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{{Short description|Umbrella organization representing autonomous non-corporate businesses}}
{{Infobox cooperative
{{mi
| name = United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives
|{{update|date=November 2022}}
| logo = [[File:Usfwc logo.gif]]
{{more citations needed|date=November 2022}}
| type = [[Cooperative federation]]
}}
| foundation = {{Start date|2004}}
{{Infobox company
| location_city = [[San Francisco]], [[California]]
| name = United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives
| logo = Usfwc logo.gif
| type = [[Cooperative federation]]
| foundation = {{Start date|2004}}
| location_city = [[San Francisco]], [[California]]
| location_country = [[United States]]
| location_country = [[United States]]
| key_people = Melissa Hoover, <small>Executive Director</small><ref>Woo, Beadsie; Hoover, Melissa. [http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2010/0111/To-jumpstart-US-job-market-turn-workers-into-owners To jumpstart US job market, turn workers into owners.] ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]].'' 11 Jan. 2010.</ref>
| key_people = Melissa Hoover, <small>Executive Director</small><ref>Woo, Beadsie; Hoover, Melissa. [http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2010/0111/To-jumpstart-US-job-market-turn-workers-into-owners To jumpstart US job market, turn workers into owners.] ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]].'' 11 Jan. 2010.</ref>
| area_served = [[United States]]
| area_served = [[United States]]
| industry = [[Worker cooperative|Worker-owned enterprises]]
| industry = [[Worker cooperative|Worker-owned enterprises]]
| products =
| products =
| revenue =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| net_income =
| members = [[Worker cooperative]]s, co-operative developers, worker co-operative regional networks and individuals
| members = [[Worker cooperative]]s, co-operative developers, worker co-operative regional networks and individuals
| num_employees = 1
| num_employees =
| homepage = {{official URL}}
| homepage =[http://www.usworker.coop usworker.coop]
}}
}}


The '''United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives''' ('''USFWC''') is the national grassroots membership organization representing worker cooperatives and democratic workplaces. Its mission is to build a thriving ecosystem for worker-owned and controlled businesses and to empower their cooperative leaders to power movements for racial justice and economic democracy.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=About – U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives |url=https://www.usworker.coop/about/ |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=www.usworker.coop}}</ref> USFWC was founded in 2004 by few core co-op members in collaboration with co-op developers, scholars, community organizers, and supporters from the wider co-op sector.<ref name=":0" />
The '''United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives (USFWC)''' is a [[cooperative federation|federation]] of [[worker cooperative]]s in the United States. USFWC was founded at the U.S. Conference of Democratic Workplaces in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]] in May 2004.<ref>Hoover, Melissa. [http://www.geo.coop/archives/Hoover_USFWC.html Farther, Faster, Together: The US Federation of Worker Cooperatives at Two.] ''GEO Newsletter.''</ref>.


The Federation was sponsored by [[The Cooperative Foundation]] in addition to other cooperative support organizations. It was created partly in response to growing regional organizing among United States worker cooperatives and to foster the sharing of information and resources between national gatherings.<ref>[http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.printerfriendlyfeature/id/1117 Introducing Green Worker Cooperatives.] ''Sustainable Business.'' 17 June 2004.</ref>
The Federation was sponsored by The Cooperative Foundation in addition to other cooperative support organizations. It was created partly in response to growing regional organizing among United States worker cooperatives and to foster the sharing of information and resources between national gatherings.<ref>[http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.printerfriendlyfeature/id/1117 Introducing Green Worker Cooperatives.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615163049/http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.printerfriendlyfeature/id/1117 |date=2011-06-15 }} ''Sustainable Business.'' 17 June 2004.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=About – U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives |url=https://www.usworker.coop/about/ |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=www.usworker.coop}}</ref>


