Archive for Martin Tiedemann
Is one head better than two?
The likely merger between the Co-operative Group and United Co-ops, with Peter Marks of United as the expected new CEO, has been widely reported and commented upon. That in itself is a positive thing, with co-ops making the business pages amongst all the stocks and shares and plc news. But in much of the coverage [...]
Co-op coffee on film Part 1
As mentioned delectably elsewhere, a few weeks ago the Co-operative Party premiered a new film about global coffee production in a screening at Parliament. The movie, Black Gold, features Tadesse Meskela, the general manager of the Oromia Coffee Farmers Co-operative Union in Ethopia. Tadesse himself was able to join us and the film makers for [...]
A co-operative agenda for Wales
This weekend has seen the Welsh Labour Party Conference in Llandudno, where Rhodri Morgan, Tony Blair and colleagues have been setting out Labour’s vision for Wales ahead of the Assembly elections in May. The Co-operative Party also launched its manifesto in Llandudno – a Co-operative Agenda for Wales 2007. Wales has long been at the [...]
Mutuality masterclass
The new boss at Nationwide outlines how and why being a mutual benefits his customers.
Tony parties with the co-operators
Last week saw the launch of festivities for the ninetieth anniversary of the Co-operative Party with a reception at Number 10, hosted by the Prime Minister and Mrs Blair. Co-op Party activists from across the country were joined by Members of Parliament, peers, NGO and fairtrade bods and our colleagues from the co-operative societies. Tadesse [...]
Wangari – defender of trees, human rights and do-it-yourself
Last night I had the pleasure of hearing Professor Wangari Maathai, Kenyan founder of the Green Belt Movement and 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, deliver a lecture at the RSA. Wangari described the journey that took her from being a biologist and activist for women and trees, through to fighting for education, empowerment and democracy. [...]
90 years of co-operative values
Since 1917, the Co-operative Party has represented the Co-operative movement at the heart of Labour and of Government. The Party was founded at a conference in Westminster Central Hall in 1917 and stood in its first parliamentary election in January 1918. Since then, Co-operative Party MPs have worked with and in the Labour Party, and [...]
Will Kate Moss be the new face of co-operation
Burberry, supplier of expensive raincoats to Posh Spice and inspiration to Cambodian-made caps in markets across the country, is planning to shut its Treorchy plant in the Rhondda next month with the loss of over 300 jobs, despite its profits being up 22%. A campaign led by Leighton Andrews AM and the GMB, among others, [...]
Goodbye Leeds
Tonight, at midnight, the UK’s oldest independent co-operative society, the Leeds Co-operative Society, will be wound up and its assets transferred to United Co-operatives. So a salute to the men and women of Leeds Society who worked since 1847 for mutualism and created a little piece of the co-operative commonwealth. And a best wishes to [...]
Post New Year Blues
The government’s decision to reject distributing 20% shares to Royal Mail staff is a missed opportunity. The alternative of linking staff bonuses to the value of the company may, in the short term, be of greater value financially to Royal Mail staff, but it will not of itself involve staff in the decisions that will [...]
