4TH UNION CO-OP SYMPOSIUM

Liberating Our Futures Together:

Building the Cooperative Ecosystem

The international Union Co-op Symposium is a two day conference that brings together over 250 practitioners, social entrepreneurs, labor organizers, co-op workers, community development practitioners, and people interested in practical tools on how to start and run union worker cooperatives. CUCI is building on the work of co-ops that have been present in this country for over 200 years, by using an international model from Mondragon, Spain. We wish to create a network of cooperatives in our society that serves the collective good by providing economic opportunities and goods and services with a purpose.

Since 2013, CUCI has been hosting an international biennial union co-op symposium to grow the union co-op movement. CUCI is one of the premier "living labs" for bringing this model to life in the US. To date, CUCI has created 5 cooperative entities/organizations, two cooperative support entities, and is the prototype union cooperative incubator for the country. The symposium provides practical tools on how to start and run union worker cooperatives. New this year, we will include how cities can support and incentivize worker ownership and cutting-edge business succession strategies through worker ownership.





WHAT SESSIONS ARE WE PREPARING FOR THIS YEAR?

We asked attendees and co-op network builders around the country what they wanted to see this year and have been busy putting together another practical, nuts-and-bolts schedule with plenty of space to learn and connect with others doing the work!



Panels & Sessions on these topics:

education & culture building

governance & management

financing

preparing for the future of work

Participatory Sessions where people can pick the brains of on-the-ground practitioners, like Rachel from Co-op Dayton, who have made great strides on their co-op projects. You will hear about:

the lessons they’ve learned,

their winning strategies, and

what NOT to do while building your co-op networks.

Annual Celebration - The celebration will feature: Tapas buffet, Our Harvest Cooperative’s local and fresh produce, social time with co-op promoters from across the US, music, Split the Pot, inspiration and fun!

We have designed this program not only to inspire, but to build capacity for cooperatives and demonstrate the importance of building a network of cooperatives. Check out our schedule outline below!

Here is the link to the Event Page where you can also find these details.





Tickets:

Regular Admission: $279/person, through November 8th. Group rates starting at $215.

Late Registration: $325/person, November 9th-15th. Group rates starting at $249.

Hotels:

We have secured a block of rooms at Holiday Inn Cincinnati Riverfront (600 W 3rd St, Covington, KY 41011) available from November 14-16th. Rooms are $99/night with breakfest buffet included. Reservations must be made on or before October 24th (deadline extended) and may be cancelled at no charge until 4pm on the scheduled day of arrival. Call in your reservations under the 'Union Co-op Symposium' group or book your hotel with this link.

Additional hotel option where we found more affordable pricing (as of 10/25) was:

$95/night - The Millenium Hotel, which is where we had a block of rooms for the last symposium and their cleaning and maintenance staff are unionized. Low rating but will get you a close hotel for cheap.

$121-126/night - The Guild at the Banks and Radius. Both look like they currently have at least 12 rooms available for the symposium weekend, are highly rated, and 10-12 minute walk from symposium.

$130/night - Comfort Suites Newport - Cincinnati Riverfront have at least 8 rooms available for the symposium weekend, are highly rated, and 5 minute drive (30 minute walk) away from symposium.









What did people say about the 2017 Union Co-op Symposium?

Participants said they loved networking with industry specialists and other co-op network builders and connecting to resources, through practical presentations and applicable workshops on nuts-and-bolts topics such as capitalization, leveraged buy-outs, and the union connection. By using downtime together, creating open environments to learn from and with each other, and by hearing from worker-owners, participants came away with enthusiastic attitudes and “14 million ideas” for building and growing their networks. Folks left inspired and pumped up to apply the different strategies they learned and have made some amazing progress since!





Symposium Sponsors:

The 2019 Union Co-op Symposium is hosted in partnership with 1Worker1Vote. We want to thank our many sponsors for helping make this possible: