What is a Worker Cooperative? 

What's fun about cooperatives is that they are incentivized to cooperate with other co-ops to grow yet aren't necessarily incentivized to complete because they are more able to merge if the worker body votes for it

I love how one of the downsides is that they’re less price competitive because they pay their workers properly

Education is crucial for the worker coops. There must be a school or a university that specializes in Cooperativism. this 1 subject must be carried through out the school years whatever their majors are. Cooperativism lessons should consist of business management, business and working ethics, marketing strategy, how to organize meeting, how to budget and invest , how to compute labor hours, wages, capital contribution and the sharing of profits, how to utilize social media and create websites to advertise products in a cooperative ways and lastly on how to negotiate and cooperate with other coops. By the way it's just only my opinion.

I like the subtle use of hammer and sickle ;)

Came from reddit. I see only well done work, continue with this. Share out from Argentina

Absolutely coops are better. After 100 years of oppression, repression and exploitation I think worker co ops are doing great. Nonetheless keep organizing. Full liberation.

YES! Thanks you for articulating the revolutionnary potential of the cooperative movement. We are working on it in Benin West Africa. Would love to connect if possible. Again... Respect.

This is a super helpful video for breaking up the lecture videos post pandemic. Thank you for your work! I'd love to see an animated short on the connection between labor organizing and worker cooperatives.

Workers of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains!

Spread the good worrrd Jimi Sol ! Love you

I am a member of a consumer cooperative here in Britain, and it is a very very well known national chain of stores, but owned and run by its members in accordance with its principles. A lot of people join as a member (for a £1 joining fee) to get discounts when shopping there but you also get shares when you shop there and a one member one vote system is used to elect the national institutions, lower down (at the individual store level) it is run pretty much like a normal business because as highlighted it is difficult to have a direct democracy on every decision. It also operates a principle of solidarity with other cooperatives, and small family businesses, wherein the national coop (as a larger business) sells its products to smaller coops and local businesses to help them out. Correct me if I got anything wrong, because I am only one of 1000s+ of members here.

Love to see another economic video. You have a knack for making easy to understand, concise videos that are nonetheless filled with valuable information and insight (love the graphics too). Will be sharing this and your Marxism 101 video with others as an introduction to basic leftist principles.

I love this! Now I just need to put it into practice.. ✊

Like, maybe one on council democracy as in Rojava. Idk. Topics like this get me excited! Thank you for this animation!

Ooh your video has just given me an inspired idea! Excellent - thank you

Worker-owned cooperatives are a key part of revolutionizing society, as this video explains. They offer a new structure that empowers workers and emphasizes their benefits. #Coops #Revolution

Good video. I assume this is meant to be a follow-up on your capitalism video. In that context I would say one criticism of this kind of co-op socialism is that while they mostly remove the moral problem of worker exploitation, they would have many of the same inefficiency and illogical problems that regular capitalism has. Co-ops competing against each other in a market economy would still be prone to crisis, unemployment, and incentives would not always match human need. For example, if there was a defense manufacturing co-op, it would have the same incentive to lobby for war as a traditional business, in order to make more profit and stay afloat/outdo competition. You can argue that all the co-ops will come together and create a larger plan together but again, the system wouldn't incentivize that which makes it difficult to imagine happening. An alternative that would address those issues is more of a publicly owned, nationally planned kind of economy with as much democracy as possible, and also lots of co-ops and direct democracy on local levels. Not perfect either of course but worth considering.

This was such a good video! Thank you!

I've always wanted to start one. Unfortunately the lightbulb hasn't turned on yet haha I'm not even close to having the resources, but still brainstorm about it all the time.

Congratulations Jimi! Your videos area really explainable and cristal clear to understand! Keep going!

We need the Urban Co-operative in every city! The objective of the Urban Co-operative is to save energy. And to do so profitable. We have to reduce our Carbon Footprint and as a community we can save lots of energy!

Why don't you post anymore? These are amazing!

