{"id":1137,"date":"2014-06-29T18:08:03","date_gmt":"2014-06-29T16:08:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kpnet.dk\/blogs\/?p=1137"},"modified":"2014-06-29T20:25:50","modified_gmt":"2014-06-29T18:25:50","slug":"worker-owner-cooperatives-take-root-in-the-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kpnet.dk\/blogs\/ron-ridenour\/worker-owner-cooperatives-take-root-in-the-us","title":{"rendered":"Worker-owner cooperatives take root in the US"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ATR<\/a><\/p>\n

Af Ron Ridenour<\/em><\/p>\n

People before Profit\u2014the slogan for production cooperatives\u2014is an option even in the United States. Within the past decade, three forms of worker-owned and\/or managed types of organizing work places are now functioning. The most democratic structure, one that could potentially transform the economy from profiteering greed to meeting everyone\u2019s needs, is the worker-ownership cooperative.<\/p>\n

Out of 5.7 million firms in the United States, the Census Bureau considers that fewer than 300 are worker-owned cooperatives, but they are growing.The major coalition of worker-owner cooperatives is the United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives, which just celebrated its first 10-years. The USFWC has 100 member firms with 1600 individual worker-owners.<\/p>\n

The national grassroots membership organization\u2019s mission is, \u201cto create a thriving cooperative movement through the development of stable and empowering jobs and worker-ownership. We advance worker-owned, -managed, and -governed workplaces through cooperative education, advocacy and development.\u201d http:\/\/www.usworker.coop\/<\/a><\/p>\n

They pay themselves a living wage and decide how to use profits. The range of incomes is 6 to 1. In the conventional economy, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, or about $15,000 a year. Several million workers earn less than that, even under half that. There is no maximum earning. Currently the top 100 CEOs earn between $18,717,013 (Stephen A. Roell of Johnson Controls Inc.) and $78,440,657 (Lawrence Ellison of The Oracle Corporation)\u2014the latter sum translates to 5000 times that of the federal minimum wage earner.
\nhttp:\/\/www.aflcio.org\/Corporate-Watch\/Paywatch-2014\/100-Highest-Paid-CEOs<\/a><\/p>\n

The US is the world\u2019s most unequal nation. The top 1% has a combined net worth that is more than triple the net worth of the other 99% combined. The bottom 40% own less than nothing, because they are sinking in debt, according to Wolff, E.N., \u201cThe asset price meltdown and the wealth of the middle class\u201d National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper 18559 (2012).<\/p>\n

USFWC members connect benefits to each other and to the larger cooperative, and they support economic justice movements.\u00a0 The Federation provides training and organizing work to reach other workers across the nation. It is led by a 100% member-elected board of directors, numerous member committees and working groups, and a three-person staff.<\/p>\n

Federation executive director Melissa Hoover was interviewed by John Duda of www.community-wealth.org<\/a>, on December 5, 2013. She spoke about how worker-cooperatives function.<\/p>\n

When conversion of ownership occurs the new buying owners \u201cneed to have a strong culture of trust and participation, and some understanding of the business, which is not always the case. And even when there is a strong culture of trust, it can still be challenging to understand and implement effective cooperative governance, participatory management, shared decision-making. We just don\u2019t learn those things in school and don\u2019t practice them through most parts of our adult life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other coop networks can be found at: http:\/\/www.usworker.coop\/get-involved\/regional-networks<\/a>.
\nHere is info about how to start one: http:\/\/itsoureconomy.us\/2013\/04\/worker-co-op-startup-guides\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Ohio<\/strong> is a major user of worker-owned companies<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Evergreen Cooperative Initiative in Cleveland was launched in 2008 just as the economic crises set in. It seeks to cause an economic breakthrough in Cleveland. \u201cRather than a trickle down strategy, it focuses on economic inclusion and building a local economy from the ground up; rather than offering public subsidy to induce corporations to bring what often are low-wage jobs into the city, the Evergreen strategy is catalyzing new businesses that are owned by their employees.\u201d http:\/\/evergreencooperatives.com\/about\/evergreen-story\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Original funds came from a working group of Cleveland-based institutions: \u201cThe Cleveland Foundation, the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University, and the municipal government. The Evergreen Cooperative Initiative is working to create living wage jobs in six low-income neighborhoods (43,000 residents with a median household income below $18,500) in an area known as Greater University Circle (GUC).\u201d<\/p>\n

They are experimenting with \u201cinnovative models of job creation, wealth building, and sustainability,\u201d using local people. Many had been part of the 40% unemployed. Worker-owners earn a living wage and build equity in the firms as owners of the business.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of the Evergreen Cooperatives have a shared business philosophy. Our guiding corporate principles include:<\/p>\n