tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23722642602022594672024-03-13T21:30:56.051+00:00UK Worker Co-operativesA Blog for Worker Co-operative issues and activities in the UK.John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-61720815353602839172012-11-15T18:37:00.000+00:002012-11-15T18:41:37.712+00:00Lots going on in the worker co-operative world<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've not written a blog for ages due to the small matter of hosting the Global <a href="http://www.manchester2012.coop/" target="_blank">Co-operatives United</a> event and getting <a href="http://www.uk.coop/workercode" target="_blank">The Worker Co-operative Code</a> ready to be published tomorrow to coincides with <a href="http://www.socialinnovationeurope.eu/directory/event/global-worker-cooperative-day-international-conference-worker-and-social">Global Worker Cooperative Day</a>. It's a busy time for worker co-operatives and it seems like there is lots going on. So here are few things you might be interested in and lets see how we can make ourselves an even more stronger network of co-operative businesses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The worker co-op code, tools and resources</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Want a copy? Co-operatives UK is <a href="http://www.print.coop/" target="_blank">printing</a> 3000 copies of The Code so hopefully everyone working for a worker co-op member of <a href="http://www.uk.coop/" target="_blank">ours</a> should see a copy and be able to check how they are doing as a business and as co-operative. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It can be found here: <a href="http://www.uk.coop/workercode#overlay-context=blog/linzi-nedoszytko/2012-11-15/new-worker-co-operative-code-launches-worker-co-operatives">www.uk.coop/workercode</a> but you can also fill in an on-line <a href="http://www.uk.coop/worker-code-governance-audit">self assessment tool</a>. In the future this tool will also suggest resources to help you improve your score. At the moment though this is empty, we have no resources! So if you have any resources to share with other worker co-operatives like: Member job descriptions or agreements, Induction material, pay and benefits policies, conflict resolution processes etc please <a href="mailto:john.atherton@uk.coop" target="_blank">send them to me</a> so we can upload them to the website and build a shared bank of resources.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The previous version was translated into: Japanese, Korean, Maltese, Spanish, Swedish, so if anyone fancies translating this new version, please let me know.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Round table event
at Co-operative Web Friday, 30<sup>th</sup>
November.</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you are interested in learning best practice from other successful worker co-operatives, we are holding a small round table event from 11.00
till 13.00 in Birmingham for members of Co-operatives UK. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.web.coop/" target="_blank">Co-operative Web</a> will present on their recent growth
and how they incorporated new members into the business through a recent
acquisition. Members will then have the opportunity to ask questions and more importantly share
their own experience and best practice on the topic. This is a great opportunity to ne<span style="font-size: small;">two<span style="font-size: small;">rk, <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">so i</span></span></span></span></span></span>f your interested in attending <a href="mailto:john.atherton@uk.coop" target="_blank">let me know</a>. </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Research to find out demand for 'Co-operative Skills' training</span></b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Having troub<span style="font-size: small;">le co-operating within your worker co-op? </span>We're</span> exploring different approaches to supporting our members in relation to
improving: soft/inter-personal or you could say "co-operative skills". Such as:
communication, decision-making, meeting together, dealing with conflict, group
dynamics and so on.<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>By filling in <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/coopskills" target="_blank">this survey </a>you will help us find the
evidence to propose better ways of delivering support and training to our
members.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Worker co-op newsletter</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Britta
Werner, of Unicorn Grocery and Board member of Co-operatives UK wants
to set-up a regular newsletter for worker co-operatives, so we can share
information like: events, jobs, resources, good news stories. If you
want to be on the mailing list, contribute or just have some good news
to share <a href="mailto:workercoops@gmail.com" target="_blank">email us</a>.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Facebook Group</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If your the facebook type, we have a group for worker co-operatives with over 60 members, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/workercoops/" target="_blank">join the conversation</a> and see how you can benefit. I know most Unicorn Grocery and Essential Trading are recruiting at the moment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Finally thoughts</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is loads going on in the worker co-operative world, and there is probably so much more I don't know about. The worker co-operative council at Co-operatives UK wrote and are trying to deliver on a plan to grow the worker co-op sector, but we need your help (it's really you helping yourself) </span><a href="http://workerco-operatives.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/the-worker-co-operative-economy-needs.html">The worker co-operative economy needs you!</a>Oh and if your not a member of Co-operatives UK, why not, <a href="http://www.uk.coop/membership" target="_blank">join us</a>!<br />
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John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-69991111065862120012012-09-26T14:04:00.000+01:002012-09-26T14:10:59.349+01:00The worker co-operative economy needs you!I have not done a blog for far too long so apologies! The <a href="http://www.uk.coop/content/worker-co-operative-council-members" target="_blank">worker co-operative council</a> of <a href="http://www.uk.coop/">Co-operatives UK</a> recently met and wanted to share with members some of their work and actions to grow the worker co-operative sector. They would like your input and more importantly action to help.<br />
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In case you don't know the Council meets four times a year and is made up of seven elected members from worker co-ops, and two other (currently and co-operative development adviser and a member of the woodcraft folk).<br />
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As well as practical things like attending events/networking, advocating for worker co-ops, helping update the <a href="http://www.uk.coop/workercode" target="_blank">Worker Co-operative Code</a>, they also act as a sounding board for and set priorities in relation to worker co-operatives. Two of the Council members then represent worker co-operatives on our main Board of Director of Co-operatives UK.<br />
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At our last meeting members decided to publish the below working document that sets out priorities and actions for the future to help grow the worker co-operative economy. They would like to invite you to a help suggest and achieve these actions.<br />
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The google doc version is <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1TVn7RoyOY-Eeqh8pEV4dOPKH9xQqmBu9QtMi6ms_HPU" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
<iframe src="https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1TVn7RoyOY-Eeqh8pEV4dOPKH9xQqmBu9QtMi6ms_HPU&embedded=true" width="620" height="3000"></iframe>
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Finally here is a blatant plug for <a href="http://www.manchester2012.coop/">Co-operatives United</a> a international festival of co-operatives taking place in Manchester on the 31 Oct to the 2 Nov. A great opportunity to mix with other worker co-operatives from the UK and around the world. Parts are free and parts are paid for so please do come if you can.<br />
<br />John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-23431803889421068062012-06-20T14:38:00.001+01:002012-06-20T14:38:03.725+01:00New guide for setting up grass routes worker co-operative<br />
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.5pt;">It's been years in the making, <a href="http://www.radicalroutes.org.uk/">Radical Routes</a> </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">a UK-wide network of
radical housing and workers' co-operatives </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.5pt;">has updated their guide to starting and developing workers' co-operatives. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">I heavily promoted the last version, but in recent years, as with all guides it became out dated. The <a href="http://www.seedsforchange.org.uk/">Seeds for Change</a> collective with help from all over the movement (I know our own legal team helped with draft versions) has
updated and expanded the guide, which is now three times bigger. It includes
information on new kinds of co-operatives and legal structures and more
information about finance, flat management structures and co-operative working
methods.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Kayleigh Robertson, of the editorial collective, said
“In the current economic climate more and more people are creating their own
opportunities by setting up workers' co-ops. We really want to facilitate this
and inspire a new generation of co-operators to create work without bosses.”</span></div>
</blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">As
more people are faced with the economic hardship and the inequity of
modern corporate businesses, more are choosing to set-up or become part
of co-operatively owned and controlled businesses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">At <a href="http://www.uk.coop/">Co-operatives UK </a>we are getting more enquires all the time about starting new co-operative businesses and I'm sure our soon to be released state of the co-operative economy <a href="http://www.uk.coop/economy">report</a> will agree that our movement is thriving. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">The books are available to download free <a href="http://www.radicalroutes.org.uk/publications-and-resources.html">here</a> and print versions
are £4.50, with a special launch price of £3.50 at Futures North.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">If you are thinking of setting up or want to find out about all types of co-operative businesses check out Co-opertives UK's website: <a href="http://www.uk.coop/start">www.uk.coop/start</a> </span>John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-3417680778707839592012-05-28T16:38:00.003+01:002012-05-28T16:38:42.702+01:00Worker Co-operative Council Election Results 2012<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Thank you to all those members who voted in the worker co-operative council elections for 2012. We can now publish the results:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Bob Cannell</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> 267
First</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Alison Banton</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> 189
Second</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Sion Whellens</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> 180 Third
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Lyn
Hope 176</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Chris
Tomlinson 161</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Steve
Dixon 1</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Turnout for the elections was 25%</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> of the eligible members.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Congratulation to Bob, Alison and Sion; </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span>For those that don't know, the worker co-operative council is </span></span><span style="font-size: small;">an official committee of Co-operatives UK. It acts as a sounding board for issues affecting worker co-operatives
and in turn nominates two places to the main Co-operatives UK Board of Directors. </span><span style="font-size: small;">The Council isn't just a talking shop and either
influences or directly take action on behalf of worker co-operatives.
Here is a link to their most recent strategy <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TVn7RoyOY-Eeqh8pEV4dOPKH9xQqmBu9QtMi6ms_HPU/edit">plan</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Currently the Council is made up of 7 representatives elected from the worker co-op membership and 2 co-optee's. A co-operative development adviser and a young person who is also a trustee of the <a href="http://www.woodcraft.org.uk/">Woodcraft Folk</a></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></div>John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-47349353935616990572012-04-10T14:41:00.001+01:002012-04-10T14:41:11.849+01:00Worker Co-operative Council Elections 2012Voting is now open for the Worker Co-operative Council Elections! All worker co-operative members of Co-operatives UK have been sent Ballot Papers and should now have received them. Below is copy of the biographical details of the members standing for election.<br /><br />These people will represent your views and help guide Co-operatives UK's strategy from the point of view of worker co-operatives. The three successful candidates will be invited to our <a href="http://www.uk.coop/event/co-operatives-uk-annual-general-meeting">AGM </a>on the 25th April and will be appointed to the Worker Co-operative Council, why not come and join them.<br />
<br />The nominees are:<br /><br /><b>Sion Whellens – <a href="http://www.print.coop/">Calverts North Star Press Ltd</a>.</b><br />Sion Whellens is a member of the communications co-operative, Calverts. He has been a member of worker, housing and consumer co-operatives since 1982. He founded the Principle Six co-operative business referral network, and has served on both the WCC and the board of Co-operatives UK (2006-2011), where he chaired the Appointments and Remuneration committee. He is vice chair of Co-operatives London.<br /><br />Sion believes that the priorities for the WCC over the coming years should be:<br />
<ul>
<li>To continue to develop profitable political and business networks between worker co-ops, the wider movement and with radical new social and economic currents</li>
<li>To help develop new types of co-operative business, with innovative stakeholding models which enfranchise more working class people</li>
<li>To contribute to a Co-operatives UK led campaign to raise the profile and confidence of the movement, and greatly increase public awareness of and approval for co-operation as a distinct ‘social business brand’</li>
</ul>
<b>Steve Dixon – <a href="http://www.ahf.co.uk/">Anglia Home Furnishings Holdings Ltd.</a></b><br />I have 15 years experience in Risk Management, Internal Audit and Corporate Compliance, six of which have been spend in the co-operative and social enterprise sector.<br />
<br />I am currently one of three partners at the Big Fish Partnership where I advise Boards in the corporate governance aspects of company formation, having written company constitutions and corporate governance codes.<br /><br />
One of my clients includes a large employee co-operative where I focused on increasing employee engagement and promoting the benefits of the co-operative model with the membership.<br /><br />Away from work, I enjoy spending time with my family, going to the gym, reading and socialising with friends. I am also a school governor at a local primary school.<br /><br />If elected to this position, I would like to use my skills and experience to support member organisations and promote the employee co-operative sector and the benefits that organisations can achieve through this structure.<br /><br /><b>Lyn Hope – <a href="http://www.midshiresclothing.co.uk/">Midshires Clothing</a></b><br />My involvement with Co-operatives started 15 years ago with Queen Eleanor, a Co-op Workwear manufacturer in Kettering. Hit by competitor’s cheap imports, the factory closed, leaving a highly skilled workforce, with no jobs left in the industry.<br /><br />Not to be beaten, we set up our own Worker Co-operative to provide employment for clothing workers. As well as being Age Positive we aim to pass our unique skills on to future generations via apprenticeship schemes.<br /><br />I believe that Co-operatives like ours are the way forward to rebuilding the British economy, but it is about so much more than that; It’s about preserving skills and valuing the people who have them. <br /><br />I would relish the chance to work with other Co-operators and find a way to encourage the set up of more Co-operatives as a way to get people working again.<br /><b><br />Bob Cannell – <a href="http://www.suma.coop/">Suma </a>(Traingle Wholefoods)</b><br />Bob is an experienced activist with 30 years membership of Suma, several in the Worker Coop Council and on the board of CoopsUK. Bob is a European (CECOP) and World (CICOPA) delegate to worker co-op federations.<br /><br />He promotes worker ownership in business schools and is a well known source of advice for worker co-ops. Bob helped write the Cooperatives UK <a href="http://www.uk.coop/workercode">W<span id="goog_1913327391"></span>orker Cooperative Code of Governance</a><br />
