Cincinnati, Ohio – On Dec 1st & 2nd people from all across the U.S. and from Mondragon, Spain will be gathering in Cincinnati to further develop the union co-op sector of the U.S. economy. The event brings together more than 200 workers, union and community organizers, and business and religious leaders to learn from one another and from the decades-old, economically thriving Mondragon system (the largest group of industrial worker-owned cooperatives).
During the last 61 years, the Mondragon cooperative network has transformed a devastated, war torn, region of Spain rife with poverty and unemployment into thriving, vibrant communities that have weathered financial crisis. Mondragon’s network, which includes more than 100 cooperatives and 74,000 worker owners, received the coveted Financial Times “Boldness in Business Award” for 2013. Its businesses generated more than $13 billion in sales in 2014.
A historic agreement in 2009 between Mondragon International and the United Steelworkers brought the union co-op model to the United States. The union co-op movement is growing, including four businesses that are part of the Cincinnati Union Co-op Initiative (CUCI), organizer of the symposium.
The Symposium offers a look at what's happening on the ground to establish integrated networks of worker-owned, unionized businesses. Participants will discuss best practices, union co-op management, financing, training, the power of the union co-op model, and how to build an economy that works for all, and more.
Contact: Chloe Kaplan
December 1st, 2017
513-549-3381,
cincyunioncoop@gmail.com
Visit the event page here!
