Blog - Canadian Worker Co-op Federation

Worker Co-ops May Have Advantages in Dealing With Pandemic’s Psychological Impact

October 21, 2020

By Kenzie Love Even for those whose health and employment may not have been directly affected by the coronavirus, the pandemic has taken a heavy psychological toll, one that inevitably risks spilling over into their work life. The impact isn’t invariably negative: a report by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) found that emergencies … Worker Co-ops May Have Advantages in Dealing With Pandemic’s Psychological Impact

Co-op Care Offers A Better Way Amidst Covid-19 Pandemic

September 21, 2020

By Kenzie Love The Covid-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on both residential care facilities, private or government-run long-term care homes for seniors, and home care, personal support workers who provide services such as cooking, cleaning, and bathing to seniors and people with disabilities who are living on their own. The pandemic has affected … Co-op Care Offers A Better Way Amidst Covid-19 Pandemic

Employee Buyouts Model Has Potential Despite Obstacles

September 2, 2020

By Kenzie Love As Saskatchewan, like other provinces, confronts the challenges posed by the impending surge of retiring baby boomers, it seems natural to look to the employee succession solution. Ideally, employees taking over a business would provide jobs for those who would otherwise lose them if it shut down, income for a retiree counting on … Employee Buyouts Model Has Potential Despite Obstacles

Black Lives Matter: Putting Words to Action —Kenzie Love

July 22, 2020

Last month, CWCF issued a statement in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. It now faces a bigger challenge: putting the statement into action. CWCF was hardly the only organization to issue such a statement. Many conventional businesses in the US have attracted criticism for what were seen as acts of performative allyship, pledging … Black Lives Matter: Putting Words to Action —Kenzie Love

Worker Co-ops Show Ingenuity In Coping With Covid-19 —Kenzie Love

June 21, 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic has forced all small and medium-size enterprises to change how they do business, and worker co-ops have been no exception. Where they have stood apart, however, is the way in which they’ve responded. By demonstrating flexibility, concern for community, and democratic worker control, worker co-ops have shown why they’re especially resilient in … Worker Co-ops Show Ingenuity In Coping With Covid-19 —Kenzie Love

Co-ops and COVID-19: Seizing the Opportunity —Kenzie Love

April 21, 2020

While no one knows how much longer the COVID-19 virus has to play out, there’s a growing sense that life after the pandemic can’t just be a return to the status quo. The current crisis has shone a spotlight on problems that existed before (the climate crisis, growing inequality, precarious employment), and are certain to … Co-ops and COVID-19: Seizing the Opportunity —Kenzie Love

Employee Succession: The Co-op Solution —Kenzie Love

February 21, 2020

“Where there’s a problem,” says Wendy Keats of the Co-op Enterprise Council of New Brunswick (CECNB), “there’s usually a co-op solution.” When it comes to the future of many small and medium-sized businesses in Canada, it’s hard to dispute that there’s a problem. By the end of 2023, 50 percent (550,000) of current small business … Employee Succession: The Co-op Solution —Kenzie Love

What If We had an Antidote to Worker Co-ops Selling out? The case for indivisible reserves in worker co-operatives

January 17, 2020

By Hazel Corcoran I read with great concern about the sale of New Belgium Brewery to Kirin-owned Lion Little World Beverages. The concern is not only for the loss of this ESOP, as disappointing as that is. Rather, it is because we know that every ESOP, worker co-operative and enterprise in the solidarity economy is … What If We had an Antidote to Worker Co-ops Selling out? The case for indivisible reserves in worker co-operatives

Worker Co-ops and the Social and Solidarity Economy

December 19, 2019

By Kenzie Love Strengthening ties to the social and solidarity economy (SSE) is a key part of CWCF’s strategic plan. But what exactly is the SSE, how do worker co-ops fit into it, and how can they best collaborate with it? And what about social enterprises? Here’s a start at answering these questions. What is … Worker Co-ops and the Social and Solidarity Economy

How Co-ops Are Responding to Climate Change

August 20, 2019

By Kenzie Love As with all businesses, the climate crisis presents a challenge for worker co-ops, and at this point there may be as many questions as there are answers. But here’s a start at understanding some of the issues they face. How are co-ops uniquely positioned to respond to climate change? Co-ops’ unique ability … How Co-ops Are Responding to Climate Change