Co-