: the Past, Present and Future of Wage Theft*, will be published by @versobooks.bsky.social in May, 2026!
This book is born from experience. It is written for anyone who is dissatisfied with the capitalist wage system.
UK pre-order: www.waterstones.com/book/unpaid/...
This book is born from experience. It is written for anyone who is dissatisfied with the capitalist wage system.
UK pre-order: www.waterstones.com/book/unpaid/...
Reposted by Matthew Cole
The second keynote of the tenth annual conference of the Danish Society for Marxist Studies @brosef-stalin.bsky.social "Abolish Capital: Disrupting the Laws of Motion" @dkmarxsoc.bsky.social
October 11, 2025 at 9:36 AM
The second keynote of the tenth annual conference of the Danish Society for Marxist Studies @brosef-stalin.bsky.social "Abolish Capital: Disrupting the Laws of Motion" @dkmarxsoc.bsky.social