Worker Cooperatives
Part 1: Widening Spheres of Democracy
The 21st century has seen an explosion in Worker Cooperatives—particularly since capitalism's 2008 crisis. In Part 1 of this 2-part series, we'll explore how worker coops present a radically different kind of ownership and management structure—one that has the power to bring democracy into the workplace and into the economy as a whole. We'll take a deep dive into the cooperatively owned and run bike/skate shop Rich City Rides, exploring how they have created a community hub that puts racial & economic justice front and center.
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We'll also take a trip to the Basque Country of northern Spain to explore how their rich cooperative environment compares to that of the United States and the San Francisco Bay Area specifically.
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Featuring
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Richard Wolff - Economics professor emeritus at University of Massachusetts, Amherst,
founder of Democracy at Work, and host of the weekly radio show Economic Update
Gopal Dayaneni- Co-founder of Cooperation Richmond & Staff Member at Movement Generation
Doria Robinson- Founder of Urban Tilth and Co-Founder of Cooperation Richmond
Esteban Kelly - Executive Director of the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives
Gorka Espiau - Senior Fellow at the Agirre Lehendakaria Center at the University of the Basque Country
Najari Smith - Worker/member of Rich City Rides bike & skate shop
Roxanne Villaluz - Worker/member of a cooperative bakery & pizzeria
Sofa Gradin - Political Organizer and Lecturer in Politics at King's College in London
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Music
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Many thanks to Phil Wrigglesworth for the cover art.
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Support for this episode was provided by:
