A worker co-op is a company owned and democratically controlled by its workers.
Only employees can be members of the co-op. They all have an equal vote in decisions about the business.
There are no outsiders taking decisions about the running of the organisation.
There are no outside shareholders reaping the profits – the workers are the shareholders, so all profit is shared between them.
The Belfast Cleaning Society
The Belfast Cleaning Society was formed in April 2012, when 6 very determined women from both sides of the community got together and formed their cooperative.
These women were keen to work and wanted to get off benefits.
By forming a cooperative they have been able to win contracts and pay wages more than a £1.00 an hour above the average cleaners’ rate in Belfast.
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