News & Resources

New Economy Roundup: Strike Wave, Biden’s First 100 Days, Worker Co-op Foundations

Jan 29, 2021 | New Economy Roundup

This week we’re talking about the ongoing wave of essential worker strikes, what to expect and demand during the Biden administration’s first 100 days, putting global health over profits in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, a worker co-op foundations training series, keeping land out of corporate hands and more.

PS: We’re hiring! Spread the word about our Interim Development Officer position and apply by February 5.

Stories from the Field


Essential Workers on Strike: From produce workers, nurses and teachers, to McDonalds, Google, and Amazon workers — 2021 has brought a huge surge of strikes, unionization, and organized labor activity. Read more about this years’ essential worker strike wave, and join in this upcoming discussion on the need for collaboration between the worker cooperative movement and labor unions.

Biden’s First 100 Days: The Biden administration started their first week in office with a slate of executive actions in support of racial justice, climate action, COVID-19 relief, and more. While important to celebrate wins, we also know we can’t settle for false solutions or neoliberal reforms. Here’s some of what we’re following about the new administration’s first 100 days:

The Demand is Still #DefundPolice: A new toolkit from Interrupting Criminalization offers key lessons from the last six months of the #DefundPolice movement — showing how organizers in over 20 cities have secured the divestment of $840 million from police departments, and investments of at least $160 million dollars into communities. Read the full report and explore this beautiful illustrated zine on communicating about police abolition from MPD150.

Solidarity Economies Abroad


“Women will continue to lead the struggle against farm laws:” In India, January 18th is celebrated each year as Mahila Kisan
Diwas, or Women Farmers’ Day. Watch this short film about how this year, women farmers across India demonstrated to reassert their place in the ongoing farmers’ struggle against Modi’s neoliberal agricultural laws.

Participatory Budgeting in Paris: Next month, the city of Paris will launch a new participatory budgeting (PB) project that will allow 25% of the city’s budget from now until 2026 to be decided with the input of Parisians. Read how the city is using PB to reinvigorate democracy in the wake of the pandemic.

People’s Vaccine: In what is being called a “catastrophic moral failure,” vaccine hoarding by wealthy nations continues to deepen global inequities. Hear about the state of vaccine manufacturing in India, Brazil and South Africa and organizing efforts to reform intellectual property frameworks in order to put health over profits.

Foundations for Worker Co-ops


NEC member organization, NYC Network of Worker Cooperatives (NYC NoWC) is offering  a free six month training series for and by worker co-ops to learn the foundations! The series will be excellent for both groups interested in starting a worker cooperative, as well as existing worker owners who want to brush up on their skills.  All workshops are drop-in and open to the public. Simultaneous interpretation in English and Spanish will be provided. Topics include everything from technical assistance to economic justice to collective decision-making. Learn more and register.

Movement News

Podcasts of the New Economy

In the latest episode of Building Local Power, NEC member organization the Institute for Local Self Reliance talks with NY City Councilor Brad Lander about how the city can use community ownership of land to support local businesses and affordable housing. Listen now to hear how community land trusts and land banks can help keep NYC land out of corporate hands.

Additional Listens:
Dual Power – Black Autonomy Podcast
Alternative Streaming Models & Cooperativism in Music – Montez Press Radio

NEC on the Gram


Follow NEC on Instagram — @neweconomycoalition — where we’re sharing about the US Solidarity Economy Network and Highlander Center’s upcoming Solidarity 101 training this weekend! More info and register.

