Worker Cooperative POLICY in RHODE ISLAND [May 6 2017]
Channel: Democracy at Work Providence
Date: 27/05/2017

VIDEO IS SUBTITLED press the "CC" button. Thanks!
Fuerza Laboral & Democracy at Work Providence present a forum regarding Worker Cooperatives in RI.

Please contact your legislators to voice your support for the bills (HB6155 and SB 676)! 
____________________________________________________________________
REASONS TO SUPPORT HOUSE BILL 6155 and SENATE BILL 676,
ALLOWING FOR THE INCORPORATION OF WORKER COOPERATIVES IN RHODE ISLAND
        
* Will empower minority communities by giving them tools to create opportunities for themselves.
* There are Worker Cooperatives currently operating in Rhode Island, and because there is no legal structure, they are forced to register in other states.
* This bill has no cost attached to it.  It simply recognizes a business structure that does not currently exist in Rhode Island.
* Rhode Island's economy is in need of innovative ideas and practices.
* Worker Cooperatives are a growing way of doing business across the country, the world and in New England.
* Worker Cooperatives are democratically run allowing for full participation, input of new ideas and vigilance of the workers in the running of the enterprises.
* Worker Cooperative are rooted in the Rhode Island Community.  This assures they will not depart to Mexico, China, or Connecticut, for that matter. It also assures they will be better stewards of the environment since they and their families live here.
* Worker Cooperatives do not change the business tax structure. They can be taxed in the same way any local business is taxed. 
* Worker Cooperatives allow for Workers to become job creators and entrepreneurs.
* Worker Cooperatives are enterprises that require a great deal of planning, cooperative efforts, and commitment of the workers who embark on forming these enterprises. 
____________________________________________________________________
Fuerza Laboral
http://www.fuerza-laboral.org/worker-owned-cooperative-businesses-project

Democracy at Work Providence
http://www.facebook.com/groups/698822540292610

Immigrant Worker Collaborative Center
http://www.workerscollab.org

Social Enterprise Greenhouse
http://www.segreenhouse.org
____________________________________________________________________
Thank you to:
Richard McIntyre, Chair of Economics, URI
Pavel Uranga, Director of Organizing, Immigrant Worker Collaborative Center
Heiny Maldonado, Executive Director, Fuerza Laboral
Raul Figueroa, Community Organizer, Fuerza Laboral
____________________________________________________________________
Special thanks to
Rhode Island Jobs With Justice http://www.jwj.org
and
The Rhode Island Center for Justice http://www.centerforjustice.org
for their work making this bill happen.