VAWC has been lead support for ten worker co-ops since 2008. This has created or retained nearly 100 jobs in industries from design build companies and farms to marketing agencies and permaculturists, all without legislative support.
Retain the legacy and purpose of your business while preserving jobs and wealth in your community through a conversion to a worker co-op. Contact us at adam@valleyworker.coop to find out more.
“As a worker member, I build an equitable workplace and leadership skills.”
– Larisa Demos, founding member of Flat Iron Coffeehouse
“We couldn’t have done it if we weren’t worker-owned.”
– Matt Grillo, a worker member at Collective Copies, about thriving in printing for 40 years
Why Are Worker Cooperatives A Solution?
Selling to workers preserves the skills sets and relationships that keep business going without risking a giant shift from the purpose or mission of a business. Democracy in the workplace increases civic activities and participation in political democracy. Workers are happier, build business acumen, and often go on to support start-ups and other innovations. Lastly, worker co-ops are made of people in their community and want that community to be healthy, sustainable, and a place of productivity. Worker cooperatives:
• Retain business legacy and infrastructure in Massachusetts
• Experience 5% more productivity than traditional businesses3
• Are 7% more likely to survive their first decade4
• Have 15% less employee turnover3
• Have broad appeal: 57% of worker members are people of color, 62% identify as women3
Why Should I Convert my Business to a Worker Co-op?
Conversions Are A Built-In Pathway for Business Retention – Worker buyouts support both business owners and workers by providing informed buyout offers.
Sellers Retain Dynasty, Prevent Business Loss or Relocation – Sellers’ best chance to retain the purpose and dynasty of their business is through a worker buyout, which will retain the skills and relationships needed to be resilient and long-lasting.
View Business as Source of Equity & Innovation – Innovation, partnerships, and growth need to relate to those within any company. Worker co-ops leverage this connection and incentivize workers to improve and innovate their business and how it is run.
A Majority of Workers Prefer Worker-Owned – Almost three-quarters (72%) of all workers across political the spectrum prefer to work for employee-owned companies, compared with 19% who prefer a company owned by investors and 9% who prefer a company owned by the state6.
1 – Fed Small Business – https://www.fedsmallbusiness.org/search?q=massachusetts
2 – Northeast Transition Initiative – https://ownershiptransition.org/planning-for-the-future-of-your-business/
3 – Abell, Hilary. “Worker Cooperatives: Pathways to Scale” – https://project-equity.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Worker-Cooperatives-Pathways-to-Scale.pdf
4 – Democracy At Work Institute, 2019 State of the Sector – https://democracy.institute.coop/2019-worker-cooperative-state-sector-report
5 – Murray, Anthony. “Co-Operatives Make for a Happy Place to Work.” Co-Op News, 2013- https://www.thenews.coop/co-operatives-make-happy-place-work/
6 – Aspen Institute – https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Race-and-Gender-Wealth-Equity-and-the-Role-of-Employee-Share-Ownership.pdf
7- Nonprofit Quarterly – https://nonprofitquarterly.org/voice-field-employee-owned-businesses-can-boost-local-economies/