Keep it Co-op

The Co-op is not just another grey PLC with the usual disinterested shareholders. And those of us who love it don’t want it becoming just that.

The Co-operative Group is owned by its members, not its shareholders. It has values: political, commercial, moral and ethical.

It grew out of a desire to provide communities with an alternative to retailers that cheated their customers for profit. People, the environment and values came before profit.

In 1917 the Co-op movement set up the Co-operative Party – affiliated to the Labour Party – which grew out of those values, to fight for co-operative principles.

There are 31 Co-operative and Labour Party MPs and 17 peers. And it has extensive membership in the Scottish Parliament, Welsh assembly and the London assembly.

Split attempt

Now the new management at the Co-op group is trying to split with the Co-operative Party both financially and politically. It would end the annual ÂŁ625,000 funding for the Co-operative Party.

But members of the Co-op can stop it from happening. They have a voice and they can use it.

The political voice of a co-operative and mutual approach: socially responsible business, fair trade with the developing world, is needed to counter-balance Supermarket PLC and Big Corporate PLC.

Karin Christiansen, general secretary of the Co-operative Party told UNITElive, “There is a new management who are trying to rush through a change they do not understand. The Party was set up by the co-operative movement to fight for the values of the co-operative movement.

“Ending the political voice will undermine what is important about mutuals and about the co-operative movement. We are a direct challenge to the corporate PLC approach where the only line is profit and looking out for shareholders.

“It is about having values which are more than just profit. It is about being efficient, about having social and political values and providing value for money for the working class communities we serve.

“It’s those values which makes the Co-op different. Without them, there is a danger it will retreat into being just another retailer.

“A forward looking vision would be promoting mutual and co-operative values in areas such as social housing and social care. We are a proud and practical alternative to a market approach driven by profit alone.

Alternative vision

“We need to keep our political voice to keep driving through our alternative vision. To end that now could cause immense harm.

Jennie Formby, Unite’s Political Director told UNITElive, “The co-operative movement is closely linked to trade unions and the Labour Party. The plan is badly thought through and those pushing it appear to have little grasp of what the co-op movement is about.

“It’s a bad enough plan at any time but it is very badly timed in the middle of a general election which is a battle about political values and vision. The Tories and Lib Dems will be rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of the Co-op Group severing ties with the Co-operative Party it set up.

“Mutual, co-operative support is central to trade union and labour movement values. Putting people and decency before profit are values worth defending and I would urge people to make their Co-op vote count.”

If you are a Co-op member and you want more information about how to make sure your voice is heard visit: www.keepit.coop