Coop

Since 1882, Harvard and MIT have had their Coop. In the 70's, we had food co-ops (they're still around you know^[1]). Now the worker collaborative has emerged as the new co-operative for the new century.

The International Co-operative Alliance (www.ica.coop) represents close to one billion individual members. Cooperatives generate partial or full-time employment for at least 250 million people worldwide, and make up 12% of the entire employed population of the G20 countries. The 2,000 co-operatives in the 65 countries surveyed by the World Cooperative Monitor totals 2.6 trillion USD.

Although we hear relatively little about the cooperative sector in the United States, it is actually the country with the largest number of members represented by the International Co-operative Alliance. There are nearly 30,000 cooperatives in the United States, with 256 million members and over two million jobs.

Definition

International Co-operative Alliance Statement on the Cooperative Identity

A co-operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.

Bylaws

Loconomics Cooperative, Inc. Bylaws
File:Loconomics-cooperative-bylaws.pdf
The uk.coop offers model governing documents
The Internet Of Ownership coop library has 140+ resources available.
The ICA Group of Boston/Northampton/NYC offers resources and does business conversions.
WebArchitects Rules (we're a member of WebArchitects Coop)
MayFirst Official Documents (Agaric is a member? of MayFirst)

Values

Co-operatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, co-operative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.

Principles

The co-operative principles are guidelines by which co-operatives put their values into practice.

Voluntary and Open Membership
Co-operatives are voluntary organisations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.
Democratic Member Control
Co-operatives are democratic organisations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary co-operatives members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and co-operatives at other levels are also organised in a democratic manner.
Member Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the co-operative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing their co-operative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the co-operative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.
Autonomy and Independence
Co-operatives are autonomous, self-help organisations controlled by their members. If they enter to agreements with other organisations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their co-operative autonomy.
Education, Training and Information
Co-operatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives. They inform the general public - particularly young people and opinion leaders - about the nature and benefits of co-operation.
Co-operation among Co-operatives
Co-operatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.
Concern for Community
Co-operatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.