Merry Christmas and Happy New Year From Mondragon Corporation.

[jtuck004]

http://www.mondragon-corporation.com/portals/0/tv/tv2012_2.html

I haven't counted how many languages appear yet...

Mondragon, in the Basque area of Spain, is the largest democratically run co-operative in the world. Despite Spain's problems they have not had to lay off a single employer/owner, just adjusted hours and moved assignments. Closed a facility, moved all the workers to new jobs.

In it for the long haul.

[HiPointDem]

1. considering that spain has 25% unemployment that is a major accomplishment.

[jtuck004]

2. It really is quite a story. They signed an agreement with the Steelworkers here

to see if they could figure out something, but I don't think anything has come of it yet.

It seems hard to export the model, because other areas are not as egalitarian, especially when people here try it. The priest that started it taught them for several years, not only tech college subjects (back in the 50's) but cooperative work and social justice, all while under a dictator.

Such a structure provides an effective barrier to junk bond takeovers, so maybe it is worth continuing to try.