Co-operatives London joined with STIR Magazine in December to organise the event “Old Forms, New Strategies: Trade Unions, Co-operatives and the Commons” in East London. Featuring Tara Mulqueen, Sion Whellens and Dave Boyle, the event considered joint working between trade unions and co-ops.
Here are some of the responses to the event:
“I was particularly struck by the statement that ‘rentseeking is the only form of economic activity associated with space’ and the idea that we are living in a time of unprecedented enclosure – of people’s space, intellectual property, free time and labour. I thought this was interesting as I think we should be working on making cooperation as visible as enclosure – on the high street, for instance. I also thought it was spot on to say that people are animated by the values, not the forms, of cooperation but I think we need to find a way of enabling people to take on forms without fear. People are afraid for their life to take a different shape than 9-5 working and freedom in the eves, so working on how people deal with forms is important, I think, in boosting confidence” – Aliyah Norrish
“I came along to see if I could get any useful soundbites for my Green Futures Show. I am still editing the recording. I am keen to find some nuggets for a general audience. I hope to come along to more Stir talks in the future. The topic made me think of my experience as a trade union rep with Unison, just a short one and I was not very sure of my role, possibly would do differently now. And a period starting a community co-op in Kingston, fondly remembered, the Beacon Centre for Environmental Concern. I wondered how many in the audience had had experience on both sides and that the two types of organisation can just fit and dovetail into each other in peoples lives. I just wish there was more visible and mainstream support for people wishing to take the step of starting a co-op, and to have more success stories out there to inspire those possibilities” – Jean Vidler
“Co-operation is the only past, present and future alternative to non-state and non-capitalist value creation and goods and service production. Instead of complaining about the exploitative nature of for-profit economic activity, or reliant on making redundant resolutions imploring the state to “do something”, citizens (whether as workers or consumers) need to return to the co-operative values of self-help, self-responsibility and solidarity to fashion locally-owned and democratically-controlled solutions, that have the potential not only to improve their own material conditions but which also in their own small way have the power to change the world” – Danny Crowe
Trade Unions have become too large, too institutionalised and too involved with parliamentary politics. Small and medium sized co-operatives, with autonomy from the political sphere, provide the best option for long-term worker representation, reclaiming and retaining the commons. To succeed however, there needs to be more co-operation within the co-operative movement. Event was excellent” – David Fagleman
“I welcomed the opportunity to discuss a commons-based approach to co-operatives and trades unions. Nick Dyer-Witheford has suggested we view the circulation of the commons as a process involving associations of individuals taking from the existing commons and producing and sustaining common-pool resources. Democratic control of corporate governance is at the heart of commoning. The reduction in demand for labour occurring with technological innovation such as digitisation, the potential for almost zero-priced distribution of information goods, and the need to reduce the throughput of natural resources, particularly non-renewable forms of energy which result in climate-changing carbon emissions, are all trends which disrupt the circulation of capital. A strategic partnership between organised labour and the co-operative movement to establish a federation of worker co-operatives could provide a here-and-now alternative for working people. It does not require that the peak institutions lead the way, but getting the Trades Union Congress and Co-operatives UK to consider such a vision will be important if it is to be sustained. Can it be done? It must” – James Doran
“I’m very glad it happened! I hope we all stay in touch. I’d like anyone to tell me how I/we can develop the Co-operative Socialism plan (PDF available on request)
In response to requests, I uploaded two You Tube videos on Co-operative Socialism:
a) 43 minutes with explanation;
and b) 13 minutes with graphics and a request to help
Best – equally! – for all!” – John Courtneidge
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