<br />“I continue to fight for recognition and support for worker co-ops wherever. I recently helped CoopsUK amend the cooperative development training standards to recognise the importance of cooperative working skills in worker co-ops.”<br /><br />“If re-elected I will continue to ensure CoopsUK and our European and World federations serve us well. I’m optimistic for worker ownership but we need to push the idea and improve our game so we are good examples of democratic enterprise.”<br /><br /><b>Alison Banton – <a href="http://www.dulas.org.uk/">Dulas Ltd</a>.</b><br />It’s taken some time to get to grips with the workings of Co-ops UK and the worker co-op council (on top of the day job) and I would relish another two years in order to follow through on the key strategies we recently identified, especially in our focus on young people. Liaising with the Woodcraft Folk and other worker co ops is truly inspiring stuff.<br /><br />I’m the Senior Management Accountant/ Company Secretary at Dulas Ltd and we’ve grown into one of the country’s leading renewable energy specialists. The past two years we have undertaken significant changes to our organisation in terms of Corporate Governance, Pay & Reward, Management Structure and even geography- we now have a Scottish Office but have retained 100% (equal) employee ownership and that’s by no means a small achievement. There’s a lot we would love to share and as ever show folk that co-ops rock!<br /><br /><b>Christopher Robert Tomlinson – <a href="http://www.birminghambikefoundry.org/">Birmingham Bike Foundry</a></b><br />Five years ago I moved to Birmingham and founded a fully mutual housing co-operative with friends called Gung Ho, where I now live. Two years ago I set up Birmingham Bike Foundry –a workers' co-op with four directors. I have been a full time bike mechanic, bike maintenance and cycling trainer since then. Both co-ops are members of Radical Routes.<br /><br />Within RR I am a core member of publicity group and the Trading Co-ops working group which encourages and supports the establishment of new worker co-ops.<br /><br />Since I left education I have been working towards developing the co-operative commonweal. I believe that democratic, non-hierarchical employment and ownership of assets has many advantages for co-operative employees and tenants.<br /><br />I believe in a post-capitalist society run along fairer and saner lines and this is something that I am actively working towards. I believe that this society could be effectively organised by councils of co-operatives.<br />
<br />
If your co-operative has not received ballot papers and you wish to vote please <a href="mailto:Michael.Shepherd@uk.coop" rel="nofollow">contact us</a>. All ballot papers must be received by 15th May 2012John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-22582443629756994502012-02-03T14:15:00.001+00:002012-02-03T14:23:39.953+00:00Size of worker co-op sectorI collated some info for the last worker co-operative council meeting (Co-operatives UK's representative body for worker co-ops). I thought you might be interested in some of the figures. <br />
<br />
This does come with a warning however: These are my own own calculations and not that of our specialists. These may not be the same as our official figures in the more rigorous annual report on the <a href="http://www.uk.coop/economy2011">co-operative economy</a> and don't include large employee trust co-operatives like John Lewis (they just massively scew the figures by a few £bn).<br />
<br />
This table does however give an indication of the split of worker co-ops by different industry sectors, which may be of interest.<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 467px;"><colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 8448; mso-width-source: userset; width: 198pt;" width="264"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2784; mso-width-source: userset; width: 65pt;" width="87"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 3712; mso-width-source: userset; width: 87pt;" width="116"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; width: 198pt;" width="264"><b>Industry </b><b>Sector</b></td>
<td style="width: 65pt;" width="87"><b>Numbers</b></td>
<td style="width: 87pt;" width="116"><b>Turnover</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Food Retail & Wholesale</td>
<td align="right">41</td>
<td align="right" class="xl24">£74,398,944</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Non-food retail</td>
<td align="right">23</td>
<td align="right" class="xl24">£51,047,281</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Engineering and Technology</td>
<td align="right">8</td>
<td align="right" class="xl24">£30,947,437</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Media and Communications</td>
<td align="right">32</td>
<td align="right" class="xl24">£4,544,368</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Newspaper & Publishing</td>
<td align="right">8</td>
<td align="right" class="xl24">£4,302,618</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Research and Consultancy</td>
<td align="right">8</td>
<td align="right" class="xl24">£2,871,121</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Education, Employment and Training</td>
<td align="right">40</td>
<td align="right" class="xl24">£2,435,466</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Business Services</td>
<td align="right">30</td>
<td align="right" class="xl24">£2,416,334</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Business Consultancy</td>
<td align="right">19</td>
<td align="right" class="xl24">£1,494,555</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Environmental Services<br />
IT Services</td>
<td align="right">21<br />
14 </td>
<td align="right" class="xl24">£1,336,807<br />
£1.186,368 </td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Health & Social Care</td>
<td align="right">25</td>
<td align="right" class="xl24">£1,103,153</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Creative Arts</td>
<td align="right">34</td>
<td align="right" class="xl24">£1,074,211</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Childcare</td>
<td align="right">30</td>
<td align="right" class="xl24">£961,133</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Manufacturing</td>
<td align="right">15</td>
<td align="right" class="xl24">£532,305</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Financial Services</td>
<td align="right">5</td>
<td align="right" class="xl24">£410,023</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Architects</td>
<td align="right">9</td>
<td align="right" class="xl24">£408,706</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"><br /></td>
<td align="right"><br /></td>
<td align="right" class="xl24"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Community</td>
<td align="right">12</td>
<td align="right" class="xl24">£295,697</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Energy</td>
<td align="right">8</td>
<td align="right" class="xl24">£165,624</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Leisure and Tourism</td>
<td align="right">11</td>
<td align="right" class="xl24">£122,332</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Café, Catering</td>
<td align="right">9</td>
<td align="right" class="xl24">£36,501</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Agricultural</td>
<td align="right">17</td>
<td align="right" class="xl24">£23,681</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">(blank)</td>
<td align="right">12</td>
<td class="xl24"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"><b>Grand Total</b></td>
<td align="right"><b>431</b></td>
<td align="right" class="xl24"><b>£181,314,665</b></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Unfortunately as there is no specific worker co-op legal form and therefore regsiter, we only know figures for the worker co-ops that tell us and usually only from our members. <br />
<br />
On the map below are all the worker co-ops we know about (and if their members). If you know about a worker co-op that isn't on this list, let me know (it may well be classed as another type of co-op or we just don't know it). A case in point is Northern Ireland and I don't believe there are only 2 in the whole of Northern Ireland.<br />
<br />
I've also llisted if their paid up member of Co-opertives UK. Membership is voluntary and the annual subscription may feel a lot for the smallest co-ops (£75), but the more members we have the stronger we all are.<br />
If you want to tell me about a worker co-op not listed below, or help me recruit a non member to <a href="http://www.uk.coop/">Co-operatives UK</a> <a href="mailto:john.atherton@uk.coop">get in touch</a>.<br />
<br />
Also health warning about locations, due to the way "geocoding" is done business probably is not exactly where it says it is on the map and there will undboutly be errors, (first time i did 2 were suposedly in the US..) <br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="550" src="http://batchgeo.com/map/ecfa8af9004428936c419ff00f483674" style="border-radius: 10px; border: 1px solid #aaa;" width="100%"></iframe><br />
<small>View <a href="http://batchgeo.com/map/ecfa8af9004428936c419ff00f483674">Worker Co-ops in the UK</a> in a full screen map</small>John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-46482120715689324482012-02-01T11:34:00.001+00:002012-02-01T13:56:32.344+00:00MyCSP style over substance?I have just read an article in the<a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/77decb3a-4b34-11e1-a325-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1l7bC8oJF"> Financial Times</a> about the new "employee owned" privatisation of the civil servants pension fund. As an exponent of worker co-ops and employee ownership should I be happy?<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">
I can't speak on behalf of the movement, but my own personal feeling is best described as 'uneasy'. I have no personal problem moving the means of production from the state direct to the workers (this may well get a lot of bad comments from trade unions, but so be it). I'm also in favour of experimenting with new models, innovation and the like.<br />
<br />
So I'm interested, but also uneasy; there are elements of employee ownership, enough so that if the experiment fails employee ownership will get stained with that failure, Like the Tony Benn's worker co-ops of the 70's, and privatisation of bus companies in the 80's.<br />
<br />
But are there enough elements of employee ownership or "John Lewis-style mutual" in place so that this new entity Ministers are poised to launch is a success? Will the employees get a real stake in ownership and control, driving up productivity and customer service? Will it create good jobs, motivated staff and probably most importantly for the Govt. Will it get public acceptance as a more palatable form privatisation, giving workers a more equitable share of the wealth? Lets have a read.<br />
<br />
500 staff in <a href="http://www.dwp.gov.uk/about-dwp/" title="Department for Work and Pensions">the Department for Work and Pensions</a>
will leave the public sector in March and become stakeholders in MyCSP, a
privately held company that will handle the retirement funds of 1.5m
civil servants, disbursing £4bn ($6.3bn) in pension payments each year.<br />
<br />
<b>Is it employee owned? </b><br />
The<a href="http://www.mycsp.co.uk/"> MyCSP</a> model, profits will be shared between a private sector
provider, which will hold a 42 per cent stake; the government, with 33
per cent; and employees, who will own 25 per cent of the shares. A shortlist of 16 private sector
providers has been narrowed to four – Xafinity, Capita, JLT and Wipro.<br />
<br />
With a 25% stake I would say no, also its not clear if employees get 25% of the profits (and how this is distributed between employees).<br />
<br />
<b>Is it employee controlled?</b><br />
<br />
Clive Bryant, PCS branch secretary in Worthing, said staff would have
no real say in the running of the company as they were represented on a
shareholder trust by a professional, experienced director, whose
position would be advertised, rather than a staff member. The director,
advised by employees, would influence decisions over bonuses and
charities but would have no control over company strategy. “In reality
staff will have an arms-length relationship,” he said. “It’s not as if
this is a workers co-op.” <br />
<br />
There is an employee partnership council, but information is sketchy, information from <a href="http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/department_for_work_and_pensions_group/dwp-news.cfm/id/9793E942-6B78-4716-A02C030CF44D751E">PCS the Trade Union </a>is of course bias. If anyone has details of governance and management information I'll be happy to post.<br />
<br />
On the face of it I'd say no again.<br />
<br />
<b>Will this motivate & empower staff driving up performance?</b><br />
The Government view taken from Francis Maudes response to a question about consultation with employees is below. Full details <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN03224.pdf">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Mr Maude:</b> MyCSP is keen to transform its business into an innovative mutual joint venture that offers extensive benefits to employees, customers and the Government.<br />
<br />
The Government support this endeavour. Extensive consultation with the employees of MyCSP has been carried out, led by the CEO, including face to face, written and telephone communications. Trade Unions have been consulted and I have met with them personally.<br />
<br />
Elections are already under way for employees to sit on the Employee Partnership Council. This body will strengthen the voice of employees and involve them directly in the running of the company. <br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>The view from the Trade Union: </b>"The
vast majority of MyCSP members are opposed to leaving the civil service
and becoming part of a ‘mutual joint venture’. Ian Pope, PCS DWP group
negotiator, told PCS Voice: “MyCSP management
has consistently refused to canvass staff views on the decision to move
them out of the civil service and into a mutual joint venture. PCS
balloted its members in MyCSP and received overwhelming support for
action.<br />
<br />
Added to that 94% of members in an independent survey conducted by
PCS – from a high 55% response rate – said they did not agree with
Francis Maude that turning MyCSP would ‘empower staff and drive up
performance’.” Full Details <a href="http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/department_for_work_and_pensions_group/reference_library/voice/voice-january-2012/mycsp-campaign-of-opposition.cfm">here</a>. Their specific response to Employee Partnership Council <a href="http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/department_for_work_and_pensions_group/dwp-news.cfm/id/9793E942-6B78-4716-A02C030CF44D751E">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Conclusion</b> <br />
I'm still interested, but still uneasy.<br />
What do you think?<br />
<br /></div>John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-38567817746362888282012-01-18T18:25:00.005+00:002012-01-18T18:29:39.663+00:00What we could learn from French co-opsShame to see <a href="http://www.english.rfi.fr/visiting-france/20120106-workers-cooperative-takeover-seafrance-channel-ferries-runs-aground">plans for SeaFrance to become a worker co-op have run aground</a>. This is despite having political, legislative and support structures that promote worker co-operative buy-outs.<br />
<br />
"The cooperative, was to be financed by workers' standard
lay-off payments as well as "exceptional" cash of 60,000 euros per
worker, paid by SeaFrance's parent company, state-owned rail form SNCF."<br />
<br />
Reportedly, not enough workers were committed to investing their lay-off cash in the co-op and the Trade Union was holding out for Government bail-out. Other trade unions representing SeaFrance personnel, and the national CFDT trade union, criticised the hard line stance of the local branch.<br />
<br />
<br />
So 880 people will lose their jobs and probably the same again indirectly. As well as the reduction in services and competition in the market. I had a good grumble in my head about trade union intransigence (coal mines all over again), unviable businesses being forced upon the workers due to management failures... grumble ...grumble....<br />
<br />
But what struck me was, it even got to this point, Nicolas Sarkozy was in favour of the idea! Would this ever happen in the UK?<br />
<br />
I know Nick Clegg and David Cameron talk about increasing employee ownership, but would this happen? and if it did how would the workers be supported to make a real go at success? Labour Governments have not had great success at top down saving of industries through worker co-ops. (<a href="http://www.labour-history.org.uk/support_files/Meriden1.PDF">Meridian Motorcycle Co-op</a>)<br />
<br />
Despite the situation with SeaFrance, France has a really good track record of worker co-op conversions and has a Government backed programme (both buying successful business from retiring owners and businesses rescues.)<br />
