On November 12th we spoke at the Union Coops Symposium organised by Coop Cincy, an online and in-person event in Cincinnati.

We were joined by our good friend, Michael Peck, who works at 1worker:1vote in Washington DC

You can watch the video here, or head over to the Coop Cincy YouTube channel where they have lots more

We plan to run another online event in January, so save the date, January 19th at 6.00pm (GMT)

You can book for the entire online series on our events page https://union-coops.uk/online-events-2021-22/

The first of our online events, union coops stateside, took place on Oct 1st, and the video recording is available here:-

Future events can be booked via our Eventbrite page:-

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/x/online-events-series-oct-2021-to-may-2022-tickets-178607739557

We are working on an exiting events programme to run until May 2022. Sign up now and we’ll email with details of each event as soon as they’re booked

Events series sponsored by BFAWU, MU, and Co-operative Ways Forward

A single ticket booking, available now, free of charge, will get you access to all the online events in this series. A donation towards our costs would be most appreciated, but is not a requirement. 

Please choose either “donation ticket” or “free ticket”.

Oct 2nd 2021 – Our first online event, featuring Michael Peck (1worker1vote – USA) and other USA colleagues was a great success with delegates and attendees rating it highly

November/December 2021 – (Date/time to be confirmed) Colm Massey (Solidarity Economy Association) with trade union and co-operative colleagues from Rojava (North & East Syria)

union-coops:uk’s first conference at Wortley Hall, near Sheffield, originally scheduled for this weekend, has been postponed until May 20^th/21^st next year due to rising Covid infection rates,

Between now and then we’re organising a series of online events.

The first online event in the series is:

“union-coops stateside” 

Oct 2nd 2021at 11.00am BST 

with Michael Peck (1worker1vote), Ra Criscitiello (Service Employees International Union – UHW), Kristen Barker & Ellen Vera (Coop Cincy) and Kevin O’Brien (Worx Printing)

Sponsored by BFAWU, MU, and Co-operative Ways Forward

A single ticket booking, available now, free of charge, will get you access to all the online events in this series. A donation towards our costs would be most appreciated, but is not a requirement. 

When booking please choose either “donation ticket” or “free ticket”.

Our second event is planned to be in November 2021 – (Date/time to be confirmed) with Colm Massey (Solidarity Economy Association) and trade union and co-operative colleagues direct from Rojava (North & East Syria)

If you book in advance you will automatically be updated with dates/times of future events in the series, and this will also help us plan for the number of attendees.

Book at:-

Alternatively you can simply log-in on the day using this link:-

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85906139225

Apologies to anyone who had technical problems with the Eventbrite link in the previous email – this has now been amended

In 2022 (Dates/times to be confirmed) we’re planning a series of further online events covering some of the topics below:-

How can we ‘build back better’ after Covid-19?

What can union activists do to fight for decent work and democracy?

How can workers get control over our daily working lives?

What can we do to promote democracy in the workplace?

Do we have to accept the gig economy and precarity?

Is the union co-op a model whose time has come?

We hope some of our panel of speakers may include:-

Cheryl Barrott (Co-op Party)

Miguel Martinez-Lucio (University of Manchester)

Ian Manborde (Equality & Diversity Organiser – Equity)

Michael Peck (1worker1vote)

Kristen Barker & Ellen Vera (Coop Cincy)

Kevin O’Brien (Worx Printing)

Ra Criscitiello (SEIU-UHW — USA)

Ian Wilson (CASE)

Sion Whellens (Workers Co-op Council)

Sarah Woolley (Gen Sec BFAWU)

David Barnard (Musicians Union)

Our face to face conference at Wortley Hall is provisionally scheduled for May 20^th/21st 2022

Bookings will reopen nearer the event

Stay subscribed for more details, or visit our website at www.union-coops.uk

Our conference on union-coops at 
Wortley Hall, South Yorkshire has been rescheduled to the spring of 2022, but in the meantime we are organising a series of online events starting Oct 2nd

The first online event in the series is:-

“union-coops stateside”

Oct 2nd 2021at 11.00am BST  with Michael Peck (1worker:1vote – USA), Ra Criscitiello (Service Employees International Union), Kristen Barker & Ellen Vera (Cincinnati Union Co-op Initiative) and Kevin O’Brien

Sponsored by BFAWU, MU, and Co-operative Ways Forward

A single ticket booking, available now, free of charge, will get you access to all the online events in this series. A donation towards our costs would be most appreciated, but is not a requirement. 

