Support of Worker Owned Business Cooperatives

Why worker owned businesses?

  • More stable employment.

  • Worker coops last as long, or longer than other forms of business organization.

  • Are usually more productive and efficient.

  • Give people a sense of being.

  • More equitable pay, more stable economy.

  • Not likely to relocate or send jobs abroad.

  • More community based.

  • Solidarity with other cooperatives.

Links

Democratize The Enterprise supports worker owned businesses and has drawn up legislation you can bring to your local representatives. Join and download the legislation.

Democratize The Enterprise on Facebook

Federation of Worker Cooperatives

Worker Owned Cooperative Business Examples

Mondragon Corporation

Isthmus Engineering

List of US worker cooperatives (at least 50 percent worker owned)

Minimum Wage

In 1933, FDR made a public statement on his National Industrial Recovery Act, in which he stated; “It seems to me to be equally plain that no business which depends for existence on paying less than living wages to its workers has any right to continue in this country. By "business" I mean the whole of commerce as well as the whole of industry; by workers I mean all workers, the white collar class as well as the men in overalls; and by living wages I mean more than a bare subsistence level-I mean the wages of decent living.” The Federal Minimum Wage has been set at $7.25/hour since 2009. That equates to $290 for a 40 hour work week and $15,080 per year (before taxes). The Federal Poverty level is $12,880/year for an individual. The average monthly rent in the USA is $1,124. At Federal Minimum wage, an individual's entire paycheck would barely make rent after taxes, never mind any other living expenses. Many States have enacted and raised their own minimum wage laws, however even the highest of those, which is CA at $14/hr, hasn’t kept up with the cost of living and inflation. IF minimum wage had done as FDR had expected it to do, be a living wage, it would currently be set at $24/hour. We are currently fighting to raise the Federal Minimum Wage in steps to reach $15/hour by 2025, which is progress, but not enough as by the time we reach that amount, the cost of living will have increased again, still outpacing the minimum wage. Then again, if we move to Democratize the Enterprise we may not have to worry about minimum wages but until then here’s some reading;

Minimum wage by state

Minimum wage talks restart from Business Insider

26 states where minimum wage is rising

Minimum wage and health

Does minimum wage cost jobs?

Economist looks at impacts of McDonalds raising it's minimum wage