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16-03-09(11:50:12)

“Establish an umbrella organisation providing finance & management expertise enabling public sector employees to create cooperatives to tender for and run services threatened by outsourcing. ”

2. How does it fit with Compass’ core beliefs of equality, solidarity, democracy, freedom, sustainability and well being?

The services would be run as worker cooperatives which are a more equal and democratic form of ownership than a private or public sector organisation. Decisions would be made on a more democratic basis and members would have more freedom in theoir work, put forward their views and promote well being. A green and sustainable approach to operations could be written into the conditions of funding.

3. How does it build the institutions of social democracy, like social groups and collective and cooperative forms of ownership and control?

The organisation could be proactive in its approach actively seeking out opportunities where services could be offered through worker cooperatives. Rather like offering outsourcing but through a cooperative run by esrstwhile employees. The organisation would help organise the workforce and provide expertise to support them tender for the “business”. Also aside from initial finance the organisation would offer the level of management and consultancy skills and training necessary to enable the cooperative to operate effectively.

4. How much will it cost or raise and where will any cost come from?

The organisation would need an start up investment. However, thereafter it should become self-financing. Investments made to establish worker cooperatives would be on a fair but commercial basis. Also the organisation would make a fair but commercial charge for management and consultancy services provided. The initial investment would depend on the extent of ambition for the organisation. Staff costs would be the main cost. Premises might be offered by sympathetic parties i.e. government departments, trade unions. Organisations that might be prepared to offer funding include government, trade unions, certain voluntary organisations and pressure groups, cooperative movement etrc.

5. Which groups in the electorate are likely to support or oppose this measure? Is there any polling evidence you have on this?

Workers and public sector employees. Areas of local and central government, trade unions, the cooperative movement, labour party and left, Liberal Democrats.

It could also be opposed by private sector, private finance, elements of local and central government, some of the Conservative party.

6. Is there a place or country where it’s worked? Please provide some information.

There is a long history of cooperative enterprise operating throughout the UK and world. There are numerous examples of social enterprise in formed as cooperatives to run a service, usually labour intensive services in the health sector,often elderly care. The Expert Patient Programme Community Interest Company is an example offering advice and support for those with chronic illness. My view is that there is an opportunity to have services more widely, more extensively offered with greater managerial support through the public sector (think services that are outsourced and go to private enterprise e.g. hospital cleaning).

7. What are the three main arguments in favour/against it?

This umbrella organisation through proactively seek out opportunities providing management and consultancy expertise to win tenders, set up the cooperatives and help them operate effectively. It has the potential to considerably increase the cooperative sector of the economy.

Through doing this it would improve equality, democracy, the well being of employees and get their active commitment and involvement in running the service they provide.

It has the potential to provide a better quality and more cost effective service than a private sector enterprise that must provide a surplus for shareholders.

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This entry was posted on Monday, March 16th, 2009 at 4:50 pm and is filed under Equality. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.