Rust Industries

Why aren’t there more worker co-operatives in western economies?

Ok, most of industry and manufacturing has moved from North American and European economies to Asia because of cheaper costs of production for the companies. Now this has caused massive problems in traditional industrial areas such as the Rust Belt and much of Northern England mainly unemployment. However if a company was not profit motivated and was only concerned with paying the workers and ‘keeping going’ would they be able to compete with the Asian producers on the price of their products?

Good question and not really one you can give a yes/no answer to. Tower Colliery in Wales managed to run a coal mine, only recently closing down, so it is possible.

Depending on what you call the west, Spain and Italy have very developed worker co-operative economies Mondragon in Spain is the 7th Largest Corporate Group. This is partly down to more favorable legislation and Government Interest.

If you want to read around the subject here some further info

Presentation on the Emilia Romagna Region in Italy.

Presentation on Mondragon in Spain

Industrial Steam Cleaning – Tecnovap – Dupray Industries