overview

In addition to supporting start-ups and transitioning traditional businesses to the worker-owned model, we help our growing network of co-op businesses flourish through:

• technical assistance and coaching

• co-op culture building

• loan access (in partnership with Seed Commons and others)

You can download our Co-op Directory to learn more about our co-ops. Our interconnected network consists of the following:

• Our Harvest

• Sustainergy

• Cincy Cleaning Co-op

• Massage 4 The People

• Queen City Commons

• Renting Partnerships

• A Touch of TLC Home Care

• Hopes Fulfilled Farm 2 Table

• Bhutanese Bari

• Shine Nurture Center

• Heritage Hill

• E-team

• Comp.coop

• Topia Cofee Co-op

• Body by Bodji

What exactly do we mean by Co-op?

Put simply, we mean a business owned and controlled by its members.

There are different types of co-ops. The type we promote is worker-owned and uses the union co-op model.

Learn more about the worker-owned business model here.

So What is a UNION CO-OP?

A union co-op is a unionized, worker-owned co-op business.

This model joins the best tenets of the labor movement with opportunities for sustainable wealth-building and self-determination.

To learn the ins and outs of the union co-op model, see our History page.

You can also read Sustainable Jobs, Sustainable Communities: The Union Co-op Model, the template written by representatives from United Steelworkers, the Ohio Employee Ownership Center, and Mondragon International USA. This template takes you through the creation of the model and its mission, vision, principles, and structural components.

MONDRAGON PRINCIPLES

The union co-op model implements 10 Mondragon principles. These principles articulate the cooperative and participatory values that have guided the business success of the Mondragon cooperatives in Spain.

They are labor-based and rooted in varied movements and experiences.  They affirm the freedom and empowerment of working people and the value and importance of community.

Co-op Network

Our goal is to create a Co-op Network that harnesses the power and possibilities of the worker and co-op movements, pooling creativity and resources to make a greater impact. This sort of network has been a cornerstone to the success of the Mondragon cooperatives in Spain.

The Co-op Network will be a multi-sector association that takes advantage of opportunities in certain business sectors and buffers periodic or long-term downturns in others. The Network will also protect and support workers by providing training for job opportunities, identifying and developing strategies that foster business success, and launching new union coops.