1:49 Well, if you redistribute only the excess money that the private owner would get in private company, then you can spend it however you want without being any less competitive. So this ain't the reason. The reason why there are not so many co-ops, is because no-one wants to create a company and then give it up to employees, that they can vote him out of office.

the only real argument so far against worker co-ops are that there aren't enough of them, so the sample size is too small. co-ops are better in every way

Comment for the algorithm!

I love this new economy for the betterment of humanity!

But, no Sir! Worker-coops have NO problem outcompeting traditional businesses. That's why, contrary to your statement, pretty much every one of the many thousands around the world are thriving and only very few of them failed. In Spain one of the largest producers of goods in the nation is a worker-coop, employing millions. They don't have to raise their prices at all, because the wages and better work conditions simply do not outweigh the ridiculous wages and yearly bonuses of a 'regular' management. Not to mention the bribes and fines paid by corporations and every single dollar of profit disappearing into the pockets of the stockholders. That is why many worker-coops are able to invest back into their communities, building schools, hospitals, community centers, offering social structures like childcare and trying to improve their communities in many ways, not just their workers. The *real* reason why worker-coops aren't massively popular is mainly because they're a democratic-socialist structure, and specifically Americans have been taught that "Socialism equals Communism, which equals The Devil". Even unions, a "lesser form of a worker-coop" have a hard time getting off the ground in the USA. People have basically been taught that all those things are very very bad because they're a direct anti-dote to capitalism's power and grip on society. Apart from that, worker-coops are not supported by our Capitalist society, which requires a predatory structure, so they do not get funded or promoted by the government. Large corporations get trillions in tax breaks, millions in flat-out gifts from certain states, free land, environmental exemptions, you name it, and if worker-coops would get just a fraction of that as a startup capital, not even as a gift, but as an interest-free loan, that would change the entire landscape of how businesses are run across the nation. If we would have a government who supported that, and pushed for worker-coops by making a law that says that any corporation that goes bankrupt, gets sold, moves out of the country, or otherwise changes hands, the workers get the first right to buy it, then that could not just change the nation, but as a result could change the entire world.

Dope. More on topics like this please

Just commenting to make the algorithm extend your videos to be recommended, this is a clear example of a infravalorated channel

Worker-owned cooperatives are a key part in revolutionizing our society's structure. This video explains their importance and why they are beneficial from a syndicalist perspective. Watch to learn more!

Why not mention housing cooperatives, credit unions and mutual insurance companies? They are all cooperatives

A dream of mine. Great videos 👍

Wow! So easy to understand... Graphics are amazing too!

Really good and informative video!

Great video. At least in theory the competitive drawbacks of paying ourselves more would be (partly or wholly) off-set by not having to pay non-working shareholders. I think the main issue for worker cooperatives is lack of access to capital (since we are workers not capitalists), and like someone else mentioned a lack of incentive for people to start worker cooperatives. Since you get no benefit out of being the founder(s), the question is why put in the foundational work? (which is often hard and risky). For the lack of capital, i think we need banks controlled by local communities. This also gives the local community a say in which companies can / will be founded in their area. As for the founders, i think we can come up with some incentives that don't lead to vast inequality (i.e. a non-transferrable voting share of 10%, not allowing them to be fired by the other coop members [barring extreme circumstances], guaranteeing them a good living wage for life). Another productive tweak in the cooperative model would be to base voting shares on hours worked in a set period (e.g. the past year). This seems more fair to me, gives founders extra influence (and incentive) initially, and incentivizes people to put in more work.

Lol this channel is incredible. Love it. And your videos are very well made.

I enjoyed watching this. Super useful.

For the algorithm. ✊🏾

Companies should be able to vote to become a coop like they can to unionize.

Never heard of it before. Are co ops like anarcho-syndicalism?

There is a grocery chain called Publix that sells shares of stock exclusively to its workers. This motivates workers to work harder making the business run better. Credit unions work similarly. This also protects the business from outside investment and influence. Also the disparity of salary between worker and decision maker is not that great snd most devision makers ascend meritocratically or are voted in by the workers. This is also somewhat technocratic as it seems logical that a small group of workers would make sound decisions as their very job and livelihoods would hinge on their decisions. I have often heard of these types of businesses referred to as "the people's capitalism" as the business is still technically in private hands rather than the government. I think this would insulate an economy from distant faceless in investors who seek only profit without regard to the workers or their insights and inputs.

