Archive for 'trade unions'
Could a co-operative save Tribune?
Troubled magazine of the Labour movement, Tribune, is considering a co-operative option of ownership to rescue it from closure. The Co-operative News and the Morning Star are both examples of co-operatively owned publications with a reader membership. So the model works – it’s just whether a co-op can attract members and put the business back [...]
Member power in pensions
Today the TUC has released a report on pensions which shows that members of pension schemes – employees – are nominating their own trustees in ever greater numbers. The report, The member voice in pensions governance, has found that 86% of pension scheme boards now have one-third of their trustees nominated by members and many [...]
Tolpuddle Martyrs, a co-op angle
Today over at Tolpuddle, comrades are marking an important moment in the labour movement, the beginning of the trade union movement thanks to the Tolpuddle Martyrs: James Brine, James Hammett, George Loveless, James Loveless, Thomas Standfield and John Standfield. Key speakers at today’s Martyrs Festival include Tony Benn, Brendan Barber and Hashemiya Muhsin Hussein, the [...]
The future direction of public services
Two important reports came out this month on the future of public services. First is the ‘Putting people into public services‘ report of the National Consumer Council. They look at the critical area of regulation, often not considered by commentators but crucial in ensuring services, whether publicly or privately provided, meet standards and expectations. Regulators [...]
USDAW chief hails co-op connection
The shopworkers’ union USDAW’s general secretary John Hannett praised the co-op movement for its supportive attitude to the union and pledged to improve the relationship further. Speaking at the conference for unions reps in the Co-operative Group, Hannett described the Co-op as a ‘a sleeping giant that had slept for far too long’ but together [...]
Let’s have it off – the campaign for a Community Day
Community Day is a campaign by the TUC and leading voluntary sector organisations for a new bank holiday, one dedicated to communities and volunteering. The idea is to have it in October, during half term, to promote volunteering and the role it plays in our society. Facebook group here.
Guardian – employees do better with co-ops
A week ago, the Guardian ran a special supplement on social enterprise, with a cover story of ‘Cooperatives pay big dividends‘. The article looks at various worker co-ops and employee-owned firms like John Lewis. It makes the point that these firms have greater buy-in from their staff, so that they can perform better and are [...]
