Speaker(s)
In some countries, the worker cooperative movement has built a web of interconnected co-op organizations and activities that create an environment that supports worker co-op formation and success. We might think of these as a kind of cooperative "ecosystem". Some elements include strong local/national/international solidarity and technical assistance programs (federations and others groups), building of the movements' shared wealth (capital funds), and gaining greater recognition by governments (co-op laws and supportive public policy). Looking at a paper written by the Canadian Worker Coop Federation, and examples from Europe and Quebec, this workshop aims to enliven our collective visions of what we can do here in North America to strengthen our movement. We will also talk about what the newly formed CICOPA-North America worker cooperative organization can do to support a North American cooperative ecosystem.