By Kenzie Love CWCF introduced our member profile series in 2019 with the goal of highlighting our members’ successes and challenges. The members profiled so far have shown the full spectrum of diversity on display in Canada’s worker co-op sector, and this wide variety of co-ops is something worth celebrating. But despite their differences, worker … Worker Co-ops Offer Advice on Surviving Common Struggles
By Kenzie Love Although there’s no single accepted definition of “precarious employment”, it is perhaps most most commonly and succinctly defined as offering workers many of the responsibilities that come with being an employee with few or none of the benefits. That precarious employment has been on the upswing in recent years is well documented, … No Easy Answers to Problem of Precarious Employment
The Covid-19 pandemic has obviously made 2020 a challenging year on many fronts. But amidst the ongoing crisis, there is also a sense of opportunity, and the realization that the pandemic may have given us a rare chance to create a brighter future. While recognizing the enormous toll Covid has taken, now can also be … Covid-19 Pandemic Offers Chance for a Brighter Future —Kenzie Love
In contrast to its American counterpart, which has seen considerable growth among BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of colour) communities in recent years, Canada’s worker co-op sector remains largely White, with little evidence that this is changing. Diversity and inclusion have been identified as priorities, but as Dr. Jessica Gordon-Nembhard argued in her recent presentation … Practical Steps Towards Dismantling Racism —Kenzie Love
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
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
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
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
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
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