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Participation in Worker Cooperatives

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The Palgrave Handbook of Volunteering, Civic Participation, and Nonprofit Associations

Abstract

This chapter discusses different models of worker cooperatives ranging from those that are predominantly economic associations, or a form of employee ownership, to those that are more collectivist and emphasize workplace democracy, community commitment, and cooperative ideals. Worker cooperatives that focus upon employee ownership are primarily a variation of a business corporation; worker cooperatives with a more collectivist orientation are primarily a form of cooperative, but with members who are employees rather than consumers of a service or primary producers such as farmers. More recently, hybrid arrangements have been created that integrate a worker cooperative within a business corporation and a cooperative, a multi-stakeholder cooperative or social cooperative. Takeovers of abandoned investor-owned businesses resulting in worker cooperatives are a growing phenomenon in South America.

At first glance, it may seem odd to include a chapter about worker cooperatives within a Handbook on Volunteering, Civic Participation, and Nonprofit Associations, but there are commonalities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Argentina

    Marcelo Vieta

  2. Canada

    Jack Quarter

  3. UK

    Roger Spear

  4. Russia

    Alexandra Moskovskaya

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  1. Marcelo Vieta
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  2. Jack Quarter
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  4. Alexandra Moskovskaya
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Vieta, M., Quarter, J., Spear, R., Moskovskaya, A. (2016). Participation in Worker Cooperatives. In: The Palgrave Handbook of Volunteering, Civic Participation, and Nonprofit Associations. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-26317-9_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-26317-9_21

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

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