The Labour Movement and Co-operatives

Bibliographic Data

ID2764306
AuthorsNikola Balnave (0000-0003-3950-046X), Nikola Balnave Nikola Balnave, Greg Patmore (0000-0001-7151-4381, The University of Sydney), Greg Patmore Greg Patmore
Year2017
Issue112
Pages7
Publication date2017-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueLabour History (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0023-6942 • E-ISSN: 1839-3039
PublisherLiverpool University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.5263/labourhistory.112.0007
OpenAlexW2738920723
LanguageEN
Citations received2

The labour and co-operative movements are collective organisations that have similar roots and share a strong emphasis on democratic practices that seek to ensure the best for their community. There is both alignment and tensions in their relationship. Consumer co-operatives have supported unions and provided support to striking workers. However, co-operatives are also businesses that need to ensure financial survival. This has the potential to place co-operatives in conflict with organised labour particularly regarding labour costs. Workers may also have greater commitment to the organisation given that they are also part owners, particularly in the case of worker co-operatives. The co-operative ideal of “political neutrality” has also complicated the relationship between co-operatives and the labour movement. This paper will focus on some areas of alignment and tension between the labour movement and consumer retail and worker co-operatives drawing primarily on the Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, UK and US experience

Business · Democracy · Economics · Free movement · Ideal (ethics) · Labour economics · Market economy · Movement (music) · Neutrality · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Project commissioning · Publishing · Labor Movements and Unions · Law

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