<br />
Given the very large number of SME business owners expected to retire in France of the next few years this area has been a particular focus for the co-operative movement. There have been 70 enterprises converted to worker co-ops each year over the last few years. There is also a specific support network called “APERE” (Association for the Promotion of Enterprise and Takeover of Enterprise) which partners with CG-SCOP the worker co-op federation.<br />
<br />
I've linked to <a href="http://www.canadianworker.coop/sites/canadianworker.coop/files/CWCF_Research_Paper_International_16-6-2010_fnl%5B1%5D.pdf">this report </a>before in relation to success factors in the Italian worker co-op sector, but there is also a section on France, well worth a read: <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qL9J6HIfdLA/TxcKX8ruhWI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/Zv65iD5tzBg/s1600/scop-logo1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qL9J6HIfdLA/TxcKX8ruhWI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/Zv65iD5tzBg/s320/scop-logo1.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>Bit of history:</b><br />
In France, a worker co-op is called a “SCOP”, an acronym for “Société
coopérative et participative;”.<br />
<br />
The French worker co-op movement dates back to early in the 19th century. A law passed in 1791, the “Chapelier law”, forbid workers’ associations, including worker co-operatives and trade unions. However during the revolutionary periods many worker co-operatives formed clandestinely. In 1878, the Administration repealed the Chapelier law, stopped the attacks and eventually became supportive.<br />
<br />
<b>Recent Growth</b><br />
At the end of 2008, there were 1,893 cooperatives belonging to national federation involving 39,929 employees. Between 1994 and 2009, there was a 40.1% increase in the number of SCOPs from 1392 to 1950 SCOPs, and a 41.8% increase in the number of SCOP jobs, from 28,691 to 40,685.<br />
<br />
Since 2007, approximately 200 new SCOPs have started each year through start up, recovery or business transfer and generated an average of 1,500 jobs per year since 2007. During the economic crisis although affected worker co-operatives have proved resilient as recent <a href="http://www.cicopa.coop/Resilience-of-cooperatives-to-the.html">CECOP reports</a> show. <br />
At the end of 2010, there were 1 959 co-operatives a growth of 3.5% per year over the last 15yrs with survival rates after 3 years of 74% (average in France: 66% - source INSEE)<br />
<br />
<b>Success factors</b><br />
<u>Indivisible reserves</u><br />
According to Patrick Lenancker, President of CG-SCOP (the national Federation), a significant reason that SCOPs have been so successful is they have substantial stable capital. A minimum of 15% of surpluses must be placed in reserves (in practice,it’s 40% to 45% on average) with the key advantage that the reserves are permanently owned by the co-operative, ensuring financial stability in the long term.<br />
<br />
Like Italy and Spain the principle of indivisible reserves in worker co-operatives is strong (a bit like the common ownership worker co-ops of the 70's like <a href="http://www.suma.coop/">Suma</a> or John Lewis being held in Trust on behalf of the workers).<br />
<br />
This large indivisible reserve prevents the SCOP from being taken over by external parties; ensures the independence and sustainability of the enterprise in the long-term.<br />
<br />
<u>Positive Government and legislative environment</u><br />
There is a recognised worker co-operative legal form with requirements: The re-investment of surpluses and indivisible reserves mentioned above. Also in a SCOP, the workers must have at least
51% of the capital, and 65% of the votes.<br />
<br />
But worker co-operatives receive tax benefits from the French government. SCOPs do not have to pay the professional tax, which is 1.5% to 2.5% of revenues and income on worker shares is exempt from income taxes. There are also financial mechanisms for workers to use redundancy payments as part of wider financing package to buy-out and provide cash-flow for the business once they take it over.<br />
<br />
<u>Principle 6 in action with strong Federations and support organisation</u><br />
One of the other requirements to gain SCOP status is to finance the worker co-operative movement. The membership fees are 0.42% of revenues. Interestingly that would be about £60,000 from current worker co-ops (Turnover around £150m) and £3.7m if you add employee trust owned co-ops like John Lewis. Imagine the support that could be offered to grow the economy if we had £3.7m! (anyway I digress).<br />
<br />
SOCODEN (Société coopérative de développement et d’entraide) is a financial institution managed by the SCOPs since 1965 and offers equity loans and financing for working capital requirements.<br />
<br />
Finally the sense of solidarity and mutual support between worker co-ops is high. CG-SCOP’s slogan is “A SCOP is never alone.” The “Confédération Générale des Scop” leads and coordinates the SCOPs network and represents SCOPs at the national level in France. There are thirteen regional unions providing day-to-day development, and representation at the regional and local levels. There are also three professional federations that represent the SCOPS in their sector and provide
economic, technical and legal advice.<br />
<br />
Here is a diagram taken from <a href="http://www.les-scop.coop/sites/en/index.html">www.les-scop.coop</a> (your French is probably better than mine. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l7PZ6kfLYHQ/TxcN_AHs2fI/AAAAAAAAAaI/vVVu8Yi5PPQ/s1600/Carte_des_Scop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l7PZ6kfLYHQ/TxcN_AHs2fI/AAAAAAAAAaI/vVVu8Yi5PPQ/s400/Carte_des_Scop.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
<b></b> </div>
<b>Further Reading</b> <br />
But don't read my blog go straight to the horses mouth:<br />
<a href="http://www.les-scop.coop/sites/en/index.html">http://www.les-scop.coop/sites/en/index.html</a><br />
<a href="http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.scop.coop/&ei=2AkXT5aGJ8mH8gP485TZAg&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDEQ7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3DLes%2BSCOP%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DJdv%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26prmd%3Dimvns">English translation of economic stats</a><br />
<br />John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-63871494772840105532012-01-16T12:42:00.001+00:002012-01-16T12:43:25.802+00:00Nick Clegg more employee ownership<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Nice to see Nick Clegg is interested increasing employee ownership. <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16570840">Here's an article on the BBC</a> if you haven't already heard.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.uk.coop/pressrelease/response-deputy-prime-minister-announcement">Co-operatives UK</a> welcomes the proposals by the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, to encourage business to reward workers through shares. Giving ownership to the people who work in a business is good for them but it is also good for the economy.<br /><br />Personally though when people start talking about 'responsible capitalism', I get a little worried, do they mean upgrading the way we organise and distribute our shared resources to increase the overall productivity; increase the number of people who benefit and in a more fairer way? If so great!<br /><br />Or are they talking about a more marketable capitalism, slightly reframing and changing the words we use so that people like the <a href="http://www.occupytogether.org/">Occupy Movement </a>and others who are questioning the fairness in our current economic system. - Increasing CEO and Bankers pay at a time that vast stretches of the public and private sector are facing multiple year pay freezes and redundancy.<br /><br />This is always the way with Govt announcements so lets see what happens and I look forward to future developments.<br /><br />Practical things that would really help increase worker co-operative and employee owned businesses:</span></div>
<ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Simplifying and consolidating co-operative legislation to reduce the cost/complexity giving co-ops a more equal playing field. This would also make the co-operative option clearer to professionals offering advice and guidance. This is in line with the Government’s “red tape challenge” to cut down the costs and burdens on business.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Around one-third of all EU firms were expected to change hands in the following decade, affecting around 610,000 SMEs and 2.4 million jobs. Just promoting and even better offering tax incentives or practical advice for worker </span><span style="font-size: small;">buy-outs would increase the number of worker co-operatives, but would also ensure more jobs are kept locally and businesses are more likely to survive. (Have you seen the welsh Baker Boys TV programme). Also Around 30% business closures might be regarded as ‘transfer failures’ – viable firms which close for lack of a suitable successor – rather than simple ‘business failures’.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Exploring how to
widen access to employee ownership to those on lower incomes, in order
to promote a more participatory economy. There is already a total of
around £1.2bn of annual tax incentives for employee share ownership but
this is largely to the benefit of people on higher incomes, forming part
of the rocketing pay packets of chief executives.</span><span style="font-size: small;">If these incentives are more available and understood by people on lower incomes there will naturally be an increase in interest in worker ownership of business.</span><span style="font-size: small;"></span></li>
</ul>John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-92175821577310471862011-12-13T10:35:00.001+00:002011-12-13T10:35:54.681+00:00The Baker Boys: A Welsh Drama with UK-wide implications<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif';">A guest blog by the <a href="http://www.walescooperative.org/">Wales Co-operative Centre</a>: As the second series of
Baker Boys draws to a close on BBC Wales it seems like a good time to reflect on
the need to consider employee ownership and worker co-operatives as tools to
help address some of the economic issues that so many of us are facing on a day
to day basis. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zOFfkzDk_h0/TucqSbj8YCI/AAAAAAAAAXI/-ifhFU8cbIo/s1600/url.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zOFfkzDk_h0/TucqSbj8YCI/AAAAAAAAAXI/-ifhFU8cbIo/s320/url.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif';">But, first a quick
recap. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif';">For those of you
unlucky enough to not live in Wales, Baker Boys is a fictionalised account of
the creation of a worker co-operative in a South Wales Valleys town.
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif';">The original series
followed the trials and tribulations of the bakery staff as they formed a
buy-out team and raised the finances to take over the company. The series
examined the issues a real buy out team would face – distrust, initial
reluctance, the fear of investing redundancy payments and the effects the
process can have on relationships with family and friends.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif';">This second series has
addressed issues that encompass not just the trials and tribulations of making a
worker co-operative work but the real effects that the economic downturn has on
businesses, communities and families. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The drama offers a warts ‘n’ all insight into the benefits and hardships
that a worker buy out or worker co-operative offers. All is not looking good for
the bakery. The business is struggling, their key investor has disappeared,
there is dissention in the ranks, cash flow issues and the ongoing search for
new business. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">But it was never going to be an easy ride.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 68.55pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">This is often the reality of a new business. Whether the business is
created by a single investor, a partnership or is owned by its employees there
will always be business challenges to live up to. The hard work, sweat and
sometimes, tears are the building blocks of future success and this is the
reason that both business owners and employee groups should consider employee
ownership options and opportunities for the future of their
companies.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif';">If you didn’t get a
chance to see Baker Boys, the good news is you can still <u><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b017j1pb/Baker_Boys_Series_2_Episode_1/" title="blocked::http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b017j1pb/Baker_Boys_Series_2_Episode_1/">catch
the second series on BBC iPlayer here</a></u>. The Wales Co-operative Centre has
been blogging about worker co-operatives throughout the series – <u><a href="http://walescooperative.wordpress.com/" title="blocked::http://walescooperative.wordpress.com/">read more
here</a></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif';">Wouldn’t it be great if
the BBC showed it across the UK at some point next year in support of the
International Year of the Co-operatives?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif';">Business Succession in
Wales</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif';">In Wales we are
dependent on our SME sector. The sector accounts for more than half of total
employment in the Welsh economy. However, in 2010 Wales lost over 11,000
businesses with only 8,000 new businesses being created– a net loss of 3000
businesses. In the UK overall there was a fall of 42,000 businesses between 2009
and 2010. For the second consecutive year business deaths have outnumbered
business births. (<a href="http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/bus-register/business-demography/2010/stb---business-demography-2010.html" title="blocked::http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/bus-register/business-demography/2010/stb---business-demography-2010.html"><span style="color: windowtext;" title="blocked::http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/bus-register/business-demography/2010/stb---business-demography-2010.html">Office
for National Statistics</span></a>).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Federation of Small Business research shows that the average business
owner in Wales stays with his or her business significantly longer than in the
UK as a whole. Over 1 in 5 business owners have been involved with their
businesses for 21 years or more. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">These figures have obvious implications for the future of the SME sector
in Wales and throughout the UK. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Business owners expecting a trade sale to materialise out of nowhere to
fulfil their retirement plans may be in for a nasty surprise in the current
climate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif';">How worker co-ops can
be part of the solution</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif';">Worker co-operatives
engender a sense of ownership and commitment that a normal enterprise can’t.
Workers who have a stake in their business want it to succeed and will endeavour
to make it do so. Worker co-operatives and employee owned enterprises have a
proven record of stability and growth in comparison to their privately owned
equivalents. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Think about it. If everyone had a share in the business, wouldn’t
everyone want it to achieve more? More turnover, more sales – more
profit?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The approach makes good business sense as well. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The decision to set up a worker co-operative is a big one which will
affect each employees work life, family life and potentially their financial
stability. However, if the business succeeds the benefits would include
long-term job security, financial security as well as ownership and control of
the future of the business. It is essential that every employee is aware of this
and is given the correct information to make their own
decision. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The potential benefits of forming a workers co-operative could be
enormous: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-top-alt: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ownership of the business and a share in future
profits</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-top-alt: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">A say in the future of the business</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-top-alt: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The chance of long term security</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-top-alt: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The chance of long term financial
benefit </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">When Budelpack International, a Dutch owned packaging company, closed
down their operation in the South Wales Valleys, 19 staff members decided to
invest their redundancy payment into setting up a new employee owned company.
