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I find a discussion of this type interesting. I am
gathering that the study of the worker co-op model has not been
considered. I would suggest it be undertaken. Not only is it far
superior to that of the United ESOP concept where the workers don't get proper
representation but in fact it has proven throughout the world to work and very
successfully. Where we get messed up is in the thinking that everything
has to be corporate.
In addition, because co-ops are owned by the employees,
thy are owned by the people who are busy building the community. If you
and your town are trying to build your town you are not about to pack up and all
move to Mexico just because they have a better tax plan or the bottom line may
be better because suddenly, in Mexico, you are prepared to lower your standard
of living.
Chick
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, January 19, 2004 6:34
PM
Subject: Re: HOMESTEAD: Myth of Employee
Ownership
I would like to agree with John Medaille's
observation that an employee owned operation requires a change in values,
which I would describe in terms of democratic governance practices at every
level of the operation.
I don't agree with the implication (that may
not have been intended, I may be over-reacting, if so please excuse) that this
can't be accomplished in a union setting. It's correct that it certainly
wasn't accomplished at United Airlines. There wasn't an adequate vision
there, there wasn't sufficient involvement or agreement with the whole idea,
and truth to tell, no one is managing a major airline successfully at the
moment, at least no one comes to mind. The only successful airlines in the
U.S. or Canada are little ones that work for less. This WalMart idea of
working for less isn't a great foundation for the American Dream or any of its
lesser versions.
There are, however, a number of employee owned union
represented operations that are doing quite well. I was hearing about
one the other day, Market Forge in Boston, that frankly I thought was long
gone. We had management experts there who insisted that they needed a
new plant, far away from where the workers lived, the workers stubbornly
resisted, the end was supposed to be near, I hear now they are still in the
old plant, still can get to work in a reasonable fashion, and the enterprise
is succeeding.
I am not familiar with the systems known as Value Based
Mangement or 21st Century Economics, but if they are somewhat similar to Open
Book Management I would expect they are not entirely incompatible with a truly
democratically governed employee owned entereprise with union represented
worker-owners.
Lynn Williams
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