Hundreds of cooperators from across sectors gathered in Washington, DC, for the 2023 Cooperative IMPACT Conference the first week of October, kicking off National Co-op Month. The agenda on Thursday, October 5 included a session called “Innovation Through Worker Cooperatives,” which solicited attendees’ input on how the broader co-op community can engage worker cooperatives, perhaps the fastest growing co-op sector in the U.S.
Hundreds of cooperators from across sectors gathered in Washington, DC, for the 2023 Cooperative IMPACT Conference the first week of October, kicking off National Co-op Month. The agenda on Thursday, October 5 included a session called “Innovation Through Worker Cooperatives,” which solicited attendees’ input on how the broader co-op community can engage worker cooperatives, perhaps the fastest growing co-op sector in the U.S.
A brief overview: The 2021 State of the Sector counted more than 600 worker co-ops employing 6,000 workers and earning $283.17 million in gross revenue annually. Kelly estimated there was a 30 percent increase in both number of co-ops and members since then. This high growth level excites those involved and reflects both existing worker co-ops’ resiliency as well as a wave of startups as people turn to cooperation to earn their living.
Worker co-op membership is comprised of a majority of women nationwide, and also counts percentages of people of color and LGBTQ+ communities that are consistent with, or in some cases higher than, the population in the U.S. Characteristics of worker co-ops include direct democracy in governance, equitable top-to-bottom pay ratios (usually 2:1, compared to 351:1 at a typical corporation), and patronage paid equally through number of hours worked.
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