With manufacturing jobs on the decline in Wales the staff were keen to preserve
their livelihoods and keep jobs in the local area. The Wales Co-operative Centre
provided legal and business planning advice and helped the company access
funding. The new company, <a href="http://www.walescooperative.org/primepac-solutions-ltd" target="_blank" title="blocked::http://www.walescooperative.org/primepac-solutions-ltd
Link to Wales Co-operative Centre Case Study for Primepac Solutions Limited"><span style="color: #0000cc;" title="blocked::http://www.walescooperative.org/primepac-solutions-ltd">PrimePac
Solutions Ltd</span></a>, makes bottles, sachets and tubes with clients
including leading brands in the health and personal care sector. The company’s
new production facilities in Ebbw Vale were opened at the end of
2005. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Establishing our business co-operatively means that all employees feel
that they can become masters of their own destiny and develop our company into a
real success story for South Wales”, says Steve Meredith, Managing Director of
PrimePac Solutions Ltd</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">As with any business communication and a widespread understanding of the
aims and objectives of the business are paramount. But, in an employee buyout
situation it is essential that everyone involved, including family members, are
aware of the level of risk involved. In the case of PrimePac solutions the risk
paid off and the company is now worth several times the investment paid into
setting it up. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We’ll have to wait until series 3 to find out how it turns out for the
Baker Boys. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif';">Some simple steps to
setting up a worker co-operative </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif';">1. Communicate.
Speak to your colleagues and consider forming a buy-out
team</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif';">2. Get help.
Coops UK, Wales Co-operative Centre, Co-operative Development Scotland are there
to help you. Use them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif';">3. Assess the
business’, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats before committing.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif';">4. Accept it
will be a long, and at times difficult, process but that the potential rewards
for you and your colleagues could be enormous. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The Wales Co-operative Centre has set up a project with Welsh Government
and European Union backing to support business owners and employee groups
develop employee ownership approaches. Our advisors work with both parties to
ensure that the process is fair for both the owner and the employees. We offer
support to employees on their journey from the initial formation of a buyer
group to management support throughout the first months of the new business.
<u><a href="http://www.walescooperative.org/employee_buy-outs" title="blocked::http://www.walescooperative.org/employee_buy-outs">Find out more at the
Wales Co-operative Centre website here</a>.</u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Similar opportunities exist in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">To give the story impact the scriptwriters pit the Valleys Bara
employees against some big business challenges. Fiction needs drama to make it
interesting. However, in real life, <a href="http://www.walescooperative.org/" target="_blank" title="blocked::http://www.walescooperative.org/
Linke to main Wales Co-operative Centre homepage"><span style="color: #0000cc;" title="blocked::http://www.walescooperative.org/">the Wales
Co-operative Centre </span></a>can be there to support employee buyout teams and
worker co-operatives to minimise the drama that they face on a day to day
basis.</span></div>John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-20663286124588224952011-12-06T16:53:00.001+00:002011-12-07T17:04:10.165+00:002011 Blog Round-upIt has been a while since I've had time to write a post, so here is a round up of my favourites over the last year or so. I will be in Africa for 3 weeks and will hopefully get the chance to meet some worker co-operatives.<br />
<br />
If you would like to write a guest blog for this blog please <a href="mailto:john.atherton@uk.coop">get in touch</a>.<br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://workerco-operatives.blogspot.com/2011/08/on-saturday-i-went-to-open-day-of.html">Youth is not wasted on the young</a> - My visit to the youth wing of the co-operative movement and our hope for the future. </span></h3>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-weight: normal;">
</h3>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://workerco-operatives.blogspot.com/2011/07/governance-and-management-structures-in.html">Governance and Management structures in worker co-operatives</a> - A basic run through of the different governance and management structures found in worker co-operatives.</span></h3>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://workerco-operatives.blogspot.com/2011/02/future-co-ops-feedback-and-does.html">Future Co-ops feedback and does the movement need</a> - My feedback from Future Co-operatives 2011 co-operative development event. </span> </h3>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://workerco-operatives.blogspot.com/2010/12/will-public-sector-workers-fit-in-co.html">Will public sector workers fit in the co-operative</a> Guest blog, by <a href="http://www.changeagents.uk.com/">ChangeAGEnts</a>
discussing the different cultures
within worker co-operatives and public services, as ex-public sector
workers, here are their views.</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://workerco-operatives.blogspot.com/2010/12/from-conflict-to-co-operation.html">From conflict to co-operation</a></span><span style="font-size: small;"> - Dealing with conflict within a worker co-operative.</span><br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://workerco-operatives.blogspot.com/2010/11/can-we-really-create-co-operative.html">Can we really create a co-operative economy?</a> - How can the co-operative model be used for driving up performance,
lowering costs, but at the same time keeping these new businesses
accountable and lets be honest ethical.</span></h3>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://workerco-operatives.blogspot.com/2010/11/what-is-employee-owned-co-operative.html">What is an employee owned co-operative?</a> - Splitting hairs or valid question?</span></h3>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://workerco-operatives.blogspot.com/2010/09/whats-social-co-operative-can-it-help.html">What's a social co-operative, can it help create a</a> - Look at co-operative delivering public services in Italy and is this a model for the UK.</span></h3>
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</h3>John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-52706002275256592892011-08-08T17:53:00.002+01:002011-08-22T17:37:19.210+01:00Youth is not wasted on the young<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OltWDKTBqGk/TkAByDj_RLI/AAAAAAAAAQY/WfJyt-Q5TT4/s1600/250px-Woodcraft_newlogo_large.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OltWDKTBqGk/TkAByDj_RLI/AAAAAAAAAQY/WfJyt-Q5TT4/s200/250px-Woodcraft_newlogo_large.jpg" width="118" /></a>On Saturday I went to the open day of <a _mce_href="http://twitter.com/#!/search/%23cocamp" href="http://twitter.com/#%21/search/%23cocamp">#cocamp</a> the 3 yearly international camp for the <a _mce_href="http://www.woodcraftfolk.org.uk" href="http://www.woodcraftfolk.org.uk/">Woodcraft Folk</a> and their associated international movements. So who are they and why as a member of a co-operative should you be interested?<img _mce_src="/sites/all/modules/contrib/wysiwyg/plugins/break/images/spacer.gif" alt="<--break->" class="wysiwyg-break drupal-content mceItem" src="http://www.uk.coop/sites/all/modules/contrib/wysiwyg/plugins/break/images/spacer.gif" title="<--break-->" /><br />
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<b>Who are they?</b><br />
The <a href="http://www.woodcraft.org.uk/">Woodcraft Folk</a>, although a fully autonomous and independent organisation, is closely aligned with (and gets funding from) the co-operative movement basically the youth wing. I think they merged with the official youth wing back in the 40's. For those interested there is a whole raft of heritage and historical documents <a href="http://heritage.woodcraft.org.uk/">here</a>.<br />
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So they are a youth organisation like Scouts but without the woggles and all that stuff about God and the Queen. They are democratically run by their members (anyone involved over 16), where children and young adults are taught about values such as self-help, co-operation and all those other words we love.<br />
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<b>Why should you be interested?</b><br />
This is the place we will get the next generation of co-operators from, they will want to work in worker co-ops, start-up the next Suma's, phone co-op's or (by the looks of the adverts/films on <a href="http://www.spanthatworld.com/resources/videos/">this site</a>.) media co-ops. They will think of ways of democratically organising, using social networks and other technology we can't even imagine. The kids and young adults I spoke to were articulate, confident and instinctively co-operated with each other.<br />
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The best example I saw was five bicycles pulling and another group pushing a "mobile DF's centre" up a hill. (If you imagine a 3x3m wooden construction on wheels, with walls, a roof and a 3 piece suite inside you won't be far off.)<br />
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If we can get these people to move into the wider co-operative movement, help them grow and develop, the movement won't just be in safe hands they will far surpass what's been achieved in the last generation.<br />
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<b>The actual visit</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.cocamp.coop/">Cocamp</a> has been running from Saturday 30th July to Tuesday 9th August 2011. In their own words from the website: <br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"</span>The camp will be an opportunity for young people from across the world to learn about, and put into practice, co-operative values, with these values also embedded in the planning, organisation, and programme of the event<span style="font-size: large;">"</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Here are some photos from my visit to their open day:</span><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E1rWUBEub2s/TkABjT_wxII/AAAAAAAAAQI/GzUDzEl2_UA/s1600/IMG_0400.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E1rWUBEub2s/TkABjT_wxII/AAAAAAAAAQI/GzUDzEl2_UA/s320/IMG_0400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This is a picture of the map, the camp is split into Villages, which are a circle of tents where people camp, cook and organise together.<br />
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Villages are grouped into Towns for larger activities, each Town had a: Town Hall, Library and Cafe. There were four towns in all and roughly 2500 people on site from places as diverse as: Austria, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Bradford (the village I ate with). <br />
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I should mention <a href="http://twitter.com/bobcannell">Bob Cannell</a> of <a href="http://www.suma.coop/">Suma</a> looked after me for the day, for which I was very grateful.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CTw1d-J4me0/TkABkDaGZ5I/AAAAAAAAAQM/h-WpA12vdwE/s1600/IMG_0401.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CTw1d-J4me0/TkABkDaGZ5I/AAAAAAAAAQM/h-WpA12vdwE/s320/IMG_0401.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Here is a picture of a solar and wind power station in the Scottish Woodcraft town, there town was entirely powered by renewable energy. Although I didn't spot them I noticed a <a href="http://www.dulas.org.uk/">Dulas</a> (Welsh worker co-op) van in the car park, so there must have been a Welsh contingent some where as well.I saw groups from Bradford, Manchester (Chortlton), Hebdon Bridge, and loads from London.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ndEejINKjhA/TkABxv0yUaI/AAAAAAAAAQU/wH-mg7d15-E/s1600/IMG_0407.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ndEejINKjhA/TkABxv0yUaI/AAAAAAAAAQU/wH-mg7d15-E/s320/IMG_0407.jpg" width="240" /></a>I also bumped into the <a href="http://www.co-op.ac.uk/">Co-operative College </a>who ran a workshop on co-operative trading. Children learnt about co-operatives, fair trade and globalisation through running a trading game involving: a bank, diary farm, wholesaler, retailer, cafe etc. See the picture.<br />
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Another Co-operative College activity was called "Co-op in a box", where kids explored the co-operative values and principles and each box held items needed to produce things; from hair platting, friendship band, smoothly making and cake decorating.<br />
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The groups then decided what to do; how much to charge and then went about setting up their co-op (One kid I heard made £30). Interestingly there was some debate between the parents/leaders about what to do with the "profits" as some presumed the money should go to charity (so even the parents learnt something about true co-ops). Thankfully the kids did choose what to do with the money (it was their co-op after all).<br />
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It wasn't all co-op stuff; here are some pictures of posters put around the camp for other sessions. All the session were voluntary and the kids could decide what to go to (and quite a lot were their idea too).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ENjacFbXHR4/TkABh8_Lp7I/AAAAAAAAAQA/8jn6Exc3qZU/s1600/IMG_0397.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ENjacFbXHR4/TkABh8_Lp7I/AAAAAAAAAQA/8jn6Exc3qZU/s200/IMG_0397.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-puwOgUcHofE/TkABiUQhh3I/AAAAAAAAAQE/mxxnstOIS40/s1600/IMG_0399.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-puwOgUcHofE/TkABiUQhh3I/AAAAAAAAAQE/mxxnstOIS40/s200/IMG_0399.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-97UPtGN1kTc/TkABzCT_2SI/AAAAAAAAAQc/2BIULuRs7qw/s1600/IMG_0404.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-97UPtGN1kTc/TkABzCT_2SI/AAAAAAAAAQc/2BIULuRs7qw/s320/IMG_0404.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--FySD3A4K30/TkABfuFqgSI/AAAAAAAAAP0/LwqBSfmRRUw/s1600/IMG_0411.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--FySD3A4K30/TkABfuFqgSI/AAAAAAAAAP0/LwqBSfmRRUw/s320/IMG_0411.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>This last picture shows copies of the daily newspaper which was written and edited by the younger kids and members of the DF's who are the 16 -21 yrs group. Each evening the paper was sent to a local newspaper printers to be printed. First edition is <a href="http://www.woodcraft.org.uk/news/first-edition-courier-hot-cocamp">here</a>.<br />
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So if you have kids and you want them to grow up confident and able to co-operate why not look into sending them to the Woodcraft Folk.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="281" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/22754768?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="500"></iframe><br />
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<b>Further Reading</b><br />
<a _mce_href="http://www.woodcraftfolk.org.uk" href="http://www.woodcraft.org.uk/">Woodcraft Folk</a><br />
<a _mce_href="http://heritage.woodcraftfolk.org.uk" href="http://heritage.woodcraft.org.uk/">Woodcraft Heritage site</a><br />
<a href="http://www.spanthatworld.com/">DF's Website (16 - 21's)</a> <br />
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John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-70006156717136523562011-07-26T13:13:00.001+01:002011-07-26T13:17:35.140+01:00Governance and Management structures in worker co-operativesThe other day a consumer co-operative Board member asked if I could send them some info on what worker co-operative governance and management structures look like. I always jump at the chance to inform fellow co-operators. The only problem was I couldn't find what I was looking for. So below is my attempt to set-out some very generalised 'types' of structure. <br />
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Most worker co-operatives evolve their own structure and practices as they grow and mature. Also theory and what I've observed won't always reflect the situation in your particular co-op. So please please set me straight and provide examples of how you structure your worker co-op. Also if you know of good web links please share.<br />
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<a href="http://www.cultivate.coop/">www.cultivate.coop</a> does have some interesting articles and I might replicate this blog there, if people think its good enough. <br />
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<b>First a quick look at terms:</b><br />
<b>Governance:</b> Is about how the views/will of the members (who own the co-op) are represented. How they set their: vision, goals and strategic direction of the co-op.<br />
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<b>Management:</b> On the other hand is about the achieving these goals, the detail and managing resources on a day-to-day basis.<br />
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<i>"Governance pertains to the vision of an organization, and translation of the vision into policy, management is all about making decisions for implementing the policies."<a href="http://www.differencebetween.net/business/difference-between-management-and-governance/">.</a></i><br />
