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In North America the union movement reached
its
peak in the late 1960's and seems to have
been
on a slow decline ever since.
In a recent conversation with a leader in the
coop
movement in Canada I was told that the coop
movement is at a crossroads and is trying
to
find a way to survive.
It seems to me that both unions and coops
could come together as ESOPs and CSOPs
and regain their former strength. However I
see no signs of this happening. Why?
Could
it be that the leaders of the two movements have
not taken a close look at ESOPs and CSOPS
or have they taken a look and found them
wanting.
My guess is that the leaders of these groups
perceive ESOPs and CSOPs as a threat to
their existing movements. Perhaps they
think
that it is better to try to find a way to
resurrect
two declining movements than to give up their
power, influence and control to something new.
Of course this does not have to happen.
Instead
the leaders of unions and coops could embrace
ESOPs and CSOPs without dismantling their
existing structures. The two movements
could
come together into a new movement that would
re-energize both of them.
Any comments?
Barry Randall
Democratic Capitalism Study Group of
Ottawa
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