Rule of Law Coalition. The aim of the Coalition for the Rule of Law in Global Markets is to: Vigorously defend the rule of law, sanctity of contracts, and respect for property rights, including intellectual property, and advocate for the quick resolution of related conflicts.
Foster an understanding of the varying regional realities related to rule of law, ranging from those that impede business and investment, to those undermining national competitiveness, to those posing an outright threat to democratic institutions. Promote the negotiation and implementation of vehicles such as trade agreements for the strengthening of government institutions related to rule of law. Highlight, where applicable, provisions in existing and pending trade agreements that improve governmental transparency, combat corruption, protect due process, or otherwise enhance the rule of law. Help ensure that the benefits of rule of law and constitutional processes are more broadly shared and understood throughout our societies. Anonymous sur Twitter : "How Worker Cooperatives Work: The crisis of co-operative governance: An explanation from history. Recently a crisis of co-operative governance was exposed in front of the Treasury select committee.
Although it unfolded in short, sharp bursts, its genesis has been much longer in the making. For over a hundred years, from the mid-19th century, the bedrock of the co-operative movement was independent societies, with numerous co-operators dedicating their lives to building them into local economic powerhouses. Co-operative societies’ boards provided collectivist business leadership, exercised financial skill and retained the long-term confidence of their memberships, whose savings were risked to fund development.
Those collective entrepreneurs led their organisations through war, depression, austerity and the emergence of a consumer society, endeavouring to build a ‘co-operative commonwealth’ to meet the needs of local people. Most importantly, they always recognised on whose behalf they were operating and to whom they were accountable. Co-operative News sur Twitter : "Co-operative Group set to announce Allan Leighton as its first independent chair #coops. Co-op Group set to announce Allan Leighton as chair. The Co-operative Group is set to announce former Asda and Royal Mail boss Allan Leighton as its new chair, as part of its ongoing effort to reform governance at the organisation.
Mr Leighton would replace Lincolnshire Co-op’s Ursula Lidbetter, who announced last summer that she would be stepping down from the role following the Group’s appointment of its first independent chair. Allan Leighton’s On Leadership was the best selling business book in the UK on its publication in 2008. Record growth in members for Michigan credit unions. Michigan credit unions recruited almost 100,000 extra members in the third quarter of last year, bringing the total number of account holders to over 4.73 million.
Consumer and small business borrowing also rose by record-high rates in almost all categories from new/used auto loans to credit cards while small business loans grew by over 17 percent from the same time last year. In total 97,175 new members joined credit unions in the state. “Consumers and small businesses in Michigan continue to discover the great service and tremendous value at credit unions in record numbers,” said Dave Adams, chief executive of Michigan Credit Union League & Affiliates. “We haven’t seen growth numbers like these in decades.” According to analysts at the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), the state’s 2.5 percent 12-month growth in memberships is the fastest annual increase recorded since 1998, this is despite the state’s population remaining stagnant over the last few years.
Insurance co-op set up under Obamacare faces liquidation. An insurance co-operative created in 2013 under the Affordable Care Act (AFA) has been taken over by state regulators due to financial concerns.
While it hasn’t reached insolvency, CoOportunity Health ran into a liquidity crisis after the federal government informed the carrier it would receive no additional funding. The co-operative, which could face liquidation, is no longer offering health plans for individuals on the health insurance marketplace, nor is it accepting new enrolment off marketplace for individuals or employer groups. Co-operative News sur Twitter : "Co-operation v competition: exploring the #coops model in education @Coop_CollegeUK #education. Exploring co-operative models in education. Opinions vary when it comes to the role of competition in education.
At a conference in Manchester at the end of the last year, education experts, along with co-operative practitioners, examined how co-operative values and principles can be applied to education as an alternative to the competition-driven model. The 107 participants from across 10 countries explored the role of education in forming members, employees and managers of co-operatives, as well as how the education system could be transformed by co-operation. Co-operation began with a vision of a better, more just form of society, education was an intrinsic part of this, forming the backbone of the fifth co-operative principle: Education, training and information.
“Owenites translated that vision into a practical model,” said Mr Wilson, adding that the Rochdale Pioneers were also trying to inspire better people, alongside individual co-operatives. Co-operative News sur Twitter : "First Co-op Group 'cluster' meeting held in south Manchester #coops. First Co-op Group 'cluster' meeting held in south Manchester.
Co-operative News sur Twitter : "How do 'values' impact on the type/extent of ‘good’ organisations can create? #coops #socents. Learning about social value from co-operatives and social enterprises. Helen Fitzhugh Across the worlds of policy, business and philanthropy, there has been growing interest in ‘social value’.
First Milk financial results highlight volatile industry. First Milk dairy co-operative has announced positive financial results in its annual report for the year ending March 2014.
The results, published on 28 January, showed a 15% revenue growth to £610m (2013: £530m) and a 210% growth in operating profits before exceptionals to £6.5m (2013: £2.1m). There was a 31% growth in members’ return on investment to £2.5m (2013: £1.9m). The co-operative, which is 100% owned by its farmer members, also cut its net debt by 14.5% to £62.7m (2013: £73.3m). “The year to 31 March 2014 was a good one for First Milk,” said Sir Jim Paice MP, chairman. “[First Milk] returned to profitability, benefited from increasing global demand for dairy products and the consequent uplift in revenue, and underwent significant strategic changes that will benefit First Milk over the long term.”
However, Sir Jim acknowledged that trading subsequent to the financial year end had been “challenging”. This was echoed by Kate Allum, chief executive at First Milk. Republicans Try to Hide Their Disgusting Women's Health Politics. Co-operative Marque. The First Civilization. Worker Coops and a New Strategy for Labor.