News & Resources

New Economy Roundup: #Striketober, Co-ops vs. the Gig Economy, Growing Mutual Aid

Oct 28, 2021 | New Economy Roundup

In order to create space for our staff to focus on network building, we’ve decided this will be our last New Economy Roundup of the year. It’s bittersweet to announce, but don’t worry — we’ll be back in 2022! Please take this quick survey to let us know what you love about the Roundup and what you’d like to see change next year. We appreciate your readership and your help in shaping this resource, and look forward to reading your feedback!

This week we’re talking about the growing wave of strikes around the world, frontline climate solutions, how Black co-ops are carrying forward legacies of care and survival, cooperative alternatives to the gig economy, the connections between mutual aid and the solidarity economy, and more.

Stories from the Field

#Striketober: During the pandemic, billionaires’ wealth has surged by 70%, while workers have been subjected to increased hazards and low pay. Now, an estimated 100,000 workers are on strike across the country – from healthcare workers to coal miners to taxi drivers, film crews and factory workers. Show solidarity with local workers on strike in your area, and learn how the pandemic is inspiring more people to #FireTheBosses and start worker-owned enterprises.

GND & Solidarity Economics: For the next two weeks, youth-led climate movements are taking to the streets to demand big banks stop financing fossil fuel infrastructure. Join Climate Justice Alliance’s global call for frontline climate solutions at COP 26, and then read why a Green New Deal requires a solidarity economy.

Black Co-op Power in the South: “In the relentless presence of racist, institutional violence, cooperative economics is often the only means of survival [for Black communities].” Read how the Pecan Milk Cooperative in Atlanta is building on this legacy and putting economic power back in the hands of queer Black people in the South.

Solidarity Economies Abroad

Co-op Alternatives to the Gig Economy: Last month, striking couriers in Greece won an impressive victory against delivery company Efood. In addition to organizing and leveraging their labor power, read how these workers are building cooperative alternatives to exit the exploitative gig economy. One example is CoopCycle, a federation of worker-owned courier platforms that have set up courier co-ops in 63 cities across Europe.

Public Banking Around the World: Last week, NEC member organization New Economy Project hosted an exciting convening on public banks around the world. Watch the recording to hear activists from Chile, the UK, and Argentina discuss key findings from a new report surveying seven public banks on four continents, and learn how you can take action to create local public banks.

General Strike in South Korea: On October 20, an estimated 500,000 workers in South Korea participated in a general strike to demand fair working conditions, greater decision-making power for workers, and the nationalization of certain economic sectors. Read more about their demands and lessons that can be learned for labor organizing in the US.

Worker Co-op Week

Join NEC member organization the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives (USFWC) for #WorkerCoopWeek from November 3-5! Sessions were made to inspire with topics ranging from carrying on the legacy of Black cooperative visionaries, discovering financial tools for immigrant workers, securing health care for worker co-ops and more. Register today at conference.coop.

NASCO Institute 2021: Mutual Aid

Join NEC member organization the North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO) for the 44th annual NASCO Institute, taking place from November 12-14! The theme of this year’s gathering is Mutual Aid. It will spotlight examples of mutual aid networks, inter co-op mutual aid organizing, with skill shares and support for how you can build and support mutual aid networks near you. Register today at nasco.coop/institute.

Movement News

Podcasts of the New Economy

In this episode of Cooperative Journal, Ebony Gustave speaks with organizers from STL Mutual Aid — including Julia Ho of NEC member organization Solidarity Economy St. Louis — about how they have built a robust network of care in their community. Tune in to learn how mutual aid can be used to introduce people to the solidarity economy, peer-2-peer learning between cooperatives and mutual aid initiatives, taking a holistic approach to fulfilling needs, and more.

Additional Listens
Center for Economic Democracy – Breathing Life Into Democracy
Cooperative Journal – East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative: Community Owned Real Estate
Half Past Capitalism – Art & Artists in the Solidarity Economy w/ Marina Lopez

NEC on the Gram

Follow NEC on Instagram — @neweconomycoalition — Where we’re sharing photos of our staff meeting up with NEC members and cooperative organizers in NYC!

Jobs Board

New Listings!
Associate Campaign Director, Corporate Accountability
Chief Operating Officer, Colorado Village Collaborative
Various Positions, Climate Justice Alliance
Various Positions, Susu Community Farm

All Jobs
Digital Content & Social Media Writer, Demos
Director of Operations, NASCO
Director of Development, Real News Network
Economic Justice Editor, Nonprofit Quarterly
Education & Training Manager, Democracy at Work Institute (DAWI)
Executive Director, Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (NESAWG)
Executive Director/Co-Executive Directors, Kentuckians For The Commonwealth (KFTC)
Federal Policy Consultant, United Frontline Table
Loan Officer & Loan Associate, Local Enterprise Assistance Fund (LEAF)
Market Study Consultant, Central Brooklyn Food Coop
Membership and Programs Coordinator, Cooperative Economics Alliance of NYC (CEANYC)
Organizing and Policy Director, Urban Homesteading Assistance Board (UHAB)
Senior Research Analyst, Action Center on Race and the Economy
Small Business Outreach Manager & Director of Communications & Fundraising, Center for Community Wealth Building
Various Positions, Black Futures Lab
Various Positions, Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy (GCCLP)
Various Positions, HEAL Food Alliance
Various Positions, NDN Collective
Various Positions, PolicyLink
Various Positions, Project Equity
Various Positions, PUSH Buffalo

Upcoming Events

Capitalism: The Roots, Ruin & Lessons for What Comes Next
Join Visionary Organizing Lab, for an exciting six-week online class exploring the relationships between race, gender, nature, social movements, politics and the capitalist system. Class meets via zoom. (October 26 to November 30 – Online)

The Cultural Economy We Want: Cooperatives
The system culture-bearers and artists want is not only possible—it already exists and can be strengthened and cultivated with intention. Convened with artist Caroline Woolard of Art.coop, this seminar brings together cultural cooperatives in a conversation about protocols that build shared political, economic, and cultural power. (Nov 8 – Online)

We Won’t Go Back: WTF is Normal?
Join Peopleshub with disabled organizers and artists to explore stories about vaccines, medications, institutions, prisons, and the impact of “returning to normal” on our daily lives. (Nov 9-10 – Online)

Remaking the Economy: Finding the Levers for System Change
Join Nonprofit Quarterly to consider the complexities of how system change happens— addressing that question from multiple vantage points: including community-based economic development, electoral organizing, and large-group facilitation. (Nov 10 – Online)

Union Co-op Symposium
The Union Co-op model joins the best tenets of the labor movement with opportunities for sustainable wealth-building and self-determination. This 2-day gathering, sponsored by Co-op Cincy and 1 Worker 1 Vote, will provide community-building opportunities and workable strategies for forming, running, and nurturing union worker cooperatives. (Nov 12-13 – Online)

Platform Cooperatives Now
Join 80 cooperative workers, trade unionists, policymakers, and activists from over 20 countries to assess how platform cooperatives have responded to the pandemic, analyze policies, and discuss current experiments with data cooperatives. (Nov 12-18 – Online/In Person)

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