The Worker Co-operative Code of Governance
This article begins by suggesting that although consumer co-operatives in the UK have been successful businesses from the 1850s onwards, worker co-operatives have suffered from a lack of ‘administrative discipline’ and consequently have not yet reached their full potential. However, the article goes on to explain, in order to remedy this, a number of worker co-operatives have collaborated with Co-operativesUK to produce a Worker Co-operative Code of Governance. This provides a guide to governing worker a co-operative democratically and managing its business effectively. The Code, launched in June 2008, is believed to be the first of its kind in the world. It has two elements – a short booklet giving a framework of good practice for worker co-operatives to follow and an online resource that will be built up over time by UK worker co‑operatives themselves. The Code, it is suggested, is exactly what is needed to really strengthen and develop the worker co-operative sector in the UK.