Baltimore's co-ops show the power of a 'solidarity economy'

Baltimore has become what many consider to be ground zero in the emerging “solidarity economy” and the formation of worker-owned, cooperatively run businesses. There’s something important going on here, and there’s a lot that we can all learn from our fellow workers who are in the cooperative space—people who are living, breathing proof that there’s another way to run a business, that there's another way to run our economy, and that there are other ways we can treat work and workers. At a recent event hosted by the Baltimore Museum of Industry titled "Work Matters: Building a Worker-Owned Co-op," Max moderated a panel including workers and representatives from Common Ground Bakery Café, Taharka Bros Ice Cream, A Few Cool Hardware Stores, and the Baltimore Roundtable for Economic Democracy (BRED). He talked to them about how they came to work at these different co-ops, how their businesses transitioned to more cooperative models, and they dig into the nitty gritty of what working at a co-op looks like, what it takes for workers to democratically run a business, and the real challenges, limitations, and rewards that come with this kind of work. Panelists include: Vince Green (Taharka Bros Ice Cream); David Evans (A Few Cool Hardware Stores); Craig Smith (A Few Cool Hardware Stores); Sierra Allen (Common Ground Bakery Café); Christa Daring (BRED). Additional links/info below… Baltimore Museum of Industry website , Facebook page, and Instagram Jaisal Noor, The Real News Network, " Worker Co-ops vs. COVID " Jaisal Noor, The Real News Network, " Taharka Bros: Ice Cream with a Side of Worker Ownership " Working People, " Your Job Doesn't Have to Suck (w/ Jaisal Noor) " Lisa Elaine Held, The Washington Post, " Amid Food-Industry Upheaval, Baltimore Businesses Are Handing Workers the Keys " Rebekah Kirkman, The Real News Network, " After Beloved Baltimore Coffee Shop Abruptly Closed, Workers Reopen as Co-op " Permanent links below... Leave us a voicemail and we might play it on the show! Labor Radio / Podcast Network website , Facebook page, and Twitter page In These Times website , Facebook page, and Twitter page The Real News Network website , YouTube channel, podcast feeds, Facebook page, and Twitter page Featured Music... Jules Taylor, "Working People" Theme Song Jules Taylor, "Working People Live Show" Theme Song Jules Taylor, "John L. Handcox I Live On Remix" Follow Jules Taylor on Twitter and Facebook Help us continue producing radically independent news and in-depth analysis by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer: Donate: https://therealnews.com/donate-pod Sign up for our newsletter: https://therealnews.com/newsletter-pod Like us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnews Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnews Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-news-podcast--2952221/support . Help us continue producing radically independent news and in-depth analysis by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer. Follow us on: Bluesky: @therealnews.com Facebook: The Real News Network Twitter: @TheRealNews YouTube: @therealnews Instagram: @therealnewsnetwork Become a member and join the Supporters Club for The Real News Podcast today!