The worker co-operative economy needs you!

I have not done a blog for far too long so apologies! The worker co-operative council of Co-operatives UK 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.

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).

As well as practical things like attending events/networking, advocating for worker co-ops, helping update the Worker Co-operative Code, 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.


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.

The google doc version is here.

Finally here is a blatant plug for Co-operatives United 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.

New guide for setting up grass routes worker co-operative

It's been years in the making, Radical Routes a UK-wide network of radical housing and workers' co-operatives has updated their guide to starting and developing workers' co-operatives. 

I heavily promoted the last version, but in recent years, as with all guides it became out dated. The Seeds for Change 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.

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.”

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.


At Co-operatives UK 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 report will agree that our movement is thriving. 
 
The books are available to download free here and print versions are £4.50, with a special launch price of £3.50 at Futures North.

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: www.uk.coop/start

Worker Co-operative Council Election Results 2012

Thank you to all those members who voted in the worker co-operative council elections for 2012. We can now publish the results:

Bob Cannell 267 First

Alison Banton 189 Second

Sion Whellens 180 Third

Lyn Hope 176

Chris Tomlinson 161

Steve Dixon 1

Turnout for the elections was 25% of the eligible members.  

Congratulation to Bob, Alison and Sion; 

For those that don't know, the worker co-operative council is 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. 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 plan.

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 Woodcraft Folk.