Loomio
Mon 31 Oct 2022 3:38PM

Solidarity Economy Association leaving and Digital Commons Co-op Joining?

CM Colm Massey Public Seen by 56

SEA (https://digitalcommons.coop/) have been a not very active member of CoTech for a while. It is a worker led multi-stakeholder co-op that had a tech project called Mapping the Solidarity Economy. This project has now been spun out into a new multi-stakeholder co-op called The Digital Commons Co-op (https://digitalcommons.coop/). So it no longer makes sense for SEA to be a member. Does it make sense for The Digital Commons Co-op to join? Workers will always have a strong voice and vote in the co-op but it will be balanced by other reps from other stakeholder groups. What do people think?

CCC

Chris Croome (Webarchitects Co-operative) Mon 14 Nov 2022 1:19PM

Sounds like a sensible idea to me, Webarchitects is also a multi-stakeholder co-op, could you provide a link to your rules?

CM

Colm Massey Tue 15 Nov 2022 4:52PM

https://mutuals.fca.org.uk/Search/Society/30836 As I pull this info together, I am reminded that we have quite some work to do on our MS governance structure. ATM only SEA and Shared Assets are members. So I think we'll hold off on applying until we have that in place.

SWS

Sion Whellens (Principle Six) Tue 15 Nov 2022 7:37AM

WORKERS.coop is adopting the formulation 'worker-led' in its membership criteria, so that we can have multi membership co-ops where workers take a lead in governance, as well as being a key ownership group. I'd be happy for Digital Commons to join CoTech.

AC

Animorph Co-op Tue 15 Nov 2022 12:38PM

Could you possibly create a proposal and invite CoTech members in line with our process?

CM

Colm Massey Tue 15 Nov 2022 4:41PM

I was dipping toe in water before formally applying.

CCC

Chris Croome (Webarchitects Co-operative) Tue 15 Nov 2022 5:10PM

Thanks @Colm Massey

I'm no expert, by @Sion Whellens (Principle Six/Calverts) is...

I can't see anything in your rules relating to workers at all, am I missing something?

I guess a Community Benefit Society could be a workers controlled co-op if the majority of the members / board are workers for the co-op, is that the plan?

CM

Colm Massey Tue 15 Nov 2022 9:43PM

"So I think we'll hold off on applying until we have that in place."