Jobs Board

New Listings!
Culture and Communications Associate, Boston Ujima Project
Divestment Campaigner, The Indigenous Environmental Network – Remote, Jan 31
Education Program Associate, Center for Economic Democracy – Boston, Feb 1
Executive Director (half-time), Boston Farms Community Land Trust – Feb 28
Executive Director,  Cooperative Development Foundation/NCBA CLUSA
Fractals Research Fellow & Programs Coordinator, Black Feminist Future – Atlanta, Feb 16
Fund Analyst, Boston Ujima
Interim Development Officer, New Economy Coalition – Remote, Feb 5
Various Positions, NDN Collective

All Jobs
Black Membership Organizer, Climate Justice Alliance – Feb 1
Business Developer, ICA Group
Child Care Program Director, ICA Group
Deputy Communications Director, Movement for Black Lives
Director of Events, The 19th – Feb 5
Director of Grassroots Relationships, Liberation in a Generation
Executive Director, Richmond LAND – Jan 29
Fundraising Consultant, US Department of Arts and Culture – Jan 31
Honor Native Land Project Partner, US Department of Arts and Culture
Membership Director, NYC Network for Worker Cooperatives
Organizing Director, Black Cornerstone/Center for Story-based Strategy
Policy Director, Grassroots Global Justice – Remote, Jan 29
Program Director, Social Justice Fund NW – Seattle/Portland
Senior Communications and Marketing Specialist, ICA Group
Worker Co-op Policy Advocate, NYC Network for Worker Cooperatives
Senior Policy Analyst: Economic Democracy, Demos – New York, NY
Various Positions, Action Center on Race and the Economy
Various Positions, Center for Popular Democracy
Various Positions, Economic Policy Institute
Various Positions, PUSH Buffalo – Buffalo, NY
Various Positions, The Movement Cooperative – Remote

Upcoming Events

Emergence Meets Emergency
Join the Massachusetts Solidarity Economy Network (MASEN) for the second event in their Emergence Meets Emergency series on solidarity economy initiatives across Massachusetts, this time focused on reparations, food and farming, and climate justice. (Online – Jan 29)

Solidarity Economy 101
Join the US Solidarity Economy Network for an introduction to the solidarity economy. What is it, how does it differ from other ‘alternative’ system frameworks, what are examples? (Online – Jan 30)

People’s State of the Union
The US Department of Arts and Culture is partnering with MassCreative and The Theater Offensive to offer an invitation to come together, to share our stories and visions for a more just future, and to confront the interlocking crises of systemic racism, eviction, poverty, access to healthcare, and more laid bare by COVID-19. (Online – Feb 1-March 1)

Indigenomics: Harnessing the Power of Our Communities
Indigenous entrepreneurs and leaders who are making an immense difference in uplifting their communities on their own terms, and according to Indigenous values and principles, from a place of abundance. (Feb 3)

Teach In: Money-Handling and Taxes for Mutual Aid Groups
This online teach-in is for mutual aid groups facing nuts and bolts issues that come with the work we’ve all been doing. How should we store money we raise? Do we need to consider incorporating, having a fiscal sponsor, or becoming a non-profit? What are the costs and benefits of each potential approach? What should mutual aid groups know about banking? (Online – Feb 9)

Community Banking Roundtable
On Thursday, February 11th at 2 PM EST, the Schumacher Center for a New Economics and BerkShares, Inc. will host a virtual Community Banking Roundtable with presidents Jay Anderson of Pittsfield Cooperative Bank, Rick Cantele of Salisbury Bank and Trust Company, and Chuck Leach of Lee Bank to highlight the role and defining characteristics of community banks. (Online- Feb 11)

Why Worker Co-ops Should Matter to Labor Unions
Join USFWC’s Union Co-ops Council to discuss the need for collaboration between the worker cooperative movement and labor unions. In this session, we will learn about the history of unionized cooperatives, and how labor unions can benefit from partnering with and incubating worker co-ops. (Online – Feb 11)

Boston Ujima Project Citywide Assembly
Join Boston Ujima for a week of events as we work to return wealth and power to working class communities of color, and help bring another Boston to life. (Feb 14-22)

NEC NEWSLETTER

GET THE ROUNdUP

Sign up below to receive our bi-weekly New Economy Roundups highlighting the work of our 200+ members and many other building just and sustainable economies around the world.

n/a