JohnnyMac 🌲 @johnnymac@social.coop

Orca Books has information on how to join and they sell on-line. You don't have to live in Olympia WA. (http://www.orcabooks.com). There are three non-worker options (basic: US$100, Low income US$25-US$99, Organization: US$200). Organizational members need to be part of the social economy and will eventually be able to "curate" and "brand" a shelf in the store (i.e. "social.coop" might have a shelf on platform co-ops and the social digital economy). #coop #buylocal #notAmazon #notB&N

Yesterday we held our first information session for Orca Books Coop. (http://www.orcabooks.com). One of the community supporters offered her first edition, signed Ursula Le Guinn novel (i forget which one) for a fundraiser auction. wow! #coop #buylocal #orcabooks

This is one of my projects and I am really hoping that the co-op community can support it; This is a treasured local bookstore that sells new and used books. The mutli-stakeholder model includes workers, two consumer classes (basic and low income), and organizational (not-for-profit and co-ops). Check it out. We are trying to do the entire conversion through member equity since the book store model may make traditional financing difficult Please share and join!! https://www.orcabooks.com/co-op #coop

Does anyone know of articles about worker co-ops and the current situation in Venezuela? I know of a couple from the Chavez era but not much about the Maduro years or the current crisis. #coops #venezuela

sorry for my long absence from here--too many commitments, but some of that is easing off now. trying to catch up on all the different conversations. . . .

Bruce Mayer offers an update on the 2018 Tax Law and the 20% pass-through in terms of #workerco-ops an patronage refunds (it actually works for worker #co-ops).

https://www.wegnercpas.com/worker-co-ops-operating-under-subchapter-t-and-the-new-tax-law/

One of the best parts of teaching a class on worker #co-ops is learning from the students. As we wrapped up the quarter last night, I got to learn about this hidden gem in the #gaming world: https://motion-twin.com/en/

It is a French worker co-op that has found a fair amount of success in an industry that doesn't really embrace collective ethos.

here is a small press article about about our "Legacy Project" in the northwest. We are trying to prime the pump for worker co-op conversions.
https://theworldlink.com/news/local/usda-provides-grants-to-nonprofit-to-teach-communities-about-co/article_e79de4ac-3730-53a7-8046-1c54ab3f5ee3.html

@Steve i also need to pick your brain. I am working with a conversion of an existing business that is unionized. They intend to maintain the union relationship after becoming a co-op, but there are some issues and questions. If you have time for a phone call, today or tomorrow, please let me know. #unioncoop

@Steve congratulations on the job! Feel free to reach out to me as a resource. I might do the same to you!

Who is going to the worker coop national conference in LA? I just just got my ticket punched today! It would be great to have a social.coop meetup

@LeoSammallahti my blog is workersparadise.org

John McNamara

The latest post in my series about the labor movement, co-ops, and the American Dream: https://workersparadise.org/2018/05/15/labor-unions-and-co-ops-part-4/ #labor #coops #unioncoops

A May Day international Sociocracy conference entirely on zoom!
https://www.conferize.com/international-sociocracy-online-conference-1

#sociocracy