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News #11: What next for 2024?

We have made it out the other side of the freezing temperatures and are diving deep into organising the Spring Worker Co-op Weekend, reviving the workers.coop mission, vision and purpose and bringing to a close changes to the organisational structure to improve the way things are working. We are building up the Events, Training and Peer Network programme while continuing to reach out to as many worker co-ops as possible.

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A very warm welcome to our newest members The New Leaf Co-op, Daily Bread Cambridge, Tipping Point  and Fellside Forestry.

Not a member of workers.coop yet?

Benefit from our member-only learning, training and events, and help to actively develop this federation.

If your co-op is new or struggling we have a ‘Pay What You Can’ option. Individuals can support us by joining Solidfund.

Need more reasons to join? Book in a chat with John.

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Announcements

Worker Co-op Weekend, 17-19 May, Thornbridge Outdoors (Peak District)

We now have a date and venue for the spring Worker Co-op Weekend and can confirm it's going to be sponsored by the brilliant domains.coop who supported our Autumn Assembly in October. Submit ideas for the programme now!

workers.coop Board elections and AGM

The Board elections will take place in Spring, and our AGM will be held on 30 May. Any representative from an enterprise member or worker member can take part, more details to follow.

Peer network facilitated sessions

These are re-starting in February with a Governance session on member engagement followed by an HR session looking at mental health and worker wellbeing.  

Is there peer support around other skills or industries you'd like us to help set up? Marketing, retail, making money, pricing, bikes, books? Tell us about them here.

Co-ops Fortnight 2024

The Communications group is seeking input from member co-ops on what workers.coop should do for Co-ops Fortnight. Please answer 4 questions here to give us a sense of what you want from workers.coop for Co-ops Fortnight (or whether we want it at all!).

News shorts

The Deptford venue Matchstick Piehouse in London is running a fundraiser to become a workers co-op after it shut last year due to rent and lease issues. It is an anti-capitalist and grassroots bar, venue and art space where community members and former staff have come together. They feel becoming a worker co-op matches both the politics and ethos of the space. The first step is fundraising to cover wages, equipment and restarting. More here.

A new International working group has met twice, and it currently has 6 members. The group wants to formalise its role in workers.coop, coordinating our international representation, collaboration and solidarity links. It has proposed Babs Nicgriogair from Greencity to be our CECOP and perhaps CICOPA rep from 2024. The new group wants to host at least one session at Worker Co-op Weekend. Get in touch via this Forum thread if you might be interested in contributing, or would like to see Babs' fabulous personal statement.

Our Mobilising and Communications worker, Sam, linked up with folk from the US Federation of Worker Co-ops this December. Here's what she said.

It was uncharacteristically warm in New York by late December and I didn't need all my layers as I navigated Manhatten's busy streets towards Hells Kitchen. That evening I was having dinner with folk from the USFWC, and then attending their New York holiday social. The USFWC was a great support and inspiration for our UK based workers.coop as we set up, with John our Project Coordinator spending time collaborating with them during our initial days. Their national network of co-ops are 10-15 years ahead of us, so there are lots of lessons to be learnt, as well as there being more localised and regional networks.

In New York, for instance, there's the New York City Network of Worker Co-ops (NYC NOWC, pronounced nick-knock), who were hosting the evening's bilingual Spanish-English celebrations. I arrived to a lot of voices, kids running around and Latin/Salsa music, with a huge food table and a stall with merch and a raffle sign-up. We watched a presentation of the year's successes and listened to experiences of Board staff who were stepping down or up. The tour of the building was a highlight. It's a co-op events, working and art space called Prime Produce that despite its location is set deeply within different working class communities in the area. Amongst the spaces were a rooftop with veg boxes for people lacking green growing space, a mini turtle sanctuary, beetles, a music studio and a library.