When booking please choose either “donation ticket” or “free ticket”.

Our second event is planned to be in November 2021 – (Date/time to be confirmed) with Colm Massey (Solidarity Economy Association) and trade union and co-operative colleagues direct from Rojava (North & East Syria)

If you book in advance you will automatically be updated with dates/times of future events in the series, and this will also help us plan for the number of attendees.
Book at:-
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/online-events-series-tickets-178607739557 

Our face to face conference is provisionally rescheduled to next year – 17/18 June 2022 (tbc)

Bookings will re-open once the date and other details have been confirmed

Subjects discussed will include:-

• How can we ‘build back better’ after Covid-19?
• What can we do to promote democracy in the workplace?
• Do we have to accept the gig economy and precarity? 
• Is there a way of creating decent work?
• What can union activists do to fight for decent work and democracy?
• How can workers get control over our daily working lives?
• How can we ‘build back better’ after Covid-19?
• What can we do to promote democracy in the workplace?
• Do we have to accept the gig economy and precarity? 
• Is there a way of creating decent work?
• What can union activists do to fight for decent work and democracy?
• How can workers get control over our daily working lives?

Speakers will include:-

• Cheryl Barrott (Co-op Party)
• Miguel Martinez-Lucio (University of Manchester)
• Ian Manborde (Equality & Diversity Organiser – Equity)
• Michael Peck (1worker1vote – USA)
• Ian Wilson (CASE)
• Sion Whellens (Workers Co-op Council)
• Sarah Woolley (Gen Sec BFAWU)
• David Barnard (MU)

“Decent Work & Democracy”

Due to the increasing Covid19 infection rate, the organising committee have decided to postpone this event until spring 2022

We feel it is important to follow the precautionary principle and to make our own decisions on this matter, and not wait for guidance from the so called government. We hope that by the spring the Covid19 infection rate will have reduced and face to face meetings will be much safer again

Our conference on union-coops at 
Wortley Hall, South Yorkshire will be rescheduled in the spring of 2022, but in the meantime we will be organising a series of online events starting Oct 2nd

Book now for the online events at
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/decent-work-democracy-tickets-149918110103

The first online event will be on the original date of Oct 2nd 2021 with Michael Peck of 1worker:1vote and some of his USA colleagues. It is provisionally scheduled for 11.00am to 13.00, but exact times may be subject to change

Later online events will cover the topics below, and will include as many of the original speakers as are available

Tickets for the whole series are free, but a donation towards our costs would be appreciated

More details will be posted here when available

• How can we ‘build back better’ after Covid-19?
• What can we do to promote democracy in the workplace?
• Do we have to accept the gig economy and precarity? 
• Is there a way of creating decent work?
• What can union activists do to fight for decent work and democracy?
• How can workers get control over our daily working lives?

Speakers will hopefully include:-

• Cheryl Barrott (Co-op Party)
• Miguel Martinez-Lucio (University of Manchester)
• Ian Manborde (Equality & Diversity Organiser – Equity)
• Michael Peck (1worker1vote – USA)
• Ian Wilson (CASE)
• Sion Whellens (Workers Co-op Council)
• Sarah Woolley (Gen Sec BFAWU)
• David Barnard (MU)

We’ve put together a publications section on our website, on which we’ll make available our own publications, and others that are relevant to the union-coops:uk movement, some of which are no longer available on the web.

These include our own Manifesto, two reports, Not Alone and Working Together from Co-operatives UK and the Co-op College on the difficulties faced by the self-employed “precariat”, extracts from two books we’ve contributed to; Life after Covid-19 and The Preston Model; a report for the TUC, Organising the Precariat, and the Age of Google, a report by the late Robin Murray for Co-operatives UK, which looked at the future of co-operation, and not just co-ops.

