Worker Co-operatives and Spaces of Possibility: An investigation of subject space at Collective Copies

1. Worker Co-operatives and Spaces of Possibility: An investigation of subject space at Collective Copies  Janelle Cornwell, University of Massachusetts Department of Geosciences Hi my name is Janelle Cornwell, I�m a phd student at Umass.Hi my name is Janelle Cornwell, I�m a phd student at Umass.

2. Space Today I�m going to talk about spaceToday I�m going to talk about space

3. Spaces of Possibility I�m going to talk theoretical space, work space and subject spacesI�m going to talk theoretical space, work space and subject spaces

4. �concepts of space and time and the practices associated with them are far from socially neutral in human affairs. David Harvey Our concepts of space and time, most geographers will say are socially produced and far from socially neutral. And looking at the way things are (on a global scale) many geographers are concerned with how capitalism is affecting places and how capitalism �produces� space.Our concepts of space and time, most geographers will say are socially produced and far from socially neutral. And looking at the way things are (on a global scale) many geographers are concerned with how capitalism is affecting places and how capitalism �produces� space.

5. �Production of space� Enclosures represent a remarkable historical creation of absolute space. The enclosures of Tudor England that entailed the fencing off and privatization of the commons are frequently cited examples of spatial production that entailed fundamental redefinitions of space. Another example is the USGS grid survey of west and midwest that divided up land space into parcels from which then people could be included or excluded based on ownership The grid survey helped to �produce� a certain kind of material (rural) landscape�or �space� which many of us have seen from an airplane window flying over the mid-west and western US. The enclosures of Tudor England that entailed the fencing off and privatization of the commons are frequently cited examples of spatial production that entailed fundamental redefinitions of space. Another example is the USGS grid survey of west and midwest that divided up land space into parcels from which then people could be included or excluded based on ownership The grid survey helped to �produce� a certain kind of material (rural) landscape�or �space� which many of us have seen from an airplane window flying over the mid-west and western US.

6. �Production of space� Enclosures represent a remarkable historical creation of absolute space. As capital extends its sway, the entire globe is partitioned into legally distinct parcels divided by great white fences, real or imaginary. These kinds of material and social productions of space are typically associated with the development and spread of capitalism which is said to have an inherent logic that makes it capitalist space grow.These kinds of material and social productions of space are typically associated with the development and spread of capitalism which is said to have an inherent logic that makes it capitalist space grow.

7. �Production of space� Enclosures represent a remarkable historical creation of absolute space. As capital extends its sway, the entire globe is partitioned into legally distinct parcels divided by great white fences, real or imaginary. We all know the difference between a real fence�the kind you have to jump over; and an imaginary fence, which �only� requires an imaginary leap�but, the distinction is blurred by the fact that even those �real� fences had to be imagined before being produced, emplaced (and finally jumped over). So, my research deals with both �real� and imaginary fences.We all know the difference between a real fence�the kind you have to jump over; and an imaginary fence, which �only� requires an imaginary leap�but, the distinction is blurred by the fact that even those �real� fences had to be imagined before being produced, emplaced (and finally jumped over). So, my research deals with both �real� and imaginary fences.

8. �Production of space� Enclosures represent a remarkable historical creation of absolute space. As capital extends its sway, the entire globe is partitioned into legally distinct parcels divided by great white fences, real or imaginary. The problem however when your dealing with partitioned territory�fences, both real and imaginary�is that something is always excluded. Except perhaps in some theories of capitalist expansion. There is a girth of work from historical geographic materialist perspectives that offers compelling accounts of how the inherent logic of capitalist growth has enabled capitalism to take over the world. But this theoretical space is already colonized, filled in and completed by its object of enquiry capitalism. This amounts to a theoretical (en)closure that excludes anything that is non-capitalist. The problem however when your dealing with partitioned territory�fences, both real and imaginary�is that something is always excluded. Except perhaps in some theories of capitalist expansion. There is a girth of work from historical geographic materialist perspectives that offers compelling accounts of how the inherent logic of capitalist growth has enabled capitalism to take over the world. But this theoretical space is already colonized, filled in and completed by its object of enquiry capitalism. This amounts to a theoretical (en)closure that excludes anything that is non-capitalist.

