Co-operatives are democratic organisations controlled by their members, setting policies and making decisions. Members serving as elected representatives are accountable to the wider membership.
Worker co-operatives succeed when all members participate in transparent, fair decision making; but also where members are given delegated authority to act on behalf of the collective.
Your co-operative should:
- Ensure all members actively participate in the management of the business and long-term planning.
- Effectively communicate, both between the co‑operative and its members and between members themselves.
- Collectively agree and delegate authority to individual members to act on behalf of the co-operative as and where necessary.
- Ensure there are democratic processes, or democratic accountability, in all governance and management functions.
- Regularly review its governance and business management processes as it grows and develops.