“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
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
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
As a response to the human rights situation in Chile and encouraged by TRASOL – the Chilean Federation of Worker Co-operatives – CWCF has written a letter which will go to the Chilean Embassy in Ottawa, the Canadian government and to TRASOL. CWCF also encourages members to write their own letters expressing solidarity with the … Expressing Solidarity With the Chilean People
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
Paper posted on March 6, 2011 was prepared for the Babson-Equal Exchange Cooperative Curriculum titled ‘The Worker Cooperative Life Cycle’ by John R. Whitman Ph.D. This is an academic- style paper that explored whether the Cook and Burress’ theory (2009) of the five phases of a co-operative fit the life cycle of Equal Exchange. The paper … An Equal Exchange Story: When a founding member gets pushed out
Alain Bridault October 28, 2010 CWCF Annual Conference Vancouver, British Columbia In the anglophone world of co-operation, the history of modern co-ops began with those who were called the Pioneers of the city of Rochdale, now a suburb of Manchester (England). The Pioneers were issued from the ranks of the proletariat; they were factory workers. … Archived March 22, 2020 – The Potential of Worker Co-operatives
Alain Bridault CWCF Annual Conference Saturday, October 30, 2010 in Vancouver Summary In a worker co-op, one has to have a good understanding of group dynamics. There are two energies within the group. First: Production energy; the more important the goal or target is, the higher the energy level. When you look at a worker … Managing the democratic life in a worker co-op: role of members, the board and managers/co-ordinators
Ian MacPherson Professor Emeritus of History Co-director, the National Hub The Canadian Social Economy Research Partnerships The University of Victoria [NOTE that Ian MacPherson passed away in 2013. See the ICA tribute to him, here: https://www.ica.coop/en/media/news/co-operators-pay-tribute-ian-macpherson ] Speech to Worker Co-operatives and Sustainable Development Canadian Worker Co-op Federation Vancouver October 2010 When Hazel Corcoran asked me … The Co-operative Movement in the Next 100 Years: What are the Opportunities? The Challenges?