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<b>Governing Body: </b>Is the group of people who govern the organisation on behalf of the members. In a Company this is the "Board of Directors".<br />
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For a lot lot more info on Legal Structures and Governance have a look at our <a href="http://www.uk.coop/simplyseries">www.uk.coop/simplyseries </a><br />
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Below are the types of structure I have seen in worker co-ops in order of scale. I give a brief description followed by a diagram. In the diagrams I attempt to illustrate Governance and Management relationships.<br />
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<b>Key</b><br />
<img src="https://docs.google.com/drawings/pub?id=1GFY9OK3FKa7L3pUVwD7AYKXNF_s6td14hppvUzax3As&w=419&h=258" /><br />
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<b>The Collective</b><br />
When people first come together informally or create a small worker co-operative. They often start as collectives; Governance and Management can be very difficult to separate, usually all members are at the same level in terms of Governance, formally as Directors (or act as if directors) and operate using a flat management structure (everyone gets an equal say on issues).<br />
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Some people may take the 'lead' in a certain areas or activities but this may swap and change depending on the circumstance. I've tended to see this structure from 2-10 people.<br />
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<img src="https://docs.google.com/drawings/pub?id=1tgMV-2GUH-9EK2XCb8Va43CDCyM_JX2bcblREdiqy08&w=420&h=260" /><br />
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<b>Growth</b><br />
As a worker co-operative grows or becomes more complex/specialised (around 8-15 people, some last even longer) it becomes more and more difficult to keep everyone informed and the level of interaction needed for decision making becomes too high (there is also the issue of newer members not being 'experianced' enough). At this point two things happen:<br />
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<b>Firstly; </b>Governance moves to a system of representation where some members are elected by the membership to represent their views and these representatives are delegated to make certain decisions on their behalf. Some co-operatives choose Directors on a completely open annual elections basis (at AGM), others staggered elections 3 one year 4 the next etc. Others have certain designated places for certain roles within the organisation (for example the Finance role).<br />
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Issues with this approach like any form of representations, can break down if: members don't feel their views are represented or there is a lack of clarity on level/type of decision that has been delegated. Co-operatives UK is currently writing a guide called "Simply Governance" so watch this space for more information.<br />
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<b>Secondly; </b>Management changes and this can change in variety of ways: <br />
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<b>Self-managing work teams</b><br />
Usually this means, as co-operatives grows they split into teams; based on areas of the business: Cafe/Shop, Sales/Designers/Printers, Warehouse/Drivers/Buyers etc.<br />
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These become self-managing collectives, who then nominate representatives from their own team to the Governing Body<br />
<img src="https://docs.google.com/drawings/pub?id=12S2tLhBDN7Cb2SzDL5feglMQi5DO44l9V1FooY7-ObM&w=419&h=258" /><br />
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<b>Hierarchy system </b><br />
Usually this means a general manager is chosen; sometimes elected or specifically recruited/selected by the governing body. They are accountable to the governing body, and have been given authority to manage the organisation. In larger co-ops there may be multiple levels of management. A term used for this relationship is; "Management is not a status but a function"<br />
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<img src="https://docs.google.com/drawings/pub?id=1X90oKLeidBdvMxjcYt4M4TqGDdywyOV94f4b0_N6ho0&w=420&h=360" /><br />
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<b>Even larger structures</b><br />
<a href="http://www.uk.coop/">Suma</a> is the largest worker co-operative in the UK with around 130 employees. They operate on an equal pay basis and don't have a CEO or executive managers in the normal sense of the term. They also multi-role; which means members work in a least two different "Function Areas" of the Business.<br />
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Suma is governed by periodic General Meetings for all the membership, and an elected Board of Directors. On the Management side; the business is divided into "Function Area" Such as: Buyers, Warehouse, Drivers etc. <br />
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These like the above operate relatively autonomously with each area having a "Functional Area Co-ordinator" who are elected to co-ordinate an area and come together with other "FACs" to co-ordinate operations as a whole.<br />
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<img src="https://docs.google.com/drawings/pub?id=1rXQJhQueEALqK5pt9YH-Dct7wUy3m-8av95nrM3p35Q&w=419&h=258" /><br />
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Suma is the largest using this structure, and there are a lot of interesting theories about democratic management and social relationships (how far can you go). One theory is <b>Dunbar's number:</b> <br />
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"A theoretical cognitive limit to the number of people with whom one can maintain stable <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interpersonal_relationship" title="Interpersonal relationship">social relationships</a>...<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar%27s_number#cite_note-0">[1]</a></sup> This says that numbers larger than the Dunbar number generally require more restrictive rules, laws, and enforced norms to maintain a stable, cohesive <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_group" title="Social group">group</a>. No precise value has been proposed for Dunbar's number. It has been suggested it lies between 100 and 230, with a commonly used value of 150.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar%27s_number#cite_note-1">[2</a> "<br />
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It might be no co-incidence that Suma has reached this size. Is there a natural size for a worker co-operative? What should a worker co-operative do it if wishes to retain a democratic management structure but grow beyond 150? One suggestion is for the co-op to divide or create off-shoots, forming "Consortia" Corporate Group Structures of smaller co-operatives that share common approaches, branding and inter-trade with each other. <br />
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<b>Mondragon</b><br />
Some might say the Pinnacle of worker co-operative achievement is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondragon_Corporation">Mondragon</a> in Spain. Governance and Management in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondragon_Corporation">Mondragon</a> is very different to UK worker co-operatives; for a start it employs 85,066 people! It also has a very standard management hierarchy (although there are maximum pay ratio's and most managers are trained from within).<br />
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Mondragon is not like a traditional PLC either and operates more like an Economy in itself. Mondragon is a type of Consortia mentioned above, where its member co-ops have their own bank, social security, education, research and development services. All the 250+ businesses are split into Group; Divisions; Units. Each individual company is semi-autonomous and may leave the Mondragon Group (and some have).<br />
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Modragon's Governance is also on a representative system with workers voting for Board Members of their individual company, who in turn vote for the next level up<br />
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This below diagram illustrates one companies relationship to the overall structure.<br />
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<b>Further Reading</b><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar%27s_number">Durbar's Number</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.differencebetween.net/business/difference-between-management-and-governance/">Difference between Management and Governance</a><br />
http://www.uk.coop/simplyseries John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-43331009076492652042011-06-16T13:34:00.000+01:002011-06-16T13:34:24.990+01:00Worker co-operative election results 2011Thank you for all those members voting, we can now publish the results of the worker co-operative council elections 2011. The results are:<br />
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</div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: 4.8pt; width: 507px;"><tbody>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"> <td height="17" style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; width: 137pt;" valign="top" width="183"> <div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;">Candidate</span></span></b></div></td> <td height="17" style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; width: 185pt;" valign="top" width="247"> <div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;">Organisation</span></span></b></div></td> <td height="17" style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; width: 58pt;" valign="top" width="77"> <div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;">No of votes</span></span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;"> <td height="20" style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; width: 137pt;" valign="top" width="183"> <div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Britta Werner </span></span></b></div></td> <td height="20" style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; width: 185pt;" valign="top" width="247"> <div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Unicorn Grocery</span></span></b></div></td> <td height="20" style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; width: 58pt;" valign="top" width="77"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">237</span></span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; mso-height-source: userset; mso-yfti-irow: 2;"> <td height="17" style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; width: 137pt;" valign="top" width="183"> <div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Richard Crook </span></span></b></div></td> <td height="17" style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; width: 185pt;" valign="top" width="247"> <div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Essential Trading Co-operative</span></span></b></div></td> <td height="17" style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; width: 58pt;" valign="top" width="77"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">203</span></span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;"> <td height="20" style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; width: 137pt;" valign="top" width="183"> <div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Edward Russell </span></span></b></div></td> <td height="20" style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; width: 185pt;" valign="top" width="247"> <div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Co-operative Web</span></span></b></div></td> <td height="20" style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; width: 58pt;" valign="top" width="77"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">175</span></span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; mso-height-source: userset; mso-yfti-irow: 4;"> <td height="17" style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; width: 137pt;" valign="top" width="183"> <div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Athene Ellana Richford </span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;"></span></span></b></div></td> <td height="17" style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; width: 185pt;" valign="top" width="247"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">GreenCity Wholefoods</span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;"></span></span></b></div></td> <td height="17" style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; width: 58pt;" valign="top" width="77"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">121</span></span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;"> <td height="20" style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; width: 137pt;" valign="top" width="183"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Steven Glynn </span></span></div></td> <td height="20" style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; width: 185pt;" valign="top" width="247"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Sustainable Change Cooperative</span></span></div></td> <td height="20" style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; width: 58pt;" valign="top" width="77"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">114</span></span></div></td></tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; mso-height-source: userset; mso-yfti-irow: 6; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td height="17" style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; width: 137pt;" valign="top" width="183"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">M J Ray </span></span></div></td> <td height="17" style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; width: 185pt;" valign="top" width="247"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Turo Technology LLP</span></span></div></td> <td height="17" style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0cm; width: 58pt;" valign="top" width="77"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">64</span></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Voter turn-out was 21% and I would like to congratulate Britta and Ed for being re-elected and Richard and Athene who will be new members of the Council. They will join members not up for election this year:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Alison Banton, Dulas</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Bob Cannell, Suma Wholefoods</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Sion Whellens, Calverts</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The next council meeting will take place on Friday 25th June at <a href="http://www.uk.coop/">Congress</a> in Birmingham. So if you would like to talk to your new and existing representatives please come along to <a href="http://www.uk.coop/">Congress </a>and Co-operatives UK's AGM.</span></span></div>John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-22236480106382260142011-05-04T12:18:00.000+01:002011-05-04T12:18:34.185+01:00Where do you get your finance from?<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
You may not know, but there is a specialist loan provider for worker co-operatives! This short post takes a look at <a href="http://www.co-opandcommunityfinance.coop/">Co-operative and Community Finance</a>, and ends with a request from them to find out more about worker co-operative financial needs.<br />
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Co-operative & Community Finance has been operating for almost 40 years, and today is one of the most successful - and sustainable - CDFIs in the UK. Formally known as ICOF (Industrial Common Ownership Finance) was born out of a series of informal meetings in Northampton inspired by the principles and practice of one of the largest common ownership co-operatives in the UK - <a href="http://www.scottbader.com/">Scott Bader</a>.<br />
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The idea was to encourage successful common ownerships to lend money to ICOF which would then be lent on to new co-operative ventures - a revolving loan fund, to which money is repaid and lent again.<br />
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Donations, deposits and loans were ICOF's source of capital as the banks would not take the risk of lending to employee owners.By the end of 1976 £60,000 had been lent to a total of 14 co-ops. It became clear in the early 1980s that there was a growing need for a new national loan fund alongside the developing local authority funds. <br />
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ICOF plc was formed in 1987 as a subsidiary of ICOF Ltd with the specific purpose of raising capital by public share issue to lend to worker co-operatives and employee buyouts. Preference shares were offered, redeemable after 10 years, and £550,000 were purchased. This was both a successful and a pioneering approach to ethical investment. It was also innovative in that it spread shareholders' money across a wide portfolio of loans to reduce risk to the investor.<br />
