First Draft
Principles for the Denver Worker’s Coop
0.Each member of the coop is but a small part of a great whole. The coop must continue to live or most of us may be unemployed/ underemployed. Our common welfare comes first, and personal welfare depends upon the coop’s unity.
0.For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority, an informed group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants, they do not govern.
0.Our membership must include all who desire to work in a cooperative environment to earn a living, and are committed to these principles.
0.Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other coops. When its plans concern the welfare of other coops, those coops ought to be consulted. On such issues, our common welfare in paramount.
0.Each coop has but one primary purpose: (insert the future mission statement)
0.The coop has no opinion on outside issues, hence the coop name never be drawn into public controversy.
0.Final responsibility and ultimate authority of the coop should always reside in the collective conscience of the whole coop.
0.To insure effective leadership, we should endow each element of the coop—the board, committees, and officers—with a traditional “Right of Decision”.
0.At all responsible levels, we ought to maintain a traditional “Right of Participation”.
0.Throughout our structure, a traditional “Right of Appeal” ought to prevail, so that minority opinion will be heard and personal grievances receive careful consideration.
0.Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority, with the scope of such authority well defined.
(I am proposing (Joanna) this last one be added) the coop directors board staff committees shall always, take great care that these subgroups never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds, plus an ample reserve, be its prudent financial principle; that none of the subcommittee members shall ever be placed in a position of unqualified authority over any of the others: that all important decisions be reached by discussion vote and whenever possible, by substantial unanimity; that no subcommittee/board action ever be personally punitive or an incitement to public controversy; that though the board/subcommittees may act for the service of the coop, it shall never perform any acts of government; and that, like the coop which it serves, the board/subcommittees itself will always remain democratic in thought and action.