A key difference between the USFWC and workers.coop is our structure; where they have a larger paid worker team, we have been relying more on a grassroots self-organised model. But much of our activities aspire to be the same, with them running peer network events and skill based trainings, albeit on a different scale. They applauded us for where we have got to now, with over 60 members, regional activities and plans for our second large in-person event in Spring. Building a federation takes a while, they said, but the hope is that in a year's time we'll have much more to compare and discuss. I am very grateful for their time and solidarity.

Events 📅
All Hands meeting
25 January, 12-2pm (online meeting)
All working group member meeting for those working on the federation (or wanting to). Next one to be led by People, Policy & Culture working group.
 
Peer Network: Governance
1 February, 12-1pm (online meeting)

This will be our first governance peer network (member only), aimed at worker co-op Secretaries or those who lead on governance issues. This will be a 1hr focused discussion on a topic, 'Communication and engagement with members'. Register here.

 
Glasgow co-op meetup
6 February, 5.30pm-7.30pm (social)
We'll start a 'Glasgow Co-operatives' solidarity banner, inspired by the iconic miners' banners and co-operative women's guild, to bring visibility on May Day and other marches.
 
Doncaster & Yorkshire meetup
7 February, 5-8pm (social)
Come join those involved or interested in worker co-ops at Doncaster Skate Co-operative's skate park. Tour the site, skate(!), eat, drink and chat/do things Principle 6!
 
Edinburgh co-op meetup
9 February, 7-9pm (facilitated session/social)
We're hosting a facilitated event for all Scotland co-ops. This will be a collective website designing session, to hear your needs and and ideas for a new Edinburgh/Scotland co-op website. Or just come hang out, join us at the Edinburgh Student Housing Co-op.
 
Peer Network: HR
15 February, 12-1pm (online meeting)
This network is aimed at anyone working in HR within a worker co-op. This session will focus on: Mental health and worker wellbeing. Sign up to get the meeting link here.
 
Is starting a co-op right for you?
2 March, 11.30am-3pm, south Birmingham (workshop)
An open workshop aimed at increasing education, information and confidence amongst those looking at starting a worker co-op, amongst other types. Register here.
 
All Hands meeting
28 March, 12-2pm (online meeting)
All working groups members meeting for those actively working on the federation (or wanting to), to meet, discuss, plan and celebrate.
 
Worker co-op weekend
17-19 May, Derbyshire
Save the date! Venue: Thornbridge, Sheffield, Derbyshire
 
workers.coop AGM
Thursday 30 May, 5-6pm (online meeting)
Details and agenda to be circulated near the time.
Things you can do to help
💻 Input and shape workers.coop's mission, purpose & vision at this Thursday's All Hands meeting (12-1pm). For working group members and active supporters.
 
🎪 Suggest a Worker Co-op Weekend programme idea Go wild, add suggestions for topics, from practical learning, improving performance of worker co-ops or political education.
 
Propose ideas for workers.coop's Co-op Fortnight campaign 2024
 
📍 Based in Scotland? Calling all Scottish co-operators who may be interested in helping organise 1 day in person meetup in Dundee in June. Email louise at mediaco-op.net
 
Submit a case study. We want to publish more case studies and profiles, so enter one here if you want to see your co-op featured.
 
🤗 Member inductions Book a 10 minute workers.coop Induction for you or new workers.
 

Organise a local meetup We're trying to ramp up local meetups and coordination and networking between industries. Contact john@, we provide advice, templates & funding.

👋 Say hello and join in on decisions, propose ideas on the Forum

workers.coop free materials

Stock up on worker co-op educational and promotional materials. Hand out in shop fronts, bring to local meetups or pin up on noticeboards in staff rooms.

  • Worker Co-op Codes
  • workers.coop Manifesto (A6 leaflet)
  • A6 workers.coop postcards
  • B2 workers.coop posters
  • Ceramic pin badges (for members)
Order here

Name: workers.coop Limited
Registered number: RS004981
Registered Address: 63 Rakewood Rd, Rochdale, OL15 0AP 

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