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In 1997 the investors had the opportunity to redeem their 10 year preference shares but most opted to transfer to the new issue launched in June. The second plc issue boosted the funds to over £1 million with many new investors attracted to ICOF.<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div><div class="MsoNormal">By 2007, from the £1million raised by previous share issues, Co-operative & Community Finance had lent around £3.3 million to over 150 worker co-operatives - tripling its positive impact for enterprises and their communities. 1,500 jobs were created, sustained and supported within the co-operative sector by the Fund. A further share issue was launched in October 2007 with over £1m being raised</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In 2010, Co-operative & Community Finance lent over £800,000 to co-ops from the various funds that they manage. There is a longer history <a href="http://www.co-opandcommunityfinance.coop/index.php?content=story">here</a>, and if you are a worker co-operative and looking for loan finance get in touch with <a href="http://www.co-opandcommunityfinance.coop/">them</a>.</div><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="2000" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://spreadsheets.google.com/embeddedform?formkey=dEZiVEVOcHpwMndBRGhrcGE4V0x4RlE6MQ" width="560">&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;</iframe>John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-2608806615723250172011-04-21T11:06:00.003+01:002011-04-21T14:41:57.026+01:00Worker Co-operative Council Elections 2011Voting is now open for the Worker Co-operative Council Elections! All worker co-operative members of <a href="http://www.uk.coop/">Co-operatives UK</a> were sent Ballot Papers on the 20 April 2011 and should receive this in the next week. This should include a list of nominees, biographical details and a Ballot paper. These people will represent your views and help guide <a href="http://www.uk.coop/">Co-operatives UK</a>'s strategy from the point of view of worker co-operatives.<br />
<br />
The closing date for receipt of ballot papers is 27th May 2011 and the Elections result declared 3rd June 2011. The four successfull candidates will be invited to the next Worker Co-operative Council meeting taking place at <a href="http://www.uk.coop/congress">Congress 2011</a> why not come and join them.<br />
<br />
The nominees are:<br />
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<b>Britta Werner - <a href="http://www.unicorn-grocery.co.uk/">Unicorn Grocery</a></b>I have been working at Unicorn Grocery, a retail workers co-operative in Manchester, for over 6 years. I am the company’s secretary and also part of the Personnel Team and currently studying for an MSc in Human Resource Management.<br />
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I became involved in the Worker Co-op Council 4 years ago and through this I am on the board of Co-operative and Community Finance. <br />
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I feel that my knowledge of HR can be helpful to the council as well as my enthusiasm for co-operatives. Unicorn Grocery is a successful co-operative and because of this, I have constant contact with different co-operatives who are getting in touch with us. Therefore I feel I have got good skills and abilities to contribute to the council. Having served on the council for the last four years has given me a good insight into the co-operative movement from many different aspects. <br />
<br />
<b>Edward Russell – <a href="http://www.web.coop/">Co-operative Web</a></b><br />
Hi, I'm Ed and am a geek who is part of the technology focused worker co-op "Co-operative Web" based in Birmingham. I've been a member of the council for the past two years over which time we've grown Co-op Web quite substantially to now be 21 workers and have experienced a lot of the trials and tests that brings! I'm also a director of Co-operative Futures and a member of Co-operatives WM. <br />
<br />
I've worked hard to try and bring the message of co-operation to more people through many talks and seminars including the recent series of Co-ops UK events for creative co-operatives. I'm very passionate about spreading the message and how technology can play a part in this.<br />
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I would like to have another term on the council as I feel that I've only just started to understand how to make a difference and feel that I've a lot to contribute about small and growing worker co-ops.<br />
<b><br />
Richard Crook – <a href="http://www.essential-trading.co.uk/">Essential Trading Co-operative</a></b><br />
I have been a member of Essential Trading Co-operative for 10 years, covering a range of responsibilities on my way to my current role in our accounts team and as co-operative treasurer. My experience of being a member of a worker co-op has convinced me that this is a truly alternative and democratic way to organise a business away from conventional hierarchical structures. I feel that it is important for worker cooperatives to have representation within Co-operatives UK, to continue to promote the positive aspects they bring to the co-operative movement.<br />
<br />
Essential Trading Co-operative is a Natural and Organic Food Wholesaler and Retailer - one of the largest worker co-operatives in the UK with over 80 members. It was formed through the merger of two co-operatives; Harvest and Nova in 1991. The origins of those co-operatives can be traced back to 1971.<br />
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<b>Steven Glynn – <a href="http://www.sustainable-change.co.uk/">Sustainable Change Cooperative</a></b>I am a partner at Sustainable Change Cooperative which works with organisations to develop a clearer understanding of what sustainability means for them, and take practical action based on this understanding. See our website, <a href="http://www.sustainable-change.co.uk/">www.sustainable-change.co.uk</a>, for more details on what we do. As a newcomer to the cooperative movement – we have been a cooperative for a year – I have a lot to learn, but also believe I have a lot to offer. I see developing the cooperative movement as critical part of moving towards an economy and society that allows people and the environment to flourish. At the same time it is essential that cooperatives themselves embrace the sustainability agenda and exploring cooperatively how best to do this would be a central aim of mine if elected to the Council. <br />
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<b>M J Ray – <a href="http://www.software.coop/">Turo Technology LLP</a></b><br />
MJ is both passionate about and experienced in co-operation. 2012, the UN's year of co-ops, is a great opportunity to spread the co-operative message wider and to build support both between co-ops and with their national body. MJ is working to equip members with the resources they want, under permissive terms of use, to facilitate their business, campaigning and outreach. <a href="http://www.uk.coop/resources/speech/2009-11/dog-helps-dog-world">'Dog helps Dog' </a>and <a href="http://www.uk.coop/ageofgoogle">'Co-operation in the Age of Google'</a> are helpful starting points to build upon.<br />
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MJ has worked for <a href="http://www.software.coop/">software.coop</a> since it was formed 9 years ago and served on the Co-operatives SW steering group 2006-2010. Having also experienced work in public and private sectors, MJ fully appreciates the social, democratic and ethical co-operative difference. Your support will help MJ achieve his aims of bringing UK members together and taking the worker cooperative message to a wider audience. Thank you.<br />
<br />
<b>Athene Ellana Richford – <a href="http://www.greencity.co.uk/">GreenCity Wholefoods</a></b><br />
I came to GreenCity as a recent graduate having always admired and been cognisant of the co-operative movement. I am passionate about the role that cooperatives, and especially worker coops, can play in demonstrating to our wider societies that it is possible to have truly accountable businesses which, whilst profitable do not compromise their ethics regarding workers and customers. I strongly believe that cooperatives are representative of humanity at its best; giving workers autonomy over their means of production; providing community and a responsible way of working. In short, I regard cooperatives as the humanisation of capitalism. I would relish the opportunity to work with other worker coop members and broaden my knowledge of worker cooperatives and the wider movement. I hope that such an engagement from me would foster my growth as a worker, an individual and also that of GreenCity.John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-49768024648361069892011-03-28T10:09:00.001+01:002011-03-28T10:11:14.751+01:00Co-ops involvement in the Census<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">I filled in our household census on Sunday; despite Lockheed Martin (a US defence company) involvement. I nearly put co-operative as my religion, but thought that might be taking things a bit too far...</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Why do I mention this? because it's a great example of how you can find co-operatives business involvement in everyday life (most of the time you don't know it).</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div>One of <a href="http://www.uk.coop/">Co-operatives UK's</a> members; recycled paper suppliers <a href="http://www.paperback.coop/">PaperBack </a>had secured their largest order in their twenty eight year history. The workers co-op based in East London won a 700 tonne contract to supply paper for the National Census leaflet which went to every UK household this month. <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">For those interested in such things, the paper, Maple Gloss, is made entirely from post consumer waste, primarily recycled office paper, and took more than six weeks to deliver! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">I've failed to visit <a href="http://www.paperback.coop/">PaperBack </a>on any of my visits to London as they are always so busy (business comes first). They are a pioneering coop set up in 1983 to help the recycling ‘loop’ by promoting greater use of recycled paper. They remain the only UK paper merchant specialising exclusively in recycled papers.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">So well done Paperback and if there contiunes to be a census in 2021 lets hope you contiune to provide the recycled paper!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
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</div>John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-70084458030378660242011-02-01T17:03:00.000+00:002011-02-01T17:03:23.583+00:00Future Co-ops feedback and does the movement need a Pope?This week I attended one of my favourite Co-operative events of the year organised by <a href="http://www.futures.coop/">Co-operatives Futures</a>. This is an event predominately packed with co-operative activities who debate big issues of the time. This years debate was "Big Society: Are we in or are we out.." You can read their own summary of the event here (not ready yet).<br />
<br />
The event's main speakers were Russell Gill, Head of Membership at <a href="http://www.co-operative.coop/">the Co-operative Group</a> and Dave Boyle CEO of <a href="http://www.supporters-direct.org/">Supporters Direct</a>. Who both gave balanced reasoned arguments discussing the opportunities and threats to the co-operative movements involvement and association with the Big Society. With other delegates contributions here is a summary of main points:<br />
<br />
<b>Should be in:</b><br />
<ul><li>Every so-often co-operatives become part of the zeitgeist and we should take advantage to promote co-operatives in their current forms when this happens (every 10-20 yrs).</li>
<li>Be confident in our own language and clear about the aspects of Big Society we want to be involved in and those we should stay well clear of.</li>
<li>If we involve ourselves early and state our case confidently we can beat our competitors and the more unscrupulous private sectors businesses in the delivery of public sector contracts (that are going to happen whether we are in or out). </li>
<li>This might actually be a genuine attempt by the Conservatives to reach out to the co-operative movement and find better solutions for meeting peoples needs.</li>
<li>Co-operatives purpose is to bring people together to meet their needs and we especially thrive in recession or when people face real hardship. With the cuts taking place that is going to be quite likely. </li>
</ul><br />
<b>Should be out:</b><br />
<br />
<ul><li>The "Big Society" is just a clever rephrase of its opposite "Small State" and we should be wary of being a shield for ideologically driven cuts.</li>
<li>You can not "empower communities"; power is taken it can't be given to people. the Big Society is a top down approach and like earlier top down approach (Bennite Co-ops, Bus Privatisations) is more likely to fail.</li>
<li>Co-operatives could be left with the scraps while the more profitable and easier aspects of public services are sold of to investor owned businesses.</li>
<li>Are we ready, do we have the scale and ability to successfully deliver?</li>
</ul>I attended 2 workshops; one on the use/misuse of language, the most interesting comment was the "Big Society" is just a container word and is so tainted we should just not use it. We (and other communities organisations) have been doing this stuff for years and should be confident in our own language; why do we need to rebrand it ours is a superbrand anyway? <br />
<br />
I also attended a workshop on how to engage with new forms of co-operation and the more radical things going on. Are the student fee's protesters, #ukuncut and other responses to the Big Society "proto Co-operatives"? If so what can we learn from these new vibrant forms of collaboration and what can they learn from us (we have had years of learning by trial and error, must be something to show for it).<br />
<br />
Unfortunately I had to leave before the end so I wasn't about for the final debate. But something tells me there was no simple "in or out" resolution. <br />
<br />
Like a few other issues that raised their head throughout the weekend (are Community Benefit Societies or John Lewis Partnership co-operatives?). It would be great if the Co-operative Movement had a Pope who could decide on such matters. But we haven't "Co-operative" is a social construct and we re-create it with every discussion based on our underlying shared values.<br />
<br />
My view from was and remains that the "Big Society" will will come and got like many other phrases and top-down initiatives. Who says "The Third Way" anymore?<br />
<br />
Co-operation is an instinctive and natural behaviour for humans. Co-operatives have done their thing for 150 years and they will continue do their thing for the next. If other people want to join us on our journey for a bit that's great and we will enjoy the chit chat, but we won't be expecting them to stay on the same path forever.John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-14831467989454462772010-12-08T11:59:00.004+00:002010-12-08T14:12:18.369+00:00Will public sector workers fit in the co-operative movement?Another Guest blog, this time by <a href="http://www.changeagents.uk.com/">ChangeAGEnts</a> which exists to create a space for active citizenship and to be a platform for older people. Cheryl of ChangeAGEnts responded to a Linkedin discussion which got me thinking about the different cultures within worker co-operatives and public services, as ex-public sector workers, here are their views.<br />
<br />
<i>A worker co-operative is owned and democratically controlled by the people who work in it: Public Services are owned by The People.</i><br />
<br />
If the Coalition Government is successful in ʻnudgingʻ public sector workers into the co-operative movement, how will they relate to, and with, existing worker co-ops?<br />
<br />
Our guess is that the ex-public sector co-operators will create a space within the co-operative movement to deliberate: citizenship, democratic accountability, coproduction, available resources, commissioning and ownership. They will take some time to understand and re frame the co-operative business model, including and expanding upon current government thinking on 'wellbeing'.<br />
<br />
They will invite existing co-operators to facilitate their understanding of the values and principles of co-operation and to help them to form multi-stakeholder, partnership based, co-operatives, building on the established core values, policy, practice and legislation relevant to their service area.<br />
<br />
A defining principle for worker co-ops is ownership, the public sector ethos is one of service but are we really so different? The co-operative movement and the welfare state share radical roots, shouldn’t we also have a shared future, blending the best of ethical business with the best of citizen empowerment? Might we, redefine ʻownershipʼ together with the public and establish a new paradigm for Public Services<br />
<br />
A note of caution, we in Change AGEnts chose to become a co-operative, even so it was for us a challenging, though exhilarating journey, for others, who in reality will have very little choice or control as to if and how their service is transferred, there will be pain, loss, anger and disorientation.<br />
<br />
We’ve seen a lot written recently about the ʻspinning outʼ of Public Services, most of it focusing on reducing costs (terms and conditions of workers) or increasing profit. We have not yet heard the ʻvoiceʼ of the public or public sector workers, nor has it included the current discourse on public sector reform beyond the political ideology of the coalition government.<br />
<br />
If essential public services are mutualised but not made sustainable and they collapse, who will the public hold to account?<br />
<br />
A recent survey by Ipsos MORI (2010) indicates that the public want public services to be distributed fairly. Fairness in this instance being about equity and uniformity of access, the notion of a variation in quality of service’s across different localities was unpopular and considered unacceptable. 82% of respondents supported greater public involvement in public policy and service design, 53% supported individual budgets only 41% supported free schools. The Coalition Government’s agenda of shrinking the state seems at odds with the majority of the citizens of the UK, who define their ʻBritishnessʼ not by colour, class or ethnicity but by fairness, as exemplified by the welfare state.<br />
<br />
In relation to Public Services, people do not define themselves as service users, nor do they see themselves as retail customers. (Clarke et al 2007) ʻItʼs not like "shopping” was the response from focus groups, when asked for their views on health care, it is the quality of the relationships with health care workers that is valued, along with trusting workers to reach decisions based on need not profit.<br />