9. Theoretical Space Capitalocentrism Diverse Economy J.K. Gibson-Graham (one half of whom was supposed to be here and sadly had to cancel because of a health issue) call this theoretical colonization capitalocentrism. Inspired and bolstered by the work of feminist economists, Gibson-Graham have shown that more than � of the economic processes world wide are non-capitalist and how our imagination of the world �as capitalist� has actually helped to reproduce these fences on the ground.J.K. Gibson-Graham (one half of whom was supposed to be here and sadly had to cancel because of a health issue) call this theoretical colonization capitalocentrism. Inspired and bolstered by the work of feminist economists, Gibson-Graham have shown that more than � of the economic processes world wide are non-capitalist and how our imagination of the world �as capitalist� has actually helped to reproduce these fences on the ground.

10. So most of what we recognize as the economy�waged labor for capitalist firms�is only the tip of the economic iceburg.So most of what we recognize as the economy�waged labor for capitalist firms�is only the tip of the economic iceburg.

11. Gibson-Graham�s language of the diverse economy opens up all of this space for researching, imaging and producing knowledges of diverse (non-capitalist) economic processes. Among others barter, gift, household labor, black market and cooperative economic practices and enterprises are located in the lower (formerly) invisible portion of the iceburg. Gibson-Graham�s language of the diverse economy opens up all of this space for researching, imaging and producing knowledges of diverse (non-capitalist) economic processes. Among others barter, gift, household labor, black market and cooperative economic practices and enterprises are located in the lower (formerly) invisible portion of the iceburg.

12. And tonight I�m going to focus on worker co-operativesAnd tonight I�m going to focus on worker co-operatives

13. If capitalism can be seen to produce capitalist space, how are non-capitalisms (re)producing non-capitalist space? So one of the things I wanted to know in my study of a successful growing co-operative business in western mass is: If capitalism can be seen to produce capitalist space, how are co-operative or communal spaces reproducing themselves?So one of the things I wanted to know in my study of a successful growing co-operative business in western mass is: If capitalism can be seen to produce capitalist space, how are co-operative or communal spaces reproducing themselves?

14. Collective Copies is a worker co-operative born out of a strike on a local copy shop in Amherst Ma in 1983. Started with 4 members Now 13 worker-owners Three locations. (competitive industry�ran 3 competing shops out of town) 2 collectively owned buildings The thing about worker co-ops is that there is no inherent logic for growth. Because they redistribute surplus to the workers, worker co-operatives actually have a disincentive to grow. Indeed there didn�t seem to be any inherent logic , like a profit motive for example, in the growth of CC, yet By all measures, this non-capitalist space is growing. How was this small cooperative workplace able to grow, reproduce itself and expand (and in the language I�m using, grow co-operative space)? Collective Copies is a worker co-operative born out of a strike on a local copy shop in Amherst Ma in 1983. Started with 4 members Now 13 worker-owners Three locations. (competitive industry�ran 3 competing shops out of town) 2 collectively owned buildings The thing about worker co-ops is that there is no inherent logic for growth. Because they redistribute surplus to the workers, worker co-operatives actually have a disincentive to grow. Indeed there didn�t seem to be any inherent logic , like a profit motive for example, in the growth of CC, yet By all measures, this non-capitalist space is growing. How was this small cooperative workplace able to grow, reproduce itself and expand (and in the language I�m using, grow co-operative space)?

15. Subject space The answer to this question for me, is subject space The motivating factors for their growth really came from the subjective experience of the members� working lives. The answer to this question for me, is subject space The motivating factors for their growth really came from the subjective experience of the members� working lives.

