There are thousands of people working in UK worker co-ops, collectively sitting on millions of pounds in separate bank accounts.
What would it look like to organise money collectively instead?
This month on Punchcard I spoke to Rob Callender from Kin.coop about savings clubs, collective finance, and why worker co-ops might need to think beyond just democratising work.
Replacing Banks with Savings Clubs — out now on Punchcard
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Join worker co-operators from across the movement for a 2 day programme built around collaboration, shared learning and reimagining the future of worker co-operation. Hosted at Thornbridge outdoors near Sheffield.
Register your attendance at workers.coop!
This month Punchcard’s guest is Paul Kahawatte, a member of Navigate and an experienced mediator working with communities, cooperatives, and social movements. In my interview with him, he shares the structures and processes he uses to ward off conflict, catch it early, and resolve it in ways that strengthen, rather than fracture.
Rupay was unsure whether he should start a coop for cleaners and migrants because of the inherent power imbalance, but he wanted to support a broader range of Coops to form and felt like he could use his skills as a lawyer to incubate a group to start a coop and so gave it his best shot
Listen to the newest episode of punchcard to hear how he facilitated the creation of a cleaning cooperative in Berlin and what he learnt along the way
Starting off as a small shop operating out of a loading bay to a thriving worker co-op that owns its own the entire building, has around 50 dedicated members and is a shining example of what worker cooperatives can accomplish.
In this episode of Punchcard, Corrina and I talk about how Unicorn has become such a success and how they plan to develop further.
If you’re in a worker co-op, we need to know more about you and what you think.
The UK’s first Worker Co-op Census will paint a clearer picture of what it’s really like to work in worker cooperatives across the UK - where we come from and what we share as workers, the things that matter to us, how our jobs and workplaces compare to others. It will help build the real case for worker cooperation.
📝 Take the census via the link in bio (around 10 minutes).
Who can take part?
Anyone who works in a worker co-op - whether as a member, worker, employee, or volunteer. Your organisation can be fully or partially worker-owned, and it doesn’t need a particular legal status, as long as it identifies as a worker co-op.
Why take part?
Your responses will help identify opportunities for worker co-op support, training, development, collaboration and campaigning.
Findings will be anonymised and reported only in summary form.
The results will directly inform future work by workers.coop and the wider co-operative movement.
🎟️ Prize draw:
At the end of the survey, you can opt in to a prize draw to win one of six tickets to the Worker Co-op Weekend festival in May, plus £125 to help with travel and other costs.
Participation is of course voluntary. Your data will be kept confidential and securely stored, and individual responses will not be identifiable in any published outputs. Full details about data use and consent are included at the start of the survey.
The more of you who take part, the more useful and representative the findings will be - so please complete the census questionnaire - and please share it with your co-workers.
In solidarity
Kiri, Melis and the workers.coop research group
Questions? Email [email protected]
Announcing Own The Future, our first co-op support programme starting in March 2026! 🛠⌨️
🧩 We’re looking for groups across the UK addressing everyday challenges - like food,housing,support,care - who are interested in setting up as workers cooperatives.
💸 Its a one-year accelerator programme with training, mentoring, specialist advice, peer support and £5,000 of start-up funding.
🗓 Applications close 31 January. Register your interest - link in bio :)
🧳 In collaboration with @tippingpointuk & @outlandishcoop
DM us for any ❓
workers.coop is hiring!
We’re looking for a strategic organiser and collaborator to strengthen our democratic processes, collective leadership, and visibility as a movement.
💸 Salary: £36,000-£38,000 FTE, dependent on desired benefits package.
📍Location: Remote (UK only)
⏰ Contract: Part-time employee – 3 days per week (24 hours) with flexible working options
In the new episode of punchcard elle talks about their experience of classism within co-ops, what the solutions are and why inclusion isn't enough
Listen wherever you listen to your podcast
Glasgow Autumn Assembly 2025: Thursday Recap
On Friday, more than 20 worker cooperatives came together to connect, take part in peer-learning sessions, receive 1:1 business support from cooperative development experts, and - of course - round off the evening with a ceilidh!
Glasgow Autumn Assembly 2025: Thursday Recap
Care and cleaning co-operatives are pioneering a new model of work, one where fair pay, dignified conditions, and shared profits are the rule, not the exception.
Thank you to our speakers from @greatcarecoop , @leadinglives , @southsideallclean , & Belfast Cleaning Society and to @womenslibrary for the fitting venue.
Missed the session and want to learn more about starting a co-operative in the care or cleaning sector? Send us a direct message.
Have you seen the beautiful mural on the side of Greencity Wholefoods in Glasgow?
Created by local mural collective 'Cobolt' last year, you will be able to see this during the 2025 Autumn Assembly next week, as Greencity is hosting the Autumn Assembly welcome social on Thursday 20th November with a film screening followed by a supper club.
Greencity is a legendary Glasgow worker co-op founded in 1978, democratically controlled by its members which total 54, working in the wholefood wholesale sector. They provide organic, vegan, free-from, Fairtrade food & drink and eco-friendly cleaning products. The business first operated in Hillington but moved in the 80s to its current home in Dennistoun. Read more about its beginnings https://www.greencity.coop/about-us
The Autumn Assembly brings together worker co-ops from across the UK as a chance for members and those interested in worker power to meet up, learn, share and take stock as we continue to build on our achievements and making the worker co-op federation into what we want it to be.
Autumn Assembly is open to all worker co-ops, those looking to become worker co-ops, or those curious to find out more. This year in Glasgow, there are bursaries available.
Book Autumn Assembly tickets here:https://www.workers.coop/civicrm/event/info/?reset=1&id=212
