Worker Co-ops Catch on in Philadelphia

The cooperative business model has boomed in the aftermath of the pandemic. Worker cooperatives allow employees to run and own a business, giving them more control as well as a share of profits. Co-ops not only have a higher success rate, they also pay their workers higher, on average. Worker-owned co-ops have increased by 36 percent since 2013.

The night shift janitor is an easy target. Working in isolation, cleaners across the country say they have been harassed, assaulted and raped by supervisors and co-workers while tidying office buildings, shopping malls and universities, as our investigation exposed.

Delivery cooperatives are being formed as alternatives by drivers who are pooling their money and charging customers a one-time fee in a subscription-based model. Customers and restaurants alike pay a set monthly fee for delivery services without any extra or hidden costs. Drivers are full-time employees that are eligible for benefits such as medical insurance and profit-sharing options. Restaurants are able to avoid exorbitant commission fees while drivers avoid predatory business practices.

An equitable alternative to Uber and Lyft is giving drivers ownership of a ride-hailing platform with many perks that aren’t available to workers in the gig economy. The Drivers Cooperative is providing drivers with lower interest vehicle loans, better insurance rates, and a pilot program to test their own ride-hailing app.

Driver cooperatives are providing an alternative for gig workers who use ride-hailing apps to make a living. Though the pay isn’t high, drivers are paid fairly for the time they spend working, have stable schedules and employment, and know their complaints and suggestions will be heard and implemented.

With the assistance of a local non-profit partner, Dell Technologies created a program to recruit employees on the autism spectrum to tap into an under-utilized section of the labor pool. Dell Technologies reflects the national trend to open opportunities to individuals not targeted in current recruiting practices, including stay-at-home parents and retirees as well as people with disabilties.

Equip is a business in Lebanon that is trying to prevent further abuse of domestic workers, by helping them communicate better with their employers. “Their business model relies on employers paying for the company’s services, which range from $10 to $550, and include English lessons, first-aid training, legal translation, and conflict mediation.”

A huge problem is about to confront America: technical employees, such as mechanics and plumbers, are retiring at three times the rate that they are being trained. Vocational programs, apprenticeships, and associate degrees provide an alternative path for students who do not think a four-year university is the best path for them. Contrary to popular belief, careers in technical trade can be fairly lucrative, and states are investing in programs to make sure students know these jobs can be a realistic option for them.

In Florida, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers found a way to end sexual harassment on the tomato fields. Through organizing, they convinced big companies like McDonald’s and Walmart to only buy tomatoes from “fields that were part of the Fair Food Program, which basically meant the tomatoes they would sell or cook came from fields where workers are treated justly.” That’s just one of the methods the coalition took to create “real world consequences.”

Part 3 of the "Equity or Bust: Are Ontario's Public Schools a Model for Pennsylvania" Series: Ontario is widely lauded for its education system, celebrated for both high performance and relatively smaller achievement gaps between wealthy and poor students. One of the key factors to their success is rigorous preparation of and support for their teachers. Pennsylvania, meanwhile, struggles to find and retain educators.