What does FWC mean in FEDERATION

The Federation of Worker Cooperatives (FWC) is an international network that works to promote and support worker cooperatives through advocacy, mutual aid, and education. The FWC believes in providing workers with equitable access to business ownership so they can create better livelihoods for themselves. By empowering workers to create their own businesses, we strive to foster communities that are stronger and more resilient.

The FWC provides a variety of resources and services to member cooperatives, including advocating for favorable public policy, providing technical assistance and training, facilitating communication amongst members, organizing conferences and events, hosting an online platform for collaboration and resource sharing, creating educational materials about worker cooperative development, publishing best practices for financial management and organization development within worker-owned enterprises.

In a traditional corporation, employees do not make decisions about how their workplace is run; instead those decisions are made by people who own shares in the company (the shareholders). In a worker cooperative however, all members share decision making power in proportion to the amount they have invested in the business (rather than based on number of shares owned). Furthermore each member has one vote regardless of investment amount which ensures that no individual has any more power than another.

There is no limit to what types of businesses can be organized as a worker cooperative--they can range anywhere from retail stores to tech companies or consulting firms. Additionally they vary widely in size from small local businesses up to large multi-national or regional organizations.

Yes! As part of the FWC you will have access to resources such as educational materials about cooperative economics and best practice guides for financial management within worker-owned enterprises. Additionally you will be connected with other cooperatives who can provide support or insight into unique challenges or opportunities your coop may face throughout its development. Further still you will become part of an international movement raising awareness about how economic justice can be achieved through democratic ownership models.

Joining means becoming part of an international network made up individuals passionate about creating equitable economies. Through membership in the FWC you will have access to workshops led by experienced professionals on topics such as consensus decision making processes or enabling effective team dynamics within organizations. Additionally you will be able join discussions with peers across different countries who may already have faced similar obstacles when forming their own cooperatives.

Membership dues are charged annually based on the size and scope of your coop's operation; however there is also discounted pricing available if cost poses any difficulty.