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The Co-operative movement is similarly <a href="http://www.uk.coop/resources/documents/good-business-new-market-research-co-operatives">trusted and valued by the public</a>, for example Older People that we work with, frequently recite their national insurance number, along with their co-operative membership number as proof of active citizenship. We are often given life course narratives, where good neighbours and the Co-op were essential to the survival of a family or a community. The notion that a barely elected government can transfer that sense of ʻownershipʼ or re-negotiate a cherished relationship without permission or participation, we believe is risible.<br />
<br />
So what might happen when worker co-ops and the public sector newbie’s get together?<br />
<br />
A radical and powerful paradigm shift that moves us out of our current silos, bringing us to a new and shared understanding of ownership, taking us beyond<br />
Thatcher and Blair’s consumer model for Public Services, applying instead the legacy of the Rochdale Pioneers, reflecting ʻbottom upʼ the aspirations and expectations of the wider public.<br />
<br />
Climate change, obesity, chronic disease management, inequality, the financial crisis, the ageing of society and social justice across and between generations are challenges which demand co-operative principles and shared ownership, not to come together now, may be considered by future generations as not just a missed opportunity but as a betrayal.<br />
<br />
Co-operative Public Services that re-create the Beveredge dream for and with the 21st Century Citizen, that’s the enterprise that we would want to own in common.<br />
<br />
Cheryl Barrott<br />
Mervyn Eastman<br />
<a href="http://www.changeagents.uk.com/">ChangeAGents</a>John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-30972308126752856072010-12-04T11:59:00.035+00:002010-12-04T11:59:00.528+00:00From conflict to co-operation<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Worker co-operative people are very aware that conflict can be an issue and over time can cause real problems. Conflict shouldn't be avoided, but equally you shouldn't revert to "because I told you to" (even if you can).</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I always like posting guest blogs; and here is one from <a href="http://twitter.com/katewhittle">Kate Whittle</a> a co-operative developer of more than 20 years, who has recently written a series of publications for <a href="http://www.uk.coop/">Co-operatives UK</a> called <a href="http://www.uk.coop/fromconflict2co-operation">From conflict to co-operation</a>. <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
I was on my way to a meeting I expected to be very challenging a few days ago, and as I got off the train and started walking I noticed my knees were feeling wobbly - and I understood - it was adrenaline - my body was getting ready for fight or flight ... (not really sure if wobbly knees are any use at all for either fighting or fleeing, but you get the picture ..)<br />
<br />
So I started thinking what can we do when our physical body is reacting to a real or perceived threat - by flooding our system with adrenaline? How can we find a way to acknowledge the signal that the body is sending us, but at the same time adopt a stance in the confrontation that is going to give us the strength to insist on a negotiated settlement, rather than run away or engage in physical or verbal fighting?<br />
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I believe that having a recipe - such as the one that the book <b>Getting to Yes</b> gives us - can help us find that strength, and help us behave in a way that is most likely to produce a satisfactory outcome. <br />
<br />
The recipe has 4 ingredients:<br />
</span><br />
<ol><li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">separate the people from the problem</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> - i.e. build trust, try to help them to see that you are not their enemy, but that you want to find a solution that will satisfy both of you </span></li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">focus on interests, not positions</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> - try to find out <i>why</i> they feel like they do, or want what they say they want. A great but simplistic example shows us what this can mean. A mother separates two little girls who are fighting over an orange. She cuts it in half and gives them half each. However one eats the fruit and throws away the peel, whilst the other throws away the fruit and makes marmalade with the peel. If the mother had asked them what they wanted to do with the orange, she could have given the peel to one child and the fruit to the other, a much more satisfactory outcome! </span></li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">invent options for mutual gain</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> - once you are working together on a solution, and you each understand where the other is coming from, it's much easier to brainstorm potential solutions that will satisfy both parties </span></li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">insist on using objective criteria</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> - it's important to use criteria that are independent of the will of either side, and find a solution based on principle, not pressure or power. </span></li>
</ol><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">That's why the approach is called Techniques of Principled Negotiation - and this handy little book should be on the shelf of every co-operative or community enterprise. The first third of the book explains these four steps in more detail, with examples. However the rest of the book concentrates on what happens when people won't play - when they are more powerful, or if they use dirty tricks, the techniques are still useful, and will help you get as much as you can out of a difficult situation. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">From Conflict to Co-operation is a series of five cartoon booklets from Co-operatives UK, the first book focuses on dealing with conflict and books 2-5 on preventing conflict. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x0HGlJ7Sfcc/TPdvLmiqPgI/AAAAAAAAANQ/e3GRslbThrc/s1600/conflict1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x0HGlJ7Sfcc/TPdvLmiqPgI/AAAAAAAAANQ/e3GRslbThrc/s1600/conflict1.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="tab" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"><br />
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<ul class="menu" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-color: rgb(231, 232, 233); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 1em; text-align: left;"><li class="leaf first" style="list-style-image: url(http://www.uk.coop/sites/all/themes/cukzen/images/triangle.gif); list-style-position: inherit; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.uk.coop/resources/documents/booklet-1-conflict-%E2%80%93-where-it-comes-and-how-deal-it" style="color: #f5001d; text-decoration: none;"><span class="tab">Booklet 1: Conflict – where it comes from and how to deal with it</span></a></span></li>
<li class="leaf" style="list-style-image: url(http://www.uk.coop/sites/all/themes/cukzen/images/triangle.gif); list-style-position: inherit; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.uk.coop/resources/documents/booklet-2-communication-skills" style="color: #f5001d; text-decoration: none;"><span class="tab">Booklet 2: Communication Skills</span></a></span></li>
<li class="leaf" style="list-style-image: url(http://www.uk.coop/sites/all/themes/cukzen/images/triangle.gif); list-style-position: inherit; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.uk.coop/resources/documents/booklet-3-meetings-and-decision-making" style="color: #f5001d; text-decoration: none;"><span class="tab">Booklet 3: Meetings and Decision Making</span></a></span></li>
<li class="leaf" style="list-style-image: url(http://www.uk.coop/sites/all/themes/cukzen/images/triangle.gif); list-style-position: inherit; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.uk.coop/resources/documents/booklet-4-organisational-growth-and-development" style="color: #f5001d; text-decoration: none;"><span class="tab">Booklet 4: Organisational Growth and Development</span></a></span></li>
<li class="leaf last" style="list-style-image: url(http://www.uk.coop/sites/all/themes/cukzen/images/triangle.gif); list-style-position: inherit; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="tab" style="color: #f5001d; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.uk.coop/resources/documents/booklet-5-role-and-responsibilities-committee" style="color: #f5001d; text-decoration: none;">Booklet 5: Role and responsibilities of the committee</a></span></span></li>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Wider Reading</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.uk.coop/fromconflict2co-operation">From conflict to co-operation, Co-operatives UK</a> (free to download)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Getting-Yes-Negotiating-Agreement-Without/dp/1844131467">Getting to Yes Roger Fisher and William Ury Arrow Business Books</a> (buy from Amazon)</span>John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-10906811722506314152010-12-03T13:10:00.001+00:002010-12-03T13:32:03.494+00:00Lesson's from the dark sideLast weekend I was asked to facilitate the Southern Consumer Co-operative Council Meeting and thought I'd do a post on my experience with the other side of the co-op movement (they'requite nice really).<br />
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So what is this meeting and why should you care? Basically it's the equivalent to our own <a href="http://www.uk.coop/discussions/10-09-08/worker-co-operative-council-members">Worker Co-operative Council</a> (but they have 3, Northern, Midlands Southern). It is a forum for Co-operatives UK's consumer co-operative members to share knowledge and feed in to our activities.<br />
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The people who attend are Board Members of consumer co-ops in that region (elected from customer members). For the southern meeting I attended these included: <a href="http://www.chelmsfordstar.co.uk/">Chelmsford Star Co-operative</a> <a href="http://www.thesouthernco-operative.co.uk/">Southern Co-operative</a> <a href="http://www.eastofengland.coop/">East of England Co-operative</a> <a href="http://www.midcounties.coop/">Midcounties Co-operative</a> and the Southern Regions of <a href="http://www.co-operative.coop/">Co-operative Group</a>.<br />
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So first thing that might surprise some people is there are actually more than one Co-op! A lot of people see the co-op shops and assume their all the same business, this is not the case. Yes there has been a lot of consolidation of the years (used to be 1000's) but there are still around 20 of the traditional retail societies left.<br />
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The Co-operative Group is the largest with a turnover of: £13.6bn, but Midcoutnies is around £0.8bn, East of England £0.4bn and Southern £0.2bn etc. <br />
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So why should you care? Well these co-operatives operate in a incredibly competitive market. What has helped them survive (and now prosper again) is the way they co-operative with each other, what can we learn from co-operatives that have been around for 150 years?<br />
<br />
Firstly; quite a lot share the same branding "the Co-operative" which comes with quality standards and shared membership card and divi systems. This helps with public awareness, improves expectations and levels of service as co-operative has to reach certain standards to be innvolved. A shared membership card means customers can more easily move between co-operatives and helps all particpants increase trade.<br />
<br />
Virtually all of them are members of the same retail trading group (they bulk buy and package stuff together). This means that the smaller co-operatives can retain their local focus and independence, but they are better able to compete in the market against Tesco etc.<br />
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Also by regularly meeting (and i assume this happens with officers and operationally) co-operatives can share best practice, what works and what doesn't.<br />
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On the train home I was musing what worker co-operatives could do.<br />
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Probably most importantly is find better ways to share knowledge with each other, and regularly meeting up. Like coming to the <a href="http://www.uk.coop/event/2011/future-co-operatives-2011">Future Co-operatives</a> (and our worker co-op open forum), attending Congress, and getting involved in <a href="http://www.uk.coop/regionsandnations">Regional Co-operative Councils</a>. <br />
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More wistfully I was thinking:<br />
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Could we create a shared services co-operative to jointly purchase our stationary, IT support, do our payroll and make our co-ops tax efficiently (do you have a specialist accountant who knows how to make your co-op tax efficient?).<br />
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Could we build a secondary co-op to bulk import and package wholefood products for distribution via the independent wholesalers, to the independent retailers.<br />
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Could creative co-ops, agree to share a brand, quality standards, bidding for larger contracts and jointly marketing their specialist services?<br />
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Could we create a cross movement membership divi card, where member producers and customers 'trading' with co-operatives can all benefit, an keep the money circulating within the movement?<br />
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Ooh that's enough Friday lunchtime thoughts for one week, what do you think we could practically do or learn from other co-operatives?John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-90325870653880036552010-11-25T09:10:00.001+00:002010-11-25T17:10:42.375+00:00Can we really create a co-operative economy?All the talk at the moment is about public service co-ops and mutuals. How the co-operative model would be great for driving up performance, lowering costs, but at the same time keeping these new businesses accountable and lets be honest ethical.<br />
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I agree with this generally and particularly if the employees get a real sense of ownership and control of their work life. But the question I'd like to ask Dave and George is: If its so great for the public services (especially in this time of budgetary constraint) why is it not a great idea for the rest of the economy and particularly those areas of high capitalism that got us into this mess in the first place?<br />
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I know a number of you must be thinking the same, in a recent <a href="http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/Article/1041680/people-want-employee-ownership-according-survey/">SEC survey</a> showed 2/3rds of people want more employee owned business in the private sector. <br />
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We are not the only ones who want to create a more co-operative economy either. Fidel Castro at the other end of the spectrum admits Cuba's centrally planned economy is not working and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11302430">worker co-operatives should be promoted</a>.(I find it slightly bizarre that a communist and a Conservative could agree on a economic model.)<br />
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Some people like the Basques in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondrag%C3%B3n%20">Mondragon </a>and <a href="http://www.redpepper.org.uk/Europe-s-co-op-boom">Emilia Romagna</a> in Italy have been creating a worker co-operative economy on a regional level for years. Hugo Chavez in Venezuela is also a convert:<br />
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<i>"When he took office, there were 762 co-ops in Venezuela with 20,000 members. Many of these were more credit unions than worker-owned cooperative work places. By mid-2006 there were 108,000 co-ops with 1.5 million members with half in the service sector and a third in production.</i><br />
More information on his Bolivian Revolution <a href="http://worldwidesocialist.net/blog/2010/09/venezuelan-elections-hugo-chavez-and-the-bolivarian-revolution/">here </a>and <a href="http://www.dollarsandsense.org/archives/2006/0706bowmanstone.html">here</a>.<br />
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<b>So creating a worker co-operative economy is doable, but is it doable in the England or the US?</b><br />
Well some in the US are giving it a try; the steel worker union of America is looking to partner with Mondragon. There is also an experiment going on in Cleveland to create a Mondragon like network of co-operatives, the first group of co-operatives are focused around <a href="http://www.evergreencoop.com/">The Evergreen Co-operative</a>. <br />
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<b>So is it achievable in the UK and what could it look like? </b><br />
Co-operatives UK is releasing a paper (more of a tomb) written by Robin Murray who was heavily involved in the formation of the fair trade movement: Twin Trading, Cafe Direct, Divine Chocolate etc. Its called <a href="http://www.uk.coop/ageofgoogle">Co-operation in the Age of Google</a>,<br />
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<i><i>Co-operation in the age of Google</i> shows that we are living at a time of profound transformation. The information and communication revolution, widespread concerns about private sector greed, public sector finances and impending climate chaos present a wide range of possibilities for co-operative expansion.</i> <br />
