What
is a Co-operative business?
A simple reply could be: 'A Co-operative
is a business owned and controlled by those working in it'.
There are no shareholders outside of the
working group, though from time to time the business may
need to raise money from outside sources. This would take
the form of loans or grants and would not give the lender
any voting rights or ownership of shares in the Co-operative.
This 'co-ownership' can create enthusiasm
and friendship, (especially nice when things are going well)
and it can produce a rather 'queasy' feeling when you realise
that you have real responsibility as a 'co-owner' if things
are not going well. In either case, in good times or bad,
the blessings and burdens are shared, you are not on your
own, your strengths will help the group as a whole, and your
weaknesses will be met with understanding and help, from
people who realise that our strength is in our reliance on
each other.
Why A Workers Co-operative?
Co-ops are for:
Working collectively
Sharing responsibility
Teaching others
Taking decisions together
Working in a way which takes needs into account
Combating sexual and racial discrimination
Using profits, as members think fit
Co-ops are for:
Everyone including people who are
- Unemployed
- Facing redundancy
- Leaving school or college
- In a dead end job
- Lacking formal qualifications
- From a section of the population facing discrimination
Co-ops do:
Almost anything
- Industry
- Market and supply
- Farming
- Retail
- Providing services
Co-operation can be viewed as comprising
two elements: PROCESS and ORGANISATION
The process of co-operation means working
together towards some common, identifiable goal. This could
be just a short-term goal such as redecorating the meeting
room.
The organisational form of co-operation
is a co-operative. Co-operatives are based on democracy,
voluntary association, participation, self-reliance, equity
and the need to educate members so that they can fulfil the
demands of these principles.
A co-operative is formed by people sharing
a common interest and realising that through mutual aid they
can pursue this interest more effectively than as individuals.
One of the major reasons for forming a
co-operative is to avoid exploitation by anyone with economic
power (lenders, traders, etc) To avoid such exploitation
within a co-operative the principle of 'one member, one vote'
is practised regardless of individual's economic stake in
the co-operative. LABOUR CONTROLS CAPITAL. Equally important
is the idea that rewards are equal to efforts.
Therefore, co-operatives are founded on
the values of fairness and justice.
A co-operative then is an organisation
of people pursuing an economic goal, whether as producers
or consumers. It is a business and aims to produce economic
benefits. But it is a business with a difference - it is
democratically controlled and seeks positively to avoid the
exploitation of its own members and others.
A co-operative is based on the principles
of:
DEMOCRACY
EQUITY
TRUST
MUTUAL INTEREST
PARTICIPATION
JUSTICE
Visit Northamptoshire Co-op Development
Agency ESN for
more informationa and assistance
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