National Delegate Conference 15-18 June 2010

Let's prepare to organise workers in co-operatives

Conference recognised that co-operatives and mutuals, when developed in close collaboration with the public sector can have a place in public provision.

Guidance and support will be made available to UNISON branches and members who are faced with options or are under pressure to adopt 'co-operative', 'mutual', 'social enterprise' or other ownership models outside the public sector.

Moves to set a blanket opposition to all co-operatives and mutuals, and thus to wipe out the whole purpose of the motion, were defeated.

Stephen Brown, Quarriers Branch told us that workers' co-operatives are not new. He took us back to 1761, "just before Mike Kirby's hairstyle was born," when the weavers formed a co-operative movement to sell discounted oatmeal to local workers. This expanded to include savings and loans and education.

"This motion is basically about the real situation that we as a union could face," Stephen told delegates. "We are being asked to prepare for the possibility of co-operatives being formed and to look at how we can organise workers in this organisation," he said, drawing parallels with the community sector organising across various widespread voluntary organisations.

"Are we an organising union?" challenged Stephen. "Well let's make sure we can organise in co-operatives and protect members."

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