Our Member Councils and Peer Networks are shaping the future of the worker co-op movement in the U.S. Here are the end-of-year highlights from some of our Councils & Networks:
- Union Co-ops Council – This year, we connected with workers at REI as they wage a national organizing campaign at the co-op to be in solidarity and not let REI use their co-op brand to union bust. 40 co-ops have signed our petition calling on REI to bargain a fair contract and members across the US are building relationships with workers at their local REI stores to show up and support.The UCC showed up to a number of conferences and events to educate and activate organizers around the union co-op model, including the Worker Co-op Conference, Labor Notes, the Union Co-op Summit in the Bay Area, as well as other local workshops and trainings.
- Policy & Advocacy Council – The Policy and Advocacy Council met throughout 2024, sharing progress and providing peer feedback on advocacy initiatives across the country including OH, MA, Guam, WA, WI and more. The council vetted federal and state legislation together, key messages, and opportunities to organize together around educational materials, the WORK Act and International Year of the Co-op in 2025.
- Worker Co-op Academies Peer Network – The Co-op Academies Peer Network had 4 quarterly meetings focused on discussion and resource sharing this year:Q1: How do co-op academies feed into and shape the coop ecosystem? What do you use to measure the success of your academy and its impact?Q2: How do you incorporate language justice into your academy? What technology do you require/use in your academy?Q3: How do you train participants on conflict?
Q4: What is it like to run an industry-specific academy? How do you create criteria to prioritize BIPOC and ‘minority’ populations?
We’re currently voting for next year’s topics and will continue to meet quarterly in 2025. If you are planning to start a worker co-op academy, have run an academy in the past, or are currently running an academy, join us next year!
- Tech Worker Co-ops Peer Network – This group met monthly to advance their goal of making the software, information technology, and digital media industry better for all people. They discussed strategies for raising awareness in the tech field about worker cooperatives, identifying the tech needs of worker co-ops, and providing a platform for member co-ops to share their services. The group had a strong presence at the Worker Co-op conference in September, hosting an informal meetup for worker-owners in the tech sector as well as leading a session on the tech needs of worker co-ops.
Check our events calendar in the new year to sign up for our 2025 Member Council and Peer Network meetings.