==Meetings==
==Meetings==
The membership meets annually. The Federation also holds a bi-annual conference called The Democracy at Work Conference in conjunction with the annual meeting. The schedule for the meetings/conference is as follows:
The membership meets annually. The Federation holds a biennial conference called The Democracy at Work Conference in conjunction with the annual meeting. The schedule for the meetings/conference is as follows:
*2006 New York City (and Conference)
*2006 New York City (and Conference)
*2008 New Orleans (and Conference)
*2008 New Orleans (and Conference)
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*2011 Austin, TX
*2011 Austin, TX
*2012 Boston (and conference)
*2012 Boston (and conference)
* 2016 Austin (and conference)<ref>[https://usworker.coop/member-meeting/mm-2016/ 2016 Annual Member Meeting] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620021643/https://usworker.coop/member-meeting/mm-2016/ |date=2019-06-20 }}</ref>
* 2018 Los Angeles (and conference)<ref>[https://conference.coop/2018-conference/home/ 2018 Conference] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620023032/https://conference.coop/2018-conference/home/ |date=June 20, 2019 }}</ref>


==Membership==
==Membership==
====Membership Classification====
The USFWC has several membership classes<ref>http://www.usworker.coop/membership</ref>:
*'''Worker Cooperatives''' include organizations that meet the standard for a democratic workplace according to the [[CICOPA]] World Declaration on Worker Co-operatives.
*'''Democratic Workplaces''' include organizations that may fall short of the World Declaration, but still exist as a democratic workplace such a democratic [[ESOP]]s owned by 100% of its workers.
*'''Federation Partners''' include any local and regional association of three or more workplaces.
*'''Cooperative Developers''' receive one vote per developer (or organization of developers).
*'''Start-up Workplace''' include organizations that are either in a start-up mode or transitioning to a worker co-operative from another type of business.
*'''Associates''' are organizations that support worker co-operatives and worker rights but do not exist as a worker co-operative, collective or democratic workplace. Consumer co-operatives, labor unions, and ESOPs with less than 100% worker control are examples. This class does not have any voting rights.
*'''Individual Allies''' may join the organization but do not have any voting rights.


USFWC membership classes:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usworker.coop/membership |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061007230052/http://www.usworker.coop/membership |archive-date=2006-10-07 |title=Membership {{!}} US Federation of Worker Cooperatives}}</ref>
===Governance===
*Worker Cooperatives include organizations that meet the standard for a democratic workplace according to the [[CICOPA]] World Declaration on Worker Co-operatives.
====Board of Directors====
*Democratic Workplaces include organizations that may fall short of the World Declaration, but still exist as a democratic workplace such as democratic [[employee stock ownership plan|Employee Stock Ownership Plans]] (ESOP) owned by 100% of its workers.{{Clarify|reason=100% of workers or 100% worker-owned?|date=November 2022}}
The Federation is governed by a nine-member board of directors. The Board oversees the Federation and the Executive Director. <br>
*Federation Partners include any local and regional association of three or more workplaces.
The current Board of Directors of the Federation includes:
*Cooperative Developers receive one vote per developer (or organization of developers).
*Start-up Workplaces include organizations that are either in start-up mode or transitioning to a worker co-operative from another type of business.
*Associates are organizations that support worker co-operatives and worker rights but are not worker co-operatives, collectives or democratic workplaces. Consumer co-operatives, labor unions, and ESOPs with less than 100% worker control are examples. This class does not have voting rights.
*Individual Allies may join the organization but do not have voting rights.

==Board of directors==
The Federation is governed by a nine-member board of directors. The Board oversees the Federation and the Executive Director. <br>Members:


* '''Eastern Representative''' - Aaron Dawson
* Eastern Representative Aaron Dawson
* '''Northern Representative''' - Troy Pieper
* Northern Representative Rebecca Kemble
* '''Western Representative''' - Yilda Campos
* Western Representative Yilda Campos
* '''Southern Representative''' - Anna Boyer
* Southern Representative Anna Boyer
* '''At Large Directors'''
* At Large Directors
** Ben Mauer
**John McNamara
** David Smathers Moore
**Rebecca Kemble
** Scott Crow
**Ole Olson
**Esteban Kelly
**Ashley Satorius


==See also==
==See also==
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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.usworker.coop United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives web site]
* {{official website|1=https://www.usworker.coop/|2=United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives web site}}