Check them out at https://union-coops.uk

A conference on union-coops at
Wortley Hall, South Yorkshire on 1-2 October 2021

Bookings are now open for our first conference – Decent Work and Democracy

Book now for Early Bird savings at
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/decent-work-democracy-tickets-149918110103

• How can we ‘build back better’ after Covid-19?
• What can we do to promote democracy in the workplace?
• Do we have to accept the gig economy and precarity? 
• Is there a way of creating decent work?
• What can union activists do to fight for decent work and democracy?
• How can workers get control over our daily working lives?

Join us for union-coops:uk‘s first conference at Wortley Hall, near Sheffield, “the worker’s stately home”

Set in 26 acres of parkland, this grand stately home venue was built by Sir Richard Wortley in 1586, but is now owned and run by a workers co-op

At this event we shall be looking at:-

• How can we ‘build back better’ after Covid-19?
• What can union activists do to fight for decent work and democracy?
• How can workers get control over our daily working lives?
• What can we do to promote democracy in the workplace?
• Do we have to accept the gig economy and precarity?
• Is the union co-op a model whose time has come?

Speakers will include:-

• Cheryl Barrott (Co-op Party)
• Miguel Martinez-Lucio (University of Manchester)
• Ian Manborde (Equality & Diversity Organiser – Equity)
• Michael Peck (1worker1vote – USA)
• Ian Wilson (CASE)
• Sion Whellens (Workers Co-op Council)
• Sarah Woolley (Gen Sec BFAWU)

The conference starts with dinner on the Friday evening, and includes overnight accommodation and all meals.

The full conference runs throughout Saturday with plenary and active learning workshops in the “world cafe” style. Delegates can sign up for the full 24 hour package, or just the Saturday sessions.

Discounted (£140) Early Bird 24 hour delegate tickets are available until June 30th, after that the only 24 hour delegarte places available will be at full price (£160). 

As 24 hour places are limited, you are advised to book early to get a guaranteed place and the discount.

A conference on union co-ops at
Wortley Hall, South Yorkshire on 1-2 October 2021

Save the date for our first conference – Decent Work and Democracy

Bookings are now open at
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/decent-work-democracy-tickets-149918110103

• How can we ‘build back better’ after Covid-19?
• What can we do to promote democracy in the workplace?
• Do we have to accept the gig economy and precarity? 
• Is there a way of creating decent work?
• What can union activists do to fight for decent work and democracy?
• How can workers get control over our daily working lives?

The union co-op is a model whose time has come
A Union Co-op is a fully unionised, worker co-operative, owned and controlled by those who own and work in it. Trade unions are at the heart of this solidarity economy solution: a union co-op offers the potential for a 100% unionised workforce, with the union an essential part of the governance. The union co-op model can deliver improved wages and other terms and conditions by eliminating top-slicing by external owners. It offers us an opportunity to reset the working world, harnessing the collective power of workers, their knowledge, skills and creativity through strong partnerships with unions.

The Union Co-ops Council of the US Federation of Worker Co-ops and marketing sponsors
Co-op Cincy, Community and Worker Ownership Project, CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, Northwest Co-op Development Center, Los Angeles Union Co-op Initiative, 1 Worker: 1 Vote, Wellspring Labor Co-ops Committee, Western Massachusetts Area Labor Federation, Temple University Small Business Development Center, Democracy at Work invite you to attend a free Zoom webinar:

Why Worker Co-ops Should Matter to Labor Unions

Friday, February 12th, 2021 at 18.00 GMT (1:00 to 2:15 EST; 12:00 CST; 11:00 MST; 10:00 PST)  

Presenters: 

• John McNamara / Northwest Co-op Development Center;
• Lis Ryder / Los Angeles Union Co-op Initiative;
• Tim Palmer, union organizer;
• Ra Criscitiello / Service Employees International Union

Registration link: https://info.usworker.coop/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=413