News
December 30, 2014
This research paper summarizes an examination of the National Establishment Time Series (NETS) dataset for North Carolina and Iowa to gauge the potential for conversions of existing businesses to worker cooperatives. The data demonstrate that the potential is quite large, and that even if only a fraction of these successfully converted to worker ownership and continued to operate at their last year levels, there would be meaningful economic impacts. Full Publication.
December 23, 2014
The Democracy at Work Institute/USFWC Press Kit includes information about worker cooperatives, why they are important, examples of existing cooperatives and development organizations, city government initiatives, frequently asked questions, and more.
Full Publication.
December 17, 2014
Becoming Employee-Owned is a guide for business owners interested in employee ownership. It provides an overview of the three primary transition approaches for employee ownership: worker cooperatives, ESOPs, and management buy-outs. Regardless of what stage the business is in--from expansion to succession planning-- this resource can help business owners understand their options for becoming an employee-owned company. Full Publication.
December 5, 2014
The Democracy at Work Institute has created a new fellowship program to support the current and next generation of mid-career worker cooperative development leaders and their organizations to engage with the question of scale. The Institute’s Fellowship Program creates the space and time for cooperative developers to step back and think about their work from this vantage point.
For more information about the program, follow this link. Informational webinar and/or screening interview required... more
December 3, 2014
When forming, worker cooperatives have an important choice to make regarding their legal entity. Each entity type has implications on important issues including taxation, employment law, and access to capital. This resource is intended to give a brief overview of the entity types and lay out the issues worker cooperatives may want to consider when choosing which is the best fit for the business at whatever stage it is currently in.Full Publication.
December 3, 2014
Worker cooperatives are a powerful tool for economic and community development. This resource describes their role in creating a more just economy. It provides an overview of the benefits of the cooperative form, with examples of existing cooperatives and quotes from worker-owners. The resource also describes current initiatives to develop cooperatives by nonprofits, as well as government initiatives to spur the growth of the sector. Full Publication.
June 24, 2014
A diverse coalition achieves unprecedented support for the worker cooperative movement from the New York City Council
On Thursday, June 26th the New York City Council will vote to approve the city's annual budget, which contains a $1.2 million initiative to fund the development of worker cooperatives.
This investment – the largest to date by a city government – represents an endorsement of worker cooperatives as a means of creating quality jobs and anchoring businesses in local communities.... more
March 27, 2014
Here's one way to celebrate turning 10 ... Get some coverage in the NY Times Magazine! USFWC and DAWI Executive Director, Melissa Hoover, and USFWC member, The Working World, are interviewed in this well-received article, "Who Needs a Boss?".
"Support for full-fledged co-ops has inched into the mainstream as communities have grown weary of waiting for private investors to create good jobs — or sick of watching them take jobs away...
"One perennial criticism of worker co-ops is that they can’t... more
January 24, 2014
This piece comes from Sherman Kreiner at the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation. Kreiner is a longtime community economic development practitioner using worker ownership. His work at PACE in Philadelphia, including the O&O Supermarkets, Childspace and Home Care Associates, may be most familiar to our readers. His piece here explains the University of Winnipeg's development model based on four pillars of sustainability, and he makes the case that the anchor institution in... more
December 9, 2013
Interested in the potential for the conversion of conventionally owned businesses into worker cooperatives? The Democracy Collaborative has published an interview with Democracy At Work Institute Executive Director Melissa Hoover on the potential of cooperative conversions, their challenges and the Institute's support for them. Check out the whole interview here.
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