(2010-11-18) California Coops

Widely recognized for its progressive politics, the Bay Area (California) is also home to the largest number of worker-owned (CoOp) businesses in the country. Though they receive little to no press, these models for 21st century business are still below the radar. Perhaps they are not dramatic enough (they are successful) or corrupt enough (no one is suing anyone), or exploitative enough (all worker-owners earn a living wage). Inspired by the Mondragon Cooperatives in the Basque region of Spain, many of these local businesses have flourished for years and have developed a template that works in the US... Worker-owned businesses even have a Support Group in the Bay Area, the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives.