Worker Ownership in the UK 1992 and Financial Support Strategies for the Co-operative Movement

Abstract

By early 1992 it was unclear whether the new wave' of worker co- operatives in the UK was essentially over or whether there was continued, though less spectacular, growth. Certainly, the more general interest in worker ownership indicated some potential as well as the need for new thinking in terms of financial and other support offered within the UK co-operative movement. This paper gives up-to- date estimates of the size and characteristics of the UK worker co- operative movement, concentrating especially on the changing capital structure of new worker co-operatives. It then gives extracts from a report (Thomas et al., 1992) on consultations undertaken within the movement on possibilities, problems and ideas for the financial support of worker co-operatives, concluding with a discussion of alternative future strategies.