New Era Windows Cooperative: From a Sit-Down Strike to a Worker Cooperative

Abstract

When I began this book project and chose the New Era workers as a case study, my intent was to emphasize how the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) missed a perfect opportunity to facilitate a revolution in the class structure of this enterprise. I found it incomprehensible that a different work structure was apparently not even considered. It seemed to me that the only answer the UE had was to help find another capitalist to own and run the firm. Though they missed their first opportunity, however, the workers changed their strategy when the second capitalist employer opted to close the plant. In 2013, New Era Windows Cooperative, a democratic worker cooperative, was open for business, but only after moving to a smaller location with some very dedicated, hardworking people. Indeed, the workers initiated a class revolution and opted for the egalitarian Worker Self-Directed Enterprise (WSDE) instead of the autocratic capitalist class structure to which they were accustomed.

“We are here and not going anywhere.”¹

“We win what we fight for.”²