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Robin argues the UK Co-operative movement is not yet in a position to make the most of these opportunities. It needs to be more innovative, more integrated, more internationalist, to get better infrastructure and to find ‘the idea’ that can mobilise support for co-operation. The review proposes a series of practical initiatives for 2011 and 2012 to strengthen the co-operative sector.<br />
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Have a read and in true co-operative style add your own comments, thoughts and ideas.<br />
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Another report released by MIT in October looks at Mondragon and the Evergreen Co-operative Model case study them and then create a theoretical framework for what creating a worker co-operative economy.<br />
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<i>"The most important lesson from Legacoop and the Mondragon is the importance of developing an economically integrated network of cooperatives rather than a single cooperative.</i>"<br />
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I've added a diagram from this report as it sums up their framework.But do have a read of that too.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x0HGlJ7Sfcc/TO1cHSELcsI/AAAAAAAAANI/-oYlevgt3w4/s1600/co-operative+economy+framework.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x0HGlJ7Sfcc/TO1cHSELcsI/AAAAAAAAANI/-oYlevgt3w4/s400/co-operative+economy+framework.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We live and vote in a country run democratically and we may well soon have a public sector run in a more democratic and mutual way. Why should we not work in a business that is run in a democratic and co-operative way?<br />
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<b>Wider Reading</b><br />
<a href="http://www.uk.coop/ageofgoogle">Co-operation in the Age of Google (Co-operatives UK)</a> <br />
<a href="http://colabradio.mit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Coops-CoLabOct2010.pdf">Sustainable Economic Democracy: Worker Cooperatives for the 21st Century (MIT Co-lab)</a>John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-78175413161185491342010-11-11T13:19:00.001+00:002010-11-11T13:56:00.301+00:00What is an employee owned co-operative?If you work in a public service, you're probably asking the question: What is an employee owned co-operative? If you're an owner/member in a worker co-operative you might well be asking the same thing, but for a different reason; I'll get on to that later.<br />
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But first the answer:<br />
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<b>Answer</b><br />
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Unsurprisingly its kinda in the title: An employee owned co-operative is an organisation owned & controlled by the people who work in it, that either consciously or unconsciously follows <a href="http://www.uk.coop/about/what-is-a-cooperative">co-operative principles</a> .<br />
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Ok what does that mean?<br />
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The first bit means: for it to be genuinely employee owned the employees should at a minimum control 51% of the voting shares or indirectly own the business via an <a href="http://www.employeeownership.co.uk/employee-ownership/faqs/#faq_363">employee owned trust</a> (like John Lewis). This ownership also has to be spread throughout the workforce, not just by the managers and come with a real sense of control over the business. <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/oct/01/post-office-john-lewis-royal-mail">Giving 10% of shares to employees is not an employee owned business.</a><br />
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You could just stop there and be an employee owned business, which is fine (damn site better than being investor owned), but I believe the bit that adds the real value (and makes it more palatable for me regarding public service delivery) is the co-operative bit.<br />
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You can read the internationally agreed Co-operative Principles <a href="http://www.ica.coop/coop/principles.html">here</a>. But essentially they say that a co-operative is a business where: <br />
<ol><li>You can't be forced to be a member, and if you fit the criteria (length of service, commitment, etc) you can't be turned down.</li>
<li>If your a member, you get a say in the running of the business and that say is equal to others <u>not</u> based on how much money they have invested. (This doesn't preclude managers by any means, but does change the dynamic).</li>
<li>You control the capital; you should also benefit from the performance of the business.</li>
<li>Significant when it come to public services, as a business you should be independent, from the state or anyone else's influence.</li>
<li>Members should be fully trained and supported so they can play a full role in running the business. </li>
<li>Where possible you should co-operate with other co-operatives, to develop the whole co-operative economy.</li>
<li>You should also have a wider concern for the community around you.</li>
</ol>So if you're a public sector worker whose stumbled here I hope that helps. If you want to make an <a href="http://www.publicservices.uk.coop/">enquiry about setting up public services mutual or employee owned co-operative click here</a>. If you are interested in my own views on <a href="http://workerco-operatives.blogspot.com/2010/09/whats-social-co-operative-can-it-help.html">what model could help us create a big society click here</a>.<br />
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My more regular readers might be asking, why I've essentially restated what a worker co-operative is. Why? because when you go on wikipedia, co-operative websites, or talk to people in the co-operative movement no-one really uses the term "employee owned co-operative".<br />
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In the US, Canada and UK we use the term worker co-operative, or if were really old-school "producer co-operative". As with most things in the English language the why has been lost in history.<br />
The more pedantic people like me might argue that "worker" is <a href="http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Understandingyourworkstatus/Workersemployeesandselfemployment/DG_183998">technically a broader legal term than employee</a>. But for most people the two phrases are interchangeable. (or are they? If you disagree please leave a comment)<br />
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I've heard grumbles that the use of this new term by Government and others is to distance these new entities from co-operatives of the past; or because "worker" sounds a bit too socialist for people's liking.<br />
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There are <a href="http://www.publicservices.uk.coop/">good examples</a> of public service co-operatives out there. But I do understand the need to look if exhisting models will fit and what these public service mutuals are going to really look like. Co-operatives UK provides a point for accessing information and signposting for people interested in <a href="http://www.publicservices.uk.coop/start">starting a co-operative</a> delivering public services. At the moment we are <a href="http://www.uk.coop/press-release/co-operatives-uk-responds-postal-services-bill-announcement">working with the Government particularly in relation to the Post Office</a>.<br />
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And that's the real point of all this, what is being proposed by the coalition Government is going to break new ground, if public sector workers really are going to opt for some sort of mutual / employee owned co-operative model then they probably will be different from the worker co-operatives we have at the moment.<br />
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But if they share enough of the same characteristics, they are going to be dealing with the same issues worker co-operatives face. How can we pass on our learning, and what can we learn? What are the opportunities (or threats) from some potentially massive new worker co-operatives that could easily dwarf the existing <a href="http://workerco-operatives.blogspot.com/2010/07/american-study-visit.html">worker co-operative economy in the UK</a>.<br />
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I'll end by saying; you can’t bluff it; if you say something is a co-operative it has live up to it. If its called employee owned, it has to be genuinely owned and controlled by those employees.<br />
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This is something I'd really like your comments on both from worker co-operatives and those in the public sector trying to understand how this might work for them.<br />
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Wider Reading:<br />
<a href="http://www.demos.co.uk/blog/john-lewis-vs-easycouncil">Demos - John Lewis vs easyCouncil</a><br />
<a href="http://www.respublica.org.uk/blog/2010/09/turning-public-servants-service-partners">Respublica - Turning public servants into service partners</a>John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-14694861685899772292010-10-05T12:54:00.002+01:002010-10-05T15:34:47.669+01:00Event Report: Society for co-operative studies<!--027ce0cc1ff84fef8832f8e4683c145d--> Last weekend we had our quarterly worker co-operative council meeting which took place at the <a href="http://www.co-opstudies.org/">Society for Co-operatives Study</a> Conference. This blog is a brief summary and my thoughts on the conference aswell. <br />
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Apart from welcoming our newest member to the council Alison Banton of <a href="http://www.dulas.org.uk/">Dulas</a> (full list of members <a href="http://www.uk.coop/discussions/10-09-08/worker-co-operative-council-members">here</a>) The main items on the agenda were:<br />
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Our involvement in a European wide campaign to promote worker co-operatives as a sustainable form of employment <a href="http://www.sustainableemployment.eu/">www.sustainableemployment.eu</a>. On an EU level with the size and strength of the Spanish, French and Italian movements we actually have quite a strong voice to influence policy (which of course filters back down to the UK). We've sent some case studies, pictures and other media. If you want to add your worker co-operative, do a testimonial or get involved please get in touch with <a href="mailto:john.atherton@uk.coop">me</a>.<br />
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Nominations for the President of <a href="http://www.cecop.coop/">CECOP</a>, we have not put forward a UK candidate (our multi-lingual skills frankly aren't good enough) and have therefore nominated/seconded a Swedish representative.<br />
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The two representatives to the main Board of Co-operatives UK; Bob Cannell and Sion Whellen's gave feedback on previous meetings. Members of the Council discussed a variety of membership and strategic issues to help inform future decisions of the Board including: Co-operatives Fortnight, Congress, membership recruitment, member services and risks affecting the movement. For members interested in goings on at the main Board you can read their Board Updates <a href="http://www.uk.coop/community/resources/updates">here</a>. <br />
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Our meeting lasted about 2 hours after which we took part in the Society for Co-operatives Studies conference. <br />
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<b>Highlights from Society for Co-operatives Studies Conference</b><br />
The event started with a 2 speakers discussing "Lessons from Mondragon" (will try and get a links to presentation). The main thought I took from this session was the sense of community/solidarity within Mondragon which keeps this network of worker co-operatives together and supporting each other. This is very geographical and culturally based.<br />
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For the UK worker co-operative sector to succeed I think we need to work on this sense of solidarity and mutual self-help, which is more difficult due to the diversity and geographical spread worker co-operatives in the UK. We too often re-invent the wheel, or don't think about working together to satisfy our shared needs (something we do with-in our co-operatives). Any ideas on a postcard (or leave a comment below).<br />
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Bob Cannell of Suma ran a session looking at different approaches to strategic management within worker co-operatives and how mainstream managements systems thinking just isn't appropriate. Read his <a href="http://bobcannell.blogspot.com/2010/10/break-free-from-our-systems-prison.html">blog </a>for notes on the presentation. <br />
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Britta Werner of Unicorn and Tony Gudgeon of Chelmsford Start, spoke at a session about the relationship within co-operatives between consumers and workers, from the perspective of a worker co-operatives and a consumer co-operative. From a worker co-operatives point of view it was interesting that our approach to customers was very similar from a service point of view, but our approach to workers very different.<br />
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The conference finished with a session facilitated by Alan Wilkins of <a href="http://www.clada.coop/">CLADA</a> looking at the opportunities and threats from the big society. I'm sure we've all discussed these countless times now so won't bore you with the details. The one thing I will say however is; everyone talks about how to get involved and take advantage of the big society (and any funding), but what it should do is remind us of what we stand for and should be doing anyway, irrespective of who's in Government and what their plugging.<br />
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The co-operative movement already funds capacity building to help people help themselves; both through being members of Co-operatives UK and individual co-operatives initiatives like <a href="http://www.co-operative.coop/enterprisehub/">the Enterprise Hub</a>. What we need to do as a movement is co-ordinate and rally members to put less money into charities and more into developing the co-operative sector, so we are in position to deal with the big society (or the aftermath if it goes badly wrong).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x0HGlJ7Sfcc/TKsRejp05GI/AAAAAAAAAMc/tfjOqSORgxs/s1600/George+the+rabbit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x0HGlJ7Sfcc/TKsRejp05GI/AAAAAAAAAMc/tfjOqSORgxs/s200/George+the+rabbit.JPG" width="118" /></a></div>To end on a less serious note, I unfortunately forgot to take any photos of the weekend so here is a picture of George our Rabbit who when i got home, in the spirit of self-help was munching on our flowers.John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372264260202259467.post-14556121961307579772010-09-29T11:34:00.001+01:002010-09-29T12:38:06.733+01:00Building a creative economyThe talk at the moment is all about jobs: creating them, sustaining them and they must be good ones. Not unskilled ones created by multi-nationals that would be whisked off to India given half a chance, not unethical or polluting industries and certainly not public sector ones.<br />
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So where will they come from and who will develop them?<br />
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The much publicised big society and outsourcing of public services (already done a <a href="http://workerco-operatives.blogspot.com/2010/09/whats-social-co-operative-can-it-help.html">blog </a>on that) wont be a source, as that is straight displacement or likely reduction. They will have to come from the private sector and probably the "creative" or knowledge based sector in particular.<br />
Businesses that are agile, innovative, where staff have high levels of motivation and productivity (which can be more critical than capital investment in this sector).<br />
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So how do you set-up this type of business and what model is appropriate? <br />
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From the 160 creative and knowledge based businesses we know about in our <a href="http://www.uk.coop/directory/all">directory</a> mostly: design, print and communications, business consultants, architects, IT services. The worker co-operative, and consortia model is good one. (Consortia are made up of, self-employed people and small business who come together for mutual support/shared services)<br />
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To help promote our model to the creative sector and potential entrant. Co-operatives UK with help from our members has developed a <a href="http://www.creatives.uk.coop/">website</a> and resource to help people create the perfect business for this sector.<br />
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To get the message out we are launching this resource around the country and last week I attended the launch event in Manchester, at <a href="http://www.openspace.coop/">Openspace</a> a co-working environment which is itself a consortia co-operative of mainly self-employed freelancers and the worker co-operative web designers <a href="http://www.ecobee.org/">Ecobee</a>. <br />
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Want to know more about Openspace? then have a look at this video.<br />
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If you know of people in the creative industries or looking to enter this sector please tell them about our resources and help us promote the co-operative model.<a href="http://www.creatives.uk.coop/"> www.creatives.uk.coop</a>John Athertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09335465474707227574noreply@blogger.com0