The Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers was formed in 1844 on Toad Lane in Rochdale, England. Known as the Rochdale Cooperative it was highly successful, unlike its predecessor the Rochdale Friendly Co-operative Society, and is still in operation today. The members of that cooperative wrote down what would later be known as the “Rochdale Principles”:
- Voting is by members on a democratic (one-member, one-vote) basis.
- Membership is open
- Equity is provided by members.
- Equity ownership share of individual members is limited.
- Net income is distributed to members as patronage refunds on a cost basis.
- Dividends on equity capital are limited.
- Exchange of goods and services at market prices
- Duty to educate
- Cash trading only
- No unusual risk assumption
- Political and religious neutrality
- Equality in membership (no discrimination by gender)
In the next part of this series I’ll explore the International Co-operative Alliance and the ICA’s “Co-operative Principles”.
1 comment:
Hello Larry,
I am glad I found your blog. Might you put in a link to the National Federation of Worker Cooperatives heres the url:
http://usworker.coop/front
I am a member of Collective Copies a worker cooperative in Western Mass with three locations. Here's our url:
http://usworker.coop/front
We are a member of the Valley Alliance for Worker Cooperatives which like NoBAWC in the Bay Area is an exampele of local network of worker cooperatives a fundamental organizing element for the federation along with the regions.
My email is
stevestrimer@gmail.com
if you'd like to get in touch. Also wondering what your name is and where you work.
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