8/2/2019 Worker Co-Operative Code of Governance

1/1

Democratic Enterprise: Ethical busi

The Worker Co-operativ

Co-operatives UK, the represenproduced a guide on governan

operative principles must be ce

there are a number of guideline

1. They are businesses that gen

To create and maintain To improve the quality To allow democratic sel To allow all workers to To promote communit

2. The membership of a worker

of sustainable jobs the business

3. Whilst not all workers have to

members. And, although some

in a worker co-operative the ma

4. Members of a co-operative h

either workers in a conventiona

this relationship is not recognis

5. The internal regulation of a w

democratically by the members

6. The worker co-operative mus

subject to UK law and regulatio

their management, trade, empl

that, a co-operative which is set

business, or to provide labour f

declaration.

Source: Co-operatives UK, Work

2009).

ness for the 21 st century Co-operative Edu

Creative Commo

Case Study 5.1

Code of Governance

ative body for consumer and worker co-operate for worker co-operatives. While accepting th

ntral to any code of governance, the report ack

s specific to the worker co-operative model:

rate wealth to fulfil their principle objectives:

sustainable jobs

f life of the members

f -management by membersork with dignity

and local development

co-operative is free and voluntary, but is gover

can support.

become members of the co-operative, the maj

non-workers may be permitted to be members

jority of the members ought to be workers.

ve a different working relationship with the co

lly managed business or the self-employed con

ed by UK employment legislation.

orker co-operative is determined by procedure

.

t be autonomous and independent. A co-opera

n, but must not be subordinate to a third party

oyment, and ownership of the means of produ

up expressly to hive off an unprofitable branch

r another business, is not a co-operative under

er Co-operative Code of Governance (Mancheste

cation Trust Scotland

ns 3.0 Licence

ives in the UK,at the seven co-

nowledges that

ed by the number

ority should be

of the co-operative,

operative than

tractor. But, note,

s that are agreed

tive is obviously

in any aspect of

tion. Further to

of another

the terms of this

: Co-operatives UK,