What if Buy n Large from WALL-E was a worker co-op?

I only just got my head around what a co-op is so forgive me for asking what is probably a bit of a noob question, but where do co-ops draw the line in what is defined as a 'worker'. Let's take the example of a bricklaying company. Yes, you have the obvious workers - the guys who lay the bricks, the guys who stir the mortar and give the directions as to how the bricks should lie, but let's say you've got a leaky pipe in the main office bathroom and you need someone to fix it. In a traditional capitalist system, you would contract a plumber to fix the pipe, but I don't imagine the plumber would need to buy a share in the co-op before doing a job. This might seem unproblematic at first, but if co-ops are permitted to contract people, why would it then be impermissible for them to contract their bricklayers, mortar stirrers, project managers in the same way. I suppose it is arguable that there is no identifiable profit to be made in having clean pipes and drains, but who's to say? A company would undoubtedly be better off with such things, and could easily negotiate a price which would be at more profitable than another price. I feel like I'm missing an obvious piece in the puzzle here, but needs some help figuring it out if you could be so kind. Thank you in advance.

To establish worker cooperatives properly . We have to firstly destroy the private ownerships either by peacefully or by revolution . In my opinion , we must have worker cooperatives in those industries which are doing production of anything . And some things like education , healthcare , food , water , housing should be free for all .

Do co-ops work for businesses that supply non essential products? Say like a comic store?

Is there a blockchain encrypted app to coordinate propositions, ranking, and voting yet?

Excellent excellent video

Great video!

I’ve had this thought for sometime. Having billionaires who want to donate $, set up manufacturing businesses across USA. Making products that are only made in China, not competing directly to domestic businesses. Business model would be along the lines of workers coop, would not necessarily have to generate profit. Pay livable wage, offer benefits such as health plans, day care, education, etc. Of course, this is simplified thought and plenty of obstacles. But I feel most people want fair opportunity and not sit at home handouts.

Co-ops are actually 50% likely to file for bankruptcy than normal businesses so they are quite resilient

we need smth like a gold to replace the money. the gold can be weighted and then given at any desired qnty

You are awesome!

Worker Coops are controls by the Worker. Worker Commune is when the Worker actually owns their places of works.

With the use of blockchain smart contracts I can see worker cooporative becoming more common in companies.

The problem with Co ops is there still in competition with each other. While it makes a nicer friendly company to work for. Its still a business model that has a pentagon because they have competition. IT GOES NUCLUER

I don't think anybody wants to put their wealth as the capital to start that kindda business unless it's those workers are the ones who start the business. Also, the payment should be proportionate to the value they bring in!

Good news

Genuine question: my girlfriend has a small RU-vid channel and I was wondering is it worth her doing the same as you, as in not using ads on her videos? Asking for patreon support? Peace from Ireland ✌🏼🇮🇪💚

how would sectors which can potentially be very damaged by the inherent problem of populism in a democracy be run? for example shipping and military. i generally like the idea of a more democratically run workplace environment but i don't think it would be suitable for every sector.

Without unionism you will never get the government back the working class was supposed to have.

Problem is that if a competing co-op comes in will the cooperatives allow it?

No wonder why Vietnam's agriculture industry is top tier with more than 21,000 co-ops

Hello Jimi, I really liked your animation for cooperatives, I promote the idea of ​​agricultural cooperatives in Uzbekistan, can I translate the text in the animation into my native language and publish on your behalf in social networks

There will never be democracy until co-ops become the law of the land. There has to be a gradual transition from absentee stockholders to employee-only stock ownership. Current absentee stockholders and C level administrators will have to be dragged kicking and screaming into this new system, but it can happen if enough people are made aware that there is an alternative to wage slavery.

We should do this with the entire country.

