Category Archives: worker co-ops

Make USPS a Solidarity Co-op!

Posted on August 24, 2020 by John McNamara

The recent fight over the post office has been dramatic and hyper partisan while also obscuring the causes of the financial problems of the post office. These problems largely result from one major decision by the Congress known as the … Continue reading →

Posted in 2040, American Dream, Uncategorized, worker co-ops | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

May Day 2020: A Day of Solidarity and Support

Posted on April 29, 2020 by John McNamara

Normally, I see May Day as the international workers holiday. It would, in my view, be an international paid holiday where nobody labors and celebrates the value of people. A number of worker co-ops close to celebrate (Rainbow Grocery Co-op … Continue reading →

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Human Dignity

Posted on April 1, 2020 by John McNamara

“We should begin by considering all humans as citizens of equal dignity and destiny.” “The destiny of each one of us is linked to that of others” –Don José María Arizmendiarrieta No man is an island entire of itself; every … Continue reading →

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The Unnamed Co-op Value: Gritty

Posted on March 28, 2020 by John McNamara

Calvin Coolidge, the US President that symbolized the 1920s, has been credited with this statement: “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; … Continue reading →

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Are We Not Owners? We Are Workers!

Posted on March 20, 2020 by John McNamara

Last Winter, Fifty by Fifty ran a series of blog posts about the sale of the ESOP New Belgium Brewery to Kirin. It was a great series of posts of which I was honored to participate. This was and is … Continue reading →

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Sociocracy: The Worker Co-op Operating System

Posted on November 26, 2019 by John McNamara

Over the last couple of years, I have had the incredible opportunity to work with Sociocracy For All (SoFA). This organization has worked diligently to bring the concepts of sociocracy out of the “best kept secret” category and into the … Continue reading →

Posted in Governance, Management, worker co-ops | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Worker Co-op Movement in 2040: Revisited

Posted on November 8, 2019 by John McNamara

Ten years ago, when I was blogging much more regularly, I wrote a series on envisioning the worker co-op movement in 2040. You can read them here. As the Co-op Decade comes to a conclusion over the next couple of … Continue reading →

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The Legal Framework

Posted on November 6, 2019 by John McNamara

The 4th goal of the Blueprint for a Cooperative Decade has also showed significant advancement since 2010. This goal states, “ensure supportive legal framework for cooperative growth”. At the state level, the spread of Limited Cooperative Association (LCA) acts have … Continue reading →

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All Systems Go! Working Systems Co-op

Posted on October 30, 2019 by John McNamara

In July of 2018, while the Main Street Employee Ownership Act was working its way into the Omnibus Defense Bill and NWCDC was preparing its Legacy Project aimed at raising the profile of worker ownership, I got a call from … Continue reading →

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My 2nd Birthplace: Union Cab of Madison 40 years on

Posted on October 29, 2019 by John McNamara

I am a bit glad that this post came so late in the month. I needed some time to get back in the practice of blogging before taking tackling this–so many thoughts and emotions run though my mind that this … Continue reading →

Posted in Co-op Month, Management, worker co-ops | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments