By Kenzie Love The question of why some worker co-ops succeed while others do not has no simple answers. But one clear measure of “failure” would be for worker co-ops not to learn from the experiences their peers have had in navigating the challenges many of them face. With over 20 years in business as … What Worker Co-ops Can Learn from SSG
By Kenzie Love Worker co-ops have proven to be more resilient than conventional businesses. But like any business, some of them still inevitably close. Such was the case for Calgary’s The Allium Restaurant, which opened in 2019 and shut its doors last month. Despite the critical acclaim it garnered, the restaurant struggled with factors beyond … The Allium’s Closure Offers Lessons for Other Worker Co-ops
By Kenzie Love Although it goes by a variety of different names, the ethos of co-operation is a constant across Asian cultures. May, being Asian Heritage Month, offers an opportunity to recognize and reflect not just on how Asian diaspora communities have co-operated in the past, but the lessons this offers for a more co-operative … The Co-operative Ethos of the Asian Diaspora
By Kenzie Love When discussing the ideal environment for worker co-ops, Spain’s Mondragon and the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy are often held up as models. But while its worker co-op sector isn’t as strong as in these areas, there’s another point of comparison closer to home: the province of Quebec. With over 200 worker … Quebec’s Worker Co-op Sector Offers Lessons for the Rest of Canada
By Kenzie Love As in many other BIPOC communities, Indigenous people in Canada have a long history of co-operativism. As Mark Intertas and James Thunder note in their paper Indigenizing the Co-operative Model: “While the co-operative is a relatively new construct in the context of European history, Indigenous peoples exhibited the characteristics and principles of … Learning and Listening Will Help Canada’s Worker Co-op Sector Build Relationships With Indigenous Communities
By Kenzie Love Co-operatives around the world employ 280 million people, comprising 10 percent of the world’s employed population, making for a significant if still comparatively small portion of the global economy. But co-operatives are also unevenly distributed globally, with worker co-operatives, at least, comprising a relatively small share of the Canadian economy (with the … Government Support Is Critical to a Strong Worker Co-op Sector
By Kenzie Love Contrary to popular belief, the Chinese don’t actually have the same character for the word “crisis” as they do for “opportunity.” And yet this is an apt description of the situation facing the global economy. Crises of climate change, an ever-growing gap between the ultra-wealthy few and everyone else, racism and other … Three Reasons for Optimism About Worker Co-ops in 2023
By Kenzie Love Democratic member control is a key co-op principle, and as the International Co-op Alliance’s guidance notes for the seven principles state, “democracy is a simple concept: the governance or control of an organization by its members through majority decision-making.” Compared to the autocratic decision-making that characterizes many traditional businesses, majority decision-making might … Sociocracy – a Compelling Governance Model for Worker Co-ops
By Kenzie Love (updated August 20, 2024) Advancing gender equality is a critical requirement for a more just and sustainable world, and the road towards this often begins in the workplace. Research shows that women who are empowered in their careers can also be more empowered in their homes and communities as a result. So … Worker Co-ops Have the Potential to Advance Gender Equality
By Kenzie Love The Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives’ report on the top co-op issues of 2021 came out earlier this year, and awareness — or rather lack thereof — of the co-operative model ranked as the top issue facing co-operatives for the fourth year running. As one respondent to the survey observed, … Public Awareness of Co-ops a Complex Issue