Worker cooperatives offer a successful economic development model that creates jobs that are accountable to working people, their families and their communities. Worker centers, which advocate for the rights of working people, and communities of faith are in the perfect position to partner with unions to build co-ops as an economic development tool that can benefit the underemployed, women and immigrants. This panel brings together academics, activists, union and faith leaders and co-op experts to discuss co-op ideas, funding, resources, community partners and education.
Reclaiming Economic Democracy Through Worker Cooperatives
10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Saturday
Columbia A
Sheena Foster, Labor Research Action Network
Christian Sweeney, AFL-CIO
Neil Gladstein, International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers
Michael Peck, 1worker1vote.org
Ed Whitfield, Fund for Democratic Communities (F4DC)