Outside the “Get a Job” Box Part 3 Co-ops
In her 1996 book, Survivability: Career Strategies for the New World of Work, Janice Foord anticipated today's current, individualistic philosopy of job searching. She called it "Me Inc."
I heard this same philosophy at a job search seminar last week. Esentially, the idea is that we, as job searchers, are the presidents of our own company of one. We are the product/service that we sell to prospective "customers" (i.e. employers). The emphasis is firmly on the lone individual. I admit, that I found this philosophy empowering.
But wait a minute. Aren't we often stronger together than separately? What about those of us who are not cut out to be rugged, me-oriented contractors and entrepreneurs? What about cooperation as a survival tool?
Fuelled by such questions, I looked for books on the subject of cooperatives, but only found a couple of older titles! My search was rewarded on the Internet, a cooperative venture in itself. There I found a good selection of websites for organizations that promote cooperative business, and lifestyle, as a viable alternative to the "me" culture.
Co-operatives are owned by their members who use their services or purchase their products. Co-ops can provide virtually any product or service, and can be either non-profit or for-profit enterprises. The co-operative sector keeps dollars circulating within the local economy, provides secure employment and is a means to revitalize and sustain healthy communities.
What the media and experts are saying about co-operative businesses
Statistics Canada (To view the full article, click on the link and enter your Toronto Public Library card and PIN numbers.). - StatsCan survey shows more investment in co-ops needed
Co-ops represent an important but often unrecognized sector of the economy, providing a wide range of products and services to Canadians across the country.
Co-ops Secretariat - There are more than 8,800 co-ops in Canada, and they directly employ 150,000 people. Across Canada, an additional 250,000 independent producers rely on marketing and production co-operatives for their livelihood. These co-ops are especially significant in rural and remote regions of the country, where they meet the economic needs of producers in agriculture, the fisheries, arts and crafts production, and manufacturing.
Canada's co-operatives hold more than $210 billion in assets, which is owned by the members and communities they serve. Non-financial co-ops do nearly $30 billion a year in business. At least 7 co-ops are listed in the top 500 companies in Canada, and several financial co-operatives have been rated the best places to work in Canada.
Co-ops might be what's needed in harder times. … retail co-ops grew out of hard economic times. … the first one in Canada was started by miners in Cape Breton in the early 1900s looking for an alternative to the high prices of the company store. …Because they aren't under pressure to make a profit, co-ops are better equipped to survive an economic downturn. …in each of the last five years, 250 new co-ops have been incorporated across Canada.
Ontario Co-operative Associaton - The co-op sector is vast. As part of your job search, look to the co-op and credit union systems. Co-ops are in every imaginable sector of the economy — this means you can probably find a job in the co-op or credit union movements in whatever field interests you.. (The Ontario Co-operative Association develops, unites and promotes co-operatives througout the Province of Ontario).
Books
Worker co.op : the voice of economic democracy in Canada
More Websites
Co-op Lists and Links – Searchable Directory of Ontario Co-Ops, Credit Unions and Caisses Populaire
Toronto: Farmers' Markets, Co-Ops and CSAs
See the previous two parts in this series:
Going Outside the "GET-A-Job" Box!
Barter: Better for your Budget?
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