Anyone can enlighten me how to create animations like this?

That juicy hammer and sickle at minute 2:00

Nice Subtle Sickle and Hammer 😉

it is not hard to start a co-op if you force your politicians to give you public infrastructure banks that only fund them and community projects.

Wait. So are co ops socialist or not? It doesn’t seem to abolish private property. Worker co ops are still subject to market forces and competition with one another.

So its the US gov on micro level

This does not solve the problem of which a company brings to the table. A company is a person or a group of persons who work together towards bringing in profit for the company. Let say you got 4 traders, all 4 are different companies and they can't do business unless they make a profit. They will never be able to do business because nobody of the 4 can ever make a lose... That is the lesson monopoly teaches you, no matter how many people start the game at the end you got 1 person left who owns everything. And what do we see in our society? 1% owns 99% of the money and the 99% is fighting for the 1% wealth that remains in circulation. No idea who said it first but there is enough food, enough land, enough housing for everyone, except there is not enough money. This is all the result of a "free" market

The cashless part is kinda pie in the sky. But my co-op will trade you 2 bicycles for 10,000 of your eggs.

disagree fam, coops have to engage in a bourgeois market, you cant have a "co-op revolution". Only a politically organized proletariat can build the power to struggle against capital. Coops are a technicality - they can easily be integrated by capital and have all at some level of another, you cant take the working class out of its historic role with any kind of technical engineering.

Or just start a massive user coop that is not owned by the workers but by the users of the goods and services (basically skip to the part where they coordinate for humanities greater good). Workers and users are at odds which is why WC can not compete in the existing marketplace Goods made and distributed at cost can outcompete each sector they start in (against typical worker exploited non coops) Working for a WC is a great Job, buying ALL our goods from a user coop should be a no brainer (better goods, for cheaper than currently available) User coops would be transparent and democratic, causing other business to follow suite or bankrupt (people will not shop for those that do not disclose as it becomes standard)

i agree

inspire

imo all businesses in america should be turned into co-ops. will be much better for our economy, our workers, and future generations in the long term.

This + anarchosyndicalism = end of capitalism

hello

nice vid

*When you’re a capitalist who supports firm payment regulation in voluntary cities*

Prioritising collective benefit over personal benefit is worth the profit loss trust me, imagine the world was run like this

Pyrates were ahead of their time

Video ended with communism! Truly revolutionary! LOL!

At which point does it become another form of communism, or lazy democracy where people don't want to expend hte efforts to vote so they defer decisions to the one or few most trsuted leaders? paretto says power will be unevenly distributed, even if we say its a "democracy". Communism in essence is the eventual outcome of a democratic nation as Greeks said.

There is a alternative to farmers Co ops. Since they were mostly gay men in the soviet union. Nationalize FFA and all the farm belts land. The family farms have to attend FFA meetings once a month. Or the NVA kicks them off there land.

Are there any real worker co-ops out there?

High school musical

Most probably a very corrupt situation. 😮😅😅😅

Greed is an issue. I don't think a greedy, power hungry person is a good fit for a co-op. The goals and intent are different.

The hammer and sickle imagery and the sign saying "revolution" makes it difficult to share this with liberals and conservatives one wants to reach. :/

A new global government model has to go out at the UN.

Something that kills innovation.

Everyone just wants higher wages without worrying how the jobs actually get created. Socialism appeals to the working class by promising better quality of living but dont care about the practicality of it. The reason why it hasnt gotten much traction. Is because no one is willing to put down their money to make a business so it can be taken away from them later.

For the algorithm

(( vote )) why? Every ones needs can be met by free giving from the heart in a harmony with every ones needs. and there is a process how to do that. Vote means sacrifice minority needs for the sake of majority. stupid. we don't vote at all we solving problems by applying strategies, accordingly to human needs.

A workers cooperative is a disaster.

I write about the mechanics of making co-ops more competitive without sacrificing pay or democracy and building out more cooperative systems in my article Outcompeting Capitalism, at my free substack Longstache (Meta-Stewardship)