Worker co-operatives and trade unions: Exploring relations in the Asia-Pacific region

13 October 2022

BCCM’s Melina Morrison and Antony McMullen recently attended a webinar hosted by CICOPA and CICOPA Asia-Pacific, “Worker cooperatives and trade unions: Exploring relations in the Asia-Pacific region”. A sector organisation of the ICA, CICOPA describes itself as the “International Organisation of Industrial and Service Cooperatives”.

Designed as an opportunity to explore synergies between worker co-operatives and trade unions, the event provided positive recognition of the work that unions and co-operatives do. Sharan Burrow, an Australian who serves as the General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, explained that like unions, co-ops can also contribute to improved worker rights and protections.

A recurring theme throughout the webinar was the common vision that unions and co-ops share, and how by working together these organisations can further multiply their impact and ultimately secure safe and fair conditions for workers around the world. Osamu Nakano, CICOPA AP and JWCU, pointed out that worker-owned co-ops occupy a unique space in the co-operative sphere in that they seek optimal outcomes for both workers and owners.

Best-practice examples from India, Japan, Australia and the Philippines were shared.

Colin Long, Just Transitions Organiser for Victorian Trades Hall Council and founder and board member of Australian co-op Earthworker, Cooperative Power Australia spoke about how Earthworker brings together a diverse group of people “to solve the social and environmental problems”.

Iñigo Albizuri, CICOPA President, pointed out that “the times are changing, markets and businesses are changing, and trade unions and co-ops need to work together – we have exactly the same roles: working for social transformation.”

Through future collaboration, unions and co-operatives have an exciting opportunity to enact real change and protect the wellbeing of those who are often overlooked in the race towards maximum profits.

? LIVE from our webinar

“We found that #unions and #coops share so many common values, and they naturally come together…Joint action of union and cooperatives results in greater solidarity.”

Mirai Chatterjee from @SEWAFed pic.twitter.com/iMp1twt6Br

— CICOPA (@CICOPA) September 28, 2022

?”Earthworker #coop brings together people from diverse backgrounds in practical action to solve the social and environmental problems. Unions and coops have shared principles that contribute to implement the guidelines on climate transition”

Colin Long, @Earthworkercoop ?? pic.twitter.com/CjU2klRgMf

— CICOPA (@CICOPA) September 28, 2022

? LIVE from our webinar

“#Coops and #unions share a lot of similarities in the Philippines – above all, both are created for the members and their welfare.”

Agripino Torres, @MASS_SPECC ?? pic.twitter.com/NecmlOClis

— CICOPA (@CICOPA) September 28, 2022

? LIVE from our webinar

“It is important to understand that the situation of #workercoops is different; while other types of #coops technically are employers, worker coops are both on the side of employers and workers”

Osamu Nakano, CICOPA AP, and JWCU ?? pic.twitter.com/tQ9wjdcwpd

— CICOPA (@CICOPA) September 28, 2022

? LIVE from our webinar

“The importance of #coops and broader social and solidarity economy is higher now than it has ever been because the labour market is broken – in most instances there is no labour rights and no social protection”

Sharan Burrow, @ituc pic.twitter.com/ZGEIQ0FrJ3

— CICOPA (@CICOPA) September 28, 2022

? LIVE from our webinar

“The times are changing, markets and businesses are changing, and trade unions and #coops need to work together – we have exactly the same roles: working for social transformation.”

Iñigo Albizuri, CICOPA President pic.twitter.com/M04bVDCN0q

— CICOPA (@CICOPA) September 28, 2022

That’s a wrap on our webinar!

Thank you everyone who joined us, we had a very fruitful and insightful discussion on the multidimensional relations & complementarities between #coops and #unions in AP with useful examples from ????????

Web article coming soon, stay tuned!✨ pic.twitter.com/q7u4pKP6By

— CICOPA (@CICOPA) September 28, 2022

? On the 28 of September 2022, CICOPA hosted a webinar on #coops and #unions in the #asiapacific region alongside CICOPA Asia-Pacific!

?Interested to read how and why trade unions and cooperatives need to collaborate more?

Check out this article ➡️https://t.co/NrxZNTAQPk

— CICOPA (@CICOPA) October 6, 2022