16. Spaces of possibility Rather than being owned or rented in the employment contract, they own their time the work space together. The work space itself is cultivating subjects who want to grow the business for ethical reasons! I�m going to give a few examples of the constitutive spaces that are cultivating subjects who are growing co-operative spaceRather than being owned or rented in the employment contract, they own their time the work space together. The work space itself is cultivating subjects who want to grow the business for ethical reasons! I�m going to give a few examples of the constitutive spaces that are cultivating subjects who are growing co-operative space

17. Space Collective ownership of the work space has both material and subjective affects: One of my interviewees (without my asking) compared the floor layout at CC to that of a capitalist shop of a similar size The capitalist shop is hyper stratified while CC�s floor layout is flat. I knew what he was talking about because I�d interviewed the owner in her shopCollective ownership of the work space has both material and subjective affects: One of my interviewees (without my asking) compared the floor layout at CC to that of a capitalist shop of a similar size The capitalist shop is hyper stratified while CC�s floor layout is flat. I knew what he was talking about because I�d interviewed the owner in her shop

18. �I get my way all the time here.� Carol McCall, sole proprietor of Paradise Copies (former member of Collective Copies) Because she owns the space, as she says, she get�s her way all the time. Moreover, thanks to the employment contract, not only the material space and the workers� movements in it are under her control , so too is their time.Because she owns the space, as she says, she get�s her way all the time. Moreover, thanks to the employment contract, not only the material space and the workers� movements in it are under her control , so too is their time.

19. Time But not at CC Nearly every worker owner I talked to sited control over their time as one of the many benefits of working at CC. Little breaks to compose themselves in a moment of crisis Leave to get a check cashed or leave to pick up the kids Negotiate time off �whatever, they have control over this together They don�t think they could do this at a regular (capitalist) copy shopBut not at CC Nearly every worker owner I talked to sited control over their time as one of the many benefits of working at CC. Little breaks to compose themselves in a moment of crisis Leave to get a check cashed or leave to pick up the kids Negotiate time off �whatever, they have control over this together They don�t think they could do this at a regular (capitalist) copy shop

20. Spaces of possibility Subject Space Dikec, following Ranciere and Massey suggests that space becomes political by becoming the place where a wrong can be addressed and equality can be demonstrated In this sense, the space of governance at Collective Copies is one of possibility in two ways: in the sense that it offers a place to make democratic pronouncments (and where a wrong can be addressed) and that it cultivates democratic subjects�those who must step into the space to make democratic pronouncements Dikec, following Ranciere and Massey suggests that space becomes political by becoming the place where a wrong can be addressed and equality can be demonstrated In this sense, the space of governance at Collective Copies is one of possibility in two ways: in the sense that it offers a place to make democratic pronouncments (and where a wrong can be addressed) and that it cultivates democratic subjects�those who must step into the space to make democratic pronouncements

21. Governance �The political� says Jan Luc Nancy (1988), �does not primarily consist in the composition and dynamics of power� but in the opening of a space: �the place where community as such is brought into play� In the case of Collective copies, governing the workplace together has produced material not to mention subjective differences. They are joint owners of the space itself, the equipment, the products produced and the surplus that is realized when the products are sold. That means that there�s nobody sitting outside the room deciding how much you�re going to make, how much your going to do or work, what kind of material and machines you�re going to use and how ridiculous the process is going to be. Pay is higher than industry average Full health coverage for themselves and their families They use recycled paper across the board And perhaps most importantly, the surplus (what is known as profit in capitalist business) is collectively appropriated and distributed The moment of appropriation and distribution of surplus, what Harvey following Marx might call �the nexus of alienation� in a capitalist firm is actually a moment of connection for worker owned co-operatives. �The political� says Jan Luc Nancy (1988), �does not primarily consist in the composition and dynamics of power� but in the opening of a space: �the place where community as such is brought into play� In the case of Collective copies, governing the workplace together has produced material not to mention subjective differences. They are joint owners of the space itself, the equipment, the products produced and the surplus that is realized when the products are sold. That means that there�s nobody sitting outside the room deciding how much you�re going to make, how much your going to do or work, what kind of material and machines you�re going to use and how ridiculous the process is going to be. Pay is higher than industry average Full health coverage for themselves and their families They use recycled paper across the board And perhaps most importantly, the surplus (what is known as profit in capitalist business) is collectively appropriated and distributed The moment of appropriation and distribution of surplus, what Harvey following Marx might call �the nexus of alienation� in a capitalist firm is actually a moment of connection for worker owned co-operatives.

