The newly forming worker co-op federation is holding a series of events around the UK to explain what they are about, and how worker co-ops and worker co-operators can get involved.We at union-coops:uk are fully supportive of this new initiative, which will give a bigger voice to worker co-ops in the UK, whilst maintaining their affiliation to the UK apex body, Co-operatives UK

Weds 23rd Nov, Bristol: 18.30 – 21.00 followed by networking drinks
Mon 28th Nov, London: 9.00 – 12.00

Details of these, and future events can be found here:-
https://www.workers.coop/events/ 

We’ve now teamed up with GoCardless to offer a revised membership scheme by continuous direct debit. All you need to do is follow the links, put in your bank details, and you will automatically be joined up, with full membership rights.

union-coops:uk is a co-operative that works to develop and promote the fully unionised worker co-op model in order to create decent work for all.
union-coops:uk is a Company Limited by Guarantee.
union-coops:uk has no shareholders, members are guarantors to the co-operative to a maximum of £1 each.
union-coops:uk membership is open to all who support our aims. Membership will give you full voting rights at our AGM and any other special member meetings and the option to stand for election to our Board if you so choose.

Annual membership fees are £12 per annum for individuals, £25 for local organisations, and £50 for national organisations.

Go to our join-us page to sign up now
https://www.union-coops.uk/join-us

Preston Co-operative Education Centre are running an introduction to co-operatives. The cost is £25 for the 5 one hour sessions, which is negotiable for those on low income.

Further details, contact admin@prestoncoopeducationcentre.org or visit https://prestoncoopeducationcentre.org/

Download the PDF:-
Power, Participation & Change (2)

Intro Session
Thursday 24th November
18.30-19.30 (UK) (recording will be available)
Session 1
Saturday 26th November
14.30 – 17.30 (UK)
Session 2
Wednesday 30th November
11.30 – 15.30 (UK)
Drop in session
Wednesday 7th December
13.00 – 14.00 (UK)
Session 3
Saturday 10th December
13.00 – 16.00 (UK)

CICOPA invites to you join its upcoming webinar in collaboration with CICOPA Asia-Pacific on the 28 September 2022.   The collaboration between worker cooperatives and trade unions is a topic of great interest for CICOPA and its members. After some internal discussions on that topic, CICOPA, in collaboration with CICOPA Asia-pacific, decided to enlarge the discussion to a wider audience, with a specific focus on the Asia-Pacific region. On the 28 of September 2022, CICOPA, with the close collaboration of the recently established network of CICOPA Asia-Pacific, will be organizing the webinar “Worker Cooperatives and Trade Unions: Exploring Relations in the Asia-Pacific Region”. Continue reading →

This months Co-op News has a feature on our recent Strategy Workshop at Wortley Hall

“An organisation has been formed to try to build a new wave of fully unionised worker co-ops “that have unions at the core of their democracy”.

Union-coops:uk says it wants to encourage mutually beneficial collaboration between the union and co-op movements through the union co-op model – which has already been put to work in parts of the US, such as Cincinnati, Ohio. “We believe the union co-op model is a powerful tool to counter mainstream economic narratives,” they say. “It is a living example that another way is possible.”

The group held a meeting at Wortley Hall, near Sheffield, in May – with participants…………..”

Read the whole article here on the news.coop website

 

 

Our colleague, Alex Bird from union-coops:uk will be speaking at the CICOPA learning event on July 14th from 14h00 to 16h00 (CEST) 13.00 to 15,00 (BST)

This will be the 3rd edition of the CICOPA members’ mutual learning session. This session will be the opportunity for members to meet and discuss: “Worker cooperatives and unions: how to build a healthy relationship?”

Continue reading →

 

The notes of our Conference at Wortley Hall are now published at:-
https://www.union-coops.uk/publications/conference-22

union-coops:uk membership is open to all who support our aims

Annual membership fees are a minimum donation of £10 for individuals or £25 for organisations, however we encourage members to make a larger donation if they can. This especially applies to larger organisations who we would encourage to give up to 0.01% of their annual income if they are able.

Go to our Join Us page or complete the details below

Please set up an annual payment to our bank, details below, and send us a message via the box below headed membership, and including your name/organisation/address/amount

Our bank details are:-

Bank: Unity Trust Bank
Name: union-coops:uk Limited
Account Number: 20438762
Sortcode: 60-83-01

Our conference, Sponsored by BFAWU, MU, and Co-operative Ways Forward, took place on May 20th/21st 2022 at Wortley Hall, the “workers stately home” having been delayed from October 2021 due to Covid.

22 of us met to develop a strategy to build the union-coops movement in the UK and to plan out our actions for the coming year and beyond. Our movement is now bigger and stronger, and we have the backing of key players in the trade union and worker co-operative movement. We are committed to build membership and influence. More details will be posted here soon

Our first face to face conference on May 20th/21st at Wortley Hall is getting nearer

Had enough of Zoomathons?
Want to get to meet colleagues face to face, chat, enjoy a drink, put the world to rights?
Want to learn more about how unions and worker co-ops can work together for decent work and an end to our current employment miseries?

Why not join us. Day tickets are only £40 including lunch, tea and coffee?
24 hour delegate tickets including a dinner with Sarah Wooley are £160

Day Delegate Bursaries, sponsored by Co-operative Ways Forward, are available for anyone on benefits or in low paid insecure work and unable to afford the full rate. Just follow the link to Eventbrite and click on Bursary Ticket

We’ve a great line-up of speakers, including:-

Sarah Woolley (Gen Sec BFAWU)
David Barnard (MU)
Cheryl Barrott (Co-op Party)
Miguel Martinez-Lucio (University of Manchester)
Ian Manborde (Equality & Diversity Organiser – Equity)
Ian Wilson (CASE)
Sion Whellens (Workers Co-op Council)
Anita Mangan (Bristol Univ15ersity)
Cath Muller
Cilla Ross
Mark Simmonds (Co-op Culture)
Fredy Velez (BFAWU Suma)

And via a live video link from USA:-

Michael Peck (1worker1vote) (USA)
Kevin O’Brien (Worx Printing) (USA)
Ellen Vera (Coop Cincy) (USA)
Ra Criscitiello (SEIU-UHW) (USA)
Erik Forman (The Drivers’ Coop – TDC in NYC)
Steve Sleigh (The Drivers’ Coop – TDC in NYC)

They will be talking about creating union-coops, including the multi million dollar, 2,500 member drivers coop in New York, and their involvement in the unionisation struggles at Amazon and Starbucks

Bookings for the conference are open at:-
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/decent-work-our-first-conference-is-rescheduled-to-may-20th21st-2022-tickets-149918110103