Valerie Young joins Brian Kardell and Eric Meyer to discuss the concept of tech unions and co-ops. They explore the organizational structure and decision-making in a cooperative, thresholds and transparency in cooperatively managed companies, and the essential ingredients for starting and running a cooperative. They also discuss the possibility of organizing a co-op track at a conference and the experiences and contrasts of co-ops, standards, and free software projects.
Tech unions address power imbalances and provide collective bargaining, but extreme imbalances can still occur.
Cooperatives like Igalia prioritize team collaboration, shared decision-making, and removing hierarchical structures.
Deep dives
The Importance of Tech Unions in Balancing Power
Tech unions are seen as a necessary way to address power imbalances and provide collective bargaining in larger companies. They can help mitigate power imbalances but may not offer complete balance due to extreme power imbalances that can still occur.
The Advantages of Cooperatives like Agalia
Cooperatives like Agalia, which are worker-owned and cooperatively managed, provide an alternative to traditional hierarchical structures. Employees collectively organize the company without CEOs or bosses. Decision-making is done collectively, allowing for team collaboration and team-led projects.
Different Types of Co-ops and Their Structures
Co-ops can have different meanings and legal structures. While Agalia has a cooperatively managed structure, some co-ops are only cooperatively owned but still maintain hierarchical structures. The hierarchical structure contradicts the principles of co-ops, which focus on equality, trust, shared goals, and mutual respect.
Challenges and Success Factors in Co-ops
Co-ops can face challenges such as having too little or too much structure. Finding the right amount of structure is vital for effective functioning. Successful co-ops prioritize equality and trust, encourage shared decision-making, and create an environment of mutual respect and appreciation. Co-ops can make altruistic decisions collectively and have a greater ability to address social and environmental issues.