By Kenzie Love
Seize the Means of Production Video Co-op is a unionized video production worker co-op based in Vancouver, BC. Established in 2022, it was founded by five long-time collaborators who saw an opportunity to do art-based, nonprofit work.
“We wanted to start a business, but were also thinking about the co-op model as an ideal structure that would fit our values,” says cofounder David Ng.
The name “Seize the Means” was initially intended as a temporary moniker, but it ended up sticking. While acknowledging its Marxist connotations, the Co-op ultimately decided to embrace the name as a reflection of the members’ commitment to worker ownership and control. They view it as an opportunity to engage in conversations about these values and how they inform their work.
Seize the Means was created with a dual focus: providing high-quality video production services and upholding strong social justice and labour values. They aim to work with value-aligned clients and use their skills to amplify important messages. The co-op’s structure reflects its commitment to shared ownership, and a fair, living wage for all members.
As a worker co-op, Seize the Means operates on a model of shared decision-making. They’re also a unionized workplace, reflecting a deep commitment to workers’ rights and solidarity. This structure allows for mentorship of newer members and ensures that all voices are heard in business decisions.
The co-op works on a variety of projects, prioritizing those that align with their values. Examples include a “Water is Life” campaign with CUPE National, and “Voices of Burnaby,” a series celebrating the stories of seniors in a retirement home. They strive to produce high-quality work that makes a positive social impact.
Like many fledgling worker co-ops, Seize the Means has faced challenges, including startup costs and navigating collective decision-making. Fortunately, Ng has found that the ties he’s formed with the other members make handling the latter easier.
“These are people that I’ve known for over 10 years, so that really makes a big difference in terms of trust,” he says. “But I feel sometimes figuring out how to make business decisions in an efficient but meaningful and intentional way where everyone feels heard can sometimes be a challenge.”
Being a unionized co-op that pays a living wage also sometimes means Seize the Mean’s services are more expensive than those of other agencies. Ng believes that this is a price clients are often willing to pay, however, once they understand the rationale.
“Sometimes we’re not as quote-unquote ‘competitive’ with other agencies,” he says. “But it’s also something that we use in terms of how we communicate the values of our work, that people are not just hiring an agency. They’re hiring a worker co-op with shared decision-making. And I think our work is very high quality as well.”
In the coming years, Seize the Means aims to grow its membership and expand its capacity while maintaining its commitment to fair labour practices. They also hope to contribute to the growth of a larger worker co-op solidarity economy in British Columbia and beyond, supporting and collaborating with other like-minded organizations.