According to the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives, a worker cooperative is a values-driven business that puts worker and community benefit at the core of its purpose. At worker coops, the workers own the business and benefit from it’s financial successes. Workers also have representation on and vote for the board of directors
On today’s show, we have guest host Rebecca Kemble who is a worker-owner at Union Cab. Joining Rebecca to explain coops is MadWorC Coordinator Rek Kwawer and The Real News Network reporter Jaisal Noor. In the hour they explore how cooperatives work across the country and dive deep into worker exploitation.
Jaisal Noor is Senior Reporter at TRNN. With his expertise in education policy and systemic inequity, he focuses on Baltimore, Maryland. He mainly grew up in the Baltimore area and studied modern history at the University of Maryland, College Park. Before joining TRNN, he contributed print, radio, and TV reports to Free Speech Radio News, Democracy Now! and The Indypendent. His recent documentary project shines a light on coops across the country.
Rek Kwawer has been MadWorC’s Coordinator for the past year. Prior to coming to MadWorC and the worker co-op world, Rek worked for the North American Students of Cooperation, focusing on student and affordable housing cooperatives.
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