AskProfWolff: Union Co-ops and Worker Co-ops

Learn more about Prof Wolff's new book, The Sickness is the System: When Capitalism Fails to Save Us from Pandemics or Itself. Available now!

A Patron of Economic Update asks: "Dear Professor Wolff, I’ve heard you occasionally mention that DaW has a Union Coop store. What is a Union Cooperative compared to a Worker Cooperative? Do Union Co-op’s have unique strengths that are not present in traditional Co-op’s? In a worker owned market economy can Union Co-op’s help prevent the creation of new class disparities? As great as the Mondragon Co-op’s are I have read articles about there being potential tensions between workers and elected management.Thank you for all the work that you and DaW do, Josh"

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[draccy]

If we had a stronger labor organization in the u.s. we could pressure leadership to help support co op sectors that could directly compete with the current private sector that, wouldn’t completely solve our problems, however the competition between the two would at least improve our lives to a point . It’s a thought anyway .. just wanna thank Prof. Wolff for all the information you provide

[bravoa]

RIchard Wolff is not only an economist he is a thunder.

[mattwooten]

Every one of these contains so much wisdom it’s hard to express how thankful we are Prof Wolff

[TURTLEMMC]

So a worker coop is direct democracy and union coop is representative democracy. and we still need term limits to prevent calcification of the reps.

[rcchen]

Wonder how would life be different by having worker co-op plan 20 years ago.
This concept of co-op was not taught or mentioned at any of the college study international trade courses.

[plutoniusis]

Salute Mr.Wolf, I wrote few comments before about workers owned corporate enterprises in a former Yugoslavia, that was specifically implemented at end of 70this . Check this out, no one nation on Earth had such advanced system, Beside the reason why Yugoslavia collapsed and had internal war engagements, the economic system was way to far advanced for its time, translate your self from Serb & Croatian ( samoupravni socialisam ) !

[LucreDenouncer]

Thanks for the explanation. I thought you meant the store's suppliers were either co-ops OR unionized, traditionally-structured businesses. Union co-ops sound better than both of those!

[steveneubeck]

This is very feasible with the building trades and transportation trades.

[mosquitoisyellow]

Is Prof okay? Was he injured? (bit worried here)

[cageybee]

are you ok professor? what's with the bandages?

[danieljones]

It is good to see the inclusion of Unionism in this movement.

[jameswalkup]

Is it illegal to start a workers owned company now? In a workers owned company is everyone’s salary equal? How would one transfer from a capitalist society to a socialist society (is it phased in or do create a deadline for all capitalist companies to become socialist)? For a company like amazon is every decision the company make have to be voted on? Do you think a company that large could successfully function when every time a decision needs to be made you have to get thousands of people to vote on it? For a company like Microsoft do you think Bill gates vote on what direction the company should go be equal to the janitors vote?

[asimtahir]

Prof wolf in a capitalist system different countries have different currencies and their weight with regard to Dollar varies...how this works? Also how prices are fixed in a country? Do u think gold standard is better than Fiat? Plz make a video on this...regards

[akankshyamahapatra]

As a supporter of progressive politics and economics, I find myself a bit disillusioned with the rising American progressivism. Wishful thinking doesn't build systems. Answering hard questions on failures socialism has had before might. Capitalist imperialism wasn't the only factor.

[vivekmgeorge]

I have been confused by this concept. In the bylaws of of a worker-owned co-op wouldn’t there be protections so management would be voted on each year. I don’t currently see the value of union within a worker-owned coop and this explanation wasn’t sufficient unfortunately. Perhaps I missed something. Can anyone clarify? Thank you :)

[lynnmoss]

What happened to Prof Wolff band aids all over his head and missing a tooth? Bless you Professor Wolff please take care.

[brokenspine]

It's Time ASAP that 'Democracy At Work' and 'Richard Wolff' have Backup Channels on odysee.com and other alt-tech censorproof platforms, Just in case.

[everythingwithElMaskinia]

Hi plz help we are 5 sisters and we trying to grow our goat cooperative in Morocco , single sister with kids, we are seeking for help that give us more ideas about this sisters cooperative and thank you, Richard wolf

[HussainFahmy]

*_THe majority cannot decide the best practice/morality in any situation._*

[slawomirbartoszewicz]

It would never work.I have experienced it in Poland, because I have lived in this sick collective system for 30 years.The shortage of everything has been a result.Now I live in a bad capitalist system and i enjoy my life.No better economic system has been designed than Capitalism.Any eksperiments would have a very bad results for people life.Only money can motivate people for good performamce in any avtivity, no ideas.I have first hand experience living in both systems, so pls trust me and do not go in this direction.