{{Co-operatives}}
{{Co-operatives}}
{{authority control}}


[[Category:Worker cooperatives]]
[[Category:Worker cooperatives of the United States]]
[[Category:Cooperative federations]]
[[Category:Cooperative federations]]
[[Category:Mutualism (movement)]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2004]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2004]]
[[Category:2004 establishments in the United States]]

Latest revision as of 06:54, 2 October 2024

United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives
Company typeCooperative federation
IndustryWorker-owned enterprises
Founded2004 (2004)
Headquarters,
Area served
United States
Key people
Melissa Hoover, Executive Director[1]
Revenue1,799,715 United States dollar (2022) Edit this on Wikidata
Total assets1,296,463 United States dollar (2022) Edit this on Wikidata
MembersWorker cooperatives, co-operative developers, worker co-operative regional networks and individuals
Websitewww.usworker.coop Edit this at Wikidata

The United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives (USFWC) is the national grassroots membership organization representing worker cooperatives and democratic workplaces. Its mission is to build a thriving ecosystem for worker-owned and controlled businesses and to empower their cooperative leaders to power movements for racial justice and economic democracy.[2] USFWC was founded in 2004 by few core co-op members in collaboration with co-op developers, scholars, community organizers, and supporters from the wider co-op sector.[2]

The Federation was sponsored by The Cooperative Foundation in addition to other cooperative support organizations. It was created partly in response to growing regional organizing among United States worker cooperatives and to foster the sharing of information and resources between national gatherings.[3][4]

Meetings

[edit]

The membership meets annually. The Federation holds a biennial conference called The Democracy at Work Conference in conjunction with the annual meeting. The schedule for the meetings/conference is as follows:

  • 2006 New York City (and Conference)
  • 2008 New Orleans (and Conference)
  • 2009 Madison
  • 2010 San Francisco (and conference)
  • 2011 Austin, TX
  • 2012 Boston (and conference)
  • 2016 Austin (and conference)[5]
  • 2018 Los Angeles (and conference)[6]

Membership

[edit]

USFWC membership classes:[7]

  • Worker Cooperatives include organizations that meet the standard for a democratic workplace according to the CICOPA World Declaration on Worker Co-operatives.
  • Democratic Workplaces include organizations that may fall short of the World Declaration, but still exist as a democratic workplace such as democratic Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOP) owned by 100% of its workers.[clarification needed]
  • Federation Partners include any local and regional association of three or more workplaces.
  • Cooperative Developers receive one vote per developer (or organization of developers).
  • Start-up Workplaces include organizations that are either in start-up mode or transitioning to a worker co-operative from another type of business.
  • Associates are organizations that support worker co-operatives and worker rights but are not worker co-operatives, collectives or democratic workplaces. Consumer co-operatives, labor unions, and ESOPs with less than 100% worker control are examples. This class does not have voting rights.
  • Individual Allies may join the organization but do not have voting rights.

Board of directors

[edit]

The Federation is governed by a nine-member board of directors. The Board oversees the Federation and the Executive Director.
Members:

  • Eastern Representative – Aaron Dawson
  • Northern Representative – Rebecca Kemble
  • Western Representative – Yilda Campos
  • Southern Representative – Anna Boyer
  • At Large Directors
    • Ben Mauer
    • David Smathers Moore
    • Scott Crow

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Woo, Beadsie; Hoover, Melissa. To jumpstart US job market, turn workers into owners. The Christian Science Monitor. 11 Jan. 2010.
  2. ^ a b "About – U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives". www.usworker.coop. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  3. ^ Introducing Green Worker Cooperatives. Archived 2011-06-15 at the Wayback Machine Sustainable Business. 17 June 2004.
  4. ^ "About – U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives". www.usworker.coop. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  5. ^ 2016 Annual Member Meeting Archived 2019-06-20 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ 2018 Conference Archived June 20, 2019, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Membership | US Federation of Worker Cooperatives". Archived from the original on 2006-10-07.
[edit]