workers.coop members have been busy building connections across Europe as Solid Fund helped to finance participation in international meetups on technology and the bike industry in Italy last week. Meanwhile, workers.coop working groups have been busy finalising the Autumn Assembly programme and reflecting on the first year's strategy.

Join workers.coop Board for 6 months

workers.coop are looking to co-opt one or more people to the Board until the next elections in spring 2024. Three members are standing down and it could be an opportunity to try the role before standing for election next year. Read more. Please send expressions of interest to secretary@workers.coop.

Dual membership offer with Co-ops UK before December

Joining workers.coop can give you a 50% discount off Co-operatives UK's membership (worth at least £50). If you are already a member of theirs and want that discount, make sure to join us before the 1st Dec.

Advocacy

workers.coop and Co-operatives UK worked together to submit a response to the Government consultation on Taxation of Employee Ownership Trusts and Employee Benefit Trusts. We argued for an extension of the same tax benefits that Employee Owned Businesses receive to apply to worker co-operative societies as well.

Last time we mentioned all remote tech co-op Autonomic, and this month we say hello to TypeOlogy transcription co-op, who work in audio transcription, proofreading, voice recording and live captioning. Also 100% remote, with members in Leeds, Manchester and Berlin, TypeOlogy have been considering what it's like to work for a fully remote co-op, the importance of working with actual typists vs AI transcription tech processes, and the role of transcription in creating and contributing to accessible media and movements.

Pantera workers co-op, Madrid During a recent visit we were lucky enough to hear all about clothing store Pantera from member Abdou Touray. Abdou explained how this refugee and migrant led project was formed through the 'Sindicato de Materos', the union of street vendors in Madrid. They work to overcome the precarious existance of street selling by providing secure employment and acting as a pathway for migrants into to other jobs. A sister project of Top Manta in Barcelona (webstore here), albeit with a different business model, it's an inspiring example of mutual aid and self-organisation in action.

Four delegates from three member co-ops went to Bologna last week for COODING, a conference and meetup on technology for worker and social cooperation. Hannah Blows and Ezster Muray from Animorph talked to 300 participants about their augmented reality applications for the health sector, and how Animorph audits its work from the point of view of worker wellbeing.

Sean Farmelo from Birmingham Bike Foundry continued to Florence to take part in the 'Workers Bike Day' meetings at the GKN worker-recuperated factory. This UK participation was made possible because of a financial contribution from Solidfund, our sister organisation. Look out for a more in depth article about the conference, network session and GKN visit on the workers.coop website soon.

Already a member?

• Book a 10 minute new member Induction, for you or any fellow co-op member
• Attend October's Midday Member Meetup, 17 October.
• Submit your co-op as a case study by filling in this form, we are seeking case studies of different cooperatively owned businesses.
• Interested in phone banking other worker co-ops to speak about principle 6 and the new federation?
• Get paid to organise a local co-op meetup; we provide advice, funding and a template. Looking to expand meet-ups in London, Manchester, and the south.

Not a member?

• Join a working group as an individual worker member. More information and sign-up here.
• Say hello and join discussions on the Forum, with links to upcoming events, paid opportunities, job board, policy and advocacy work and more.