By Kenzie Love At the recent CMC (Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada) Congress in Calgary, delegates approved a resolution committing Canada’s co-operative sector to adopt the UN’s Race to Zero, a global pact which mandates signatories to achieve net zero in emissions by 2050 at the latest, and to commit to at least a 50% reduction … Co-ops Can Lead the Race to Zero
By Kenzie Love The problems with the so-called “gig economy”, in which workers for Uber and other platforms carry all the responsibilities of being an employee while receiving none of the benefits, have been well-documented. The desire for an alternative to the enormous power of big tech is also readily apparent. But many of the … Platform Co-ops Offer an Alternative to Big Tech’s Monopolies
By Kenzie Love In 1995, the International Co-operative Alliance set out to answer this question by adopting the Statement on the Cooperative Identity. Subsequently recognized by many governments and multilateral organizations, the Statement defines the cooperative business model, makes explicit the cooperative and ethical values on which it is founded, and sets out seven universal … International Co-operative Alliance Consultation a Chance to Define the Co-operative Identity
By Kenzie Love A set of Solidarity Principles are in process of being developed by a US group in response to the realization that such guidelines could lead to more cohesion among the various types of groups and entities involved in the solidarity economy. The term “solidarity economy” does not have a precise definition. … Solidarity Economy Principles Call for Transformative Change
By Kenzie Love The term “solidarity” is often bandied about in co-operative circles, but what does it actually mean? Part of the answer lies in the sixth co-op principle: co-operation among co-operatives. When their interests align, traditional businesses might sometimes collaborate: a temporary joining of forces in pursuit of some shared goal. But co-operatives, as … Worker Co-ops and the Sixth Principle
By Kenzie Love February is Black History Month, and while the contributions of Black Canadians to the worker co-op movement are deserving of recognition all year round, they haven’t always been accorded this. Despite a rich history within the Black community (and other BIPOC communities), the history of co-operatives is often confined to a narrative … Black History Month a Chance to Recognize Overlooked Co-operative Tradition
By Kenzie Love When it comes to the first co-op principle, voluntary and open membership, the International Co-op Association’s Statement of Co-operative Identity is quite succinct: “Co-operatives are voluntary organisations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.” This … Worker Co-ops and the First Co-op Principle
By Kenzie Love When it comes to the seven co-op principles, a case could be made that some of them aren’t unique to co-ops. Plenty of conventional businesses, for instance, claim to show concern for community, be open to employment for all, and engage in education and training. But the second co-op principle, democratic member … Democratic Member Control at the Foundation of Worker Co-ops
By Kenzie Love Among the obstacles the co-operative movement faces, education — or a lack thereof – is often cited as a key factor, with co-operators pointing to neglect of the model in many business schools’ curricula. As Simon Berge of the University of Winnipeg observes, “most business schools currently present the neoliberal capitalist model … Lack of Awareness a Barrier for Co-op Education on Campus
The third co-operative principle is Member Economic Participation. It states, “Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the co-operative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for … Principle Three and the Co-operative Values —Kenzie Love