22. Transformations This connection and having a say in what you do all day long has been a transformative experience for worker owners. Randy didn�t know what a worker co-operative was before being hired at CC 11 years ago but now he�s on what workers jokingly call the �rule the world committee� Like other members of the RWC He�s active making proposals to expand the business he�s on the board of the USFWC and was also one of the first worker-owners to represent a co-op from the United States in CICOPA The International Organization of Industrial, Artisanal and Service Producers Cooperatives general assembly in Oslo. He participates in these things because he like others on the RWC feels like everybody deserves to have dignified jobs like theirs In the language of Gibson-Graham we could call his transformation, resubjectivation This connection and having a say in what you do all day long has been a transformative experience for worker owners. Randy didn�t know what a worker co-operative was before being hired at CC 11 years ago but now he�s on what workers jokingly call the �rule the world committee� Like other members of the RWC He�s active making proposals to expand the business he�s on the board of the USFWC and was also one of the first worker-owners to represent a co-op from the United States in CICOPA The International Organization of Industrial, Artisanal and Service Producers Cooperatives general assembly in Oslo. He participates in these things because he like others on the RWC feels like everybody deserves to have dignified jobs like theirs In the language of Gibson-Graham we could call his transformation, resubjectivation

23. The Movement(Growing more spaces) �We�re all worker cooperatives, we cooperate inside out businesses, maybe we can cooperate among our businesses�� Adam Trott, collective member since 2004 So, that�s where the �movement� begins: From their subjective experience they�re growing a good thing . They support each other inside the business they�ve expanded the business to invite more workers into this circle and They�re supporting other WOC�s by selling products made by other worker co-operativesSo, that�s where the �movement� begins: From their subjective experience they�re growing a good thing . They support each other inside the business they�ve expanded the business to invite more workers into this circle and They�re supporting other WOC�s by selling products made by other worker co-operatives

24. Inter-co-op co-operation They started off with coffee and chocolate from Equal Exchange but it was so successful, they began to sell products from other worker-coops like Once Again Nut Butter, Mountain Spinnery and even Mondragon co-operative corporation. They started off with coffee and chocolate from Equal Exchange but it was so successful, they began to sell products from other worker-coops like Once Again Nut Butter, Mountain Spinnery and even Mondragon co-operative corporation.

25. Spaces of possibility Subject Space They�re also reaching outside their workplaces to form alliances with other worker co-operatives, participating in local, regional and national networks. By the growing the movement , they�re not only growing more subject positions, they�re reinforcing their co-operative subjectivity. They�re also reaching outside their workplaces to form alliances with other worker co-operatives, participating in local, regional and national networks. By the growing the movement , they�re not only growing more subject positions, they�re reinforcing their co-operative subjectivity.

26. VAWC Collective Copies is one of 11 WOCs in the Connecticut river valley that have joined together to form the Valley Alliance of Worker Co-operatives. VAWC provides a support network for the cooperative culture, educational resources to the local universities and also shares information and marketing among worker-coops to promote themselves. Collective Copies is one of 11 WOCs in the Connecticut river valley that have joined together to form the Valley Alliance of Worker Co-operatives. VAWC provides a support network for the cooperative culture, educational resources to the local universities and also shares information and marketing among worker-coops to promote themselves.

27. Beyond the Valley there are about 400 WOCs nation-wide. VAWC is part of a regional alliance, ECWD and there are similar regional alliances in the bay area and midwest And a national alliance USFWC that holds conferences for support, workshops, culture, inspiration and info sharing. Participating in the movement helps to grow more co-operative subject position but it also enables co-op activists to see themselves as part of something bigger which reinforces their co-operative subjectivity The thing about this space is that it�s expansive! It�s certainly affected my subjectivity. I actually applied to work at one of these businesses.Beyond the Valley there are about 400 WOCs nation-wide. VAWC is part of a regional alliance, ECWD and there are similar regional alliances in the bay area and midwest And a national alliance USFWC that holds conferences for support, workshops, culture, inspiration and info sharing. Participating in the movement helps to grow more co-operative subject position but it also enables co-op activists to see themselves as part of something bigger which reinforces their co-operative subjectivity The thing about this space is that it�s expansive! It�s certainly affected my subjectivity. I actually applied to work at one of these businesses.

28. �It�s really just important to see that we can do this. There�s a myth you need a boss. There�s a myth you need management. There�s a myth you need the profit motive. �these things are just myths. They�re proven wrong all the time and we can work together much better without them.� Adam Trott, collective member since 2004.