c/workreform · by rimu@piefed.social · 2y

‘In the US they think we’re communists!’ The 70,000 workers showing the world another way to earn a living

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/apr/24/in-the-us-they-think-were-communists-the-70000-workers-showing-the-world-another-way-to-earn-a-living

The Basque Country’s Mondragón Corporation is the globe’s largest industrial co-operative, with workers paying for the right to share in its profits – and its losses. In return for giving more to their employer, they expect more back.

244 points · 10 comments · view on lemmy.world

10 Comments

rimu@piefed.social · 46 pts · 2y

There is a book "From Mondragon to America" which goes into excruciating detail about how it all works. It's not just a few factories there are credit unions, food coops and more all doing business together.

bdonvr@thelemmy.club · 26 pts · 2y

think we're Communists

It'd be cooler if you were.

But definitely cooperatives would be a HUGE improvement over what we have now.

jpreston2005@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 2y

The salary differential between the highest and lowest paid workers in Mondragón, for example, remains about six to one; for the largest 500 listed companies in the US, the gap is closer to 272 to one. At the year end, members of Mondragón’s co-operatives also decide collectively on whether they should pay themselves bonuses and, if so, how much. This profit-sharing comes in addition to a base pay rate that, on average, is 40% above Spain’s minimum wage.

Man where do I sign up??

Plastic_Ramses@lemmy.world · -13 pts · 2y (1 reply)

jpreston2005@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 2y

not a company town if the employees own the company, then it's just the employees town.

MysticDaedra@fedia.io · -38 pts · 2y (4 replies)

That's corporate socialism, not communism. As someone who lives in the US, I don't know anyone who would call that communism. #americabad I guess?

WhatsThePoint@lemmy.world · 56 pts · 2y

I live in a red state, it is common to call any collective action communism. It’s common historically for the right to call collective action or ownership communism.

someguy3@lemmy.world · 27 pts · 2y

I think the term they used is best: co-operative

njm1314@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 2y

You must have a very very very narrow group of people around you.

GreatDong3000@lemm.ee · 8 pts · 2y

Corporate socialism? Honestly never heard that. Market Socialism is the form of socialism that seeks to have publicly-traded companies abolished and replaced by co-ops. Mixed with state owned companies in the case of natural monopolies and basic services (transport, electricity, education, health, etc).

Market Socialism is very much aligned with OG Marxism, so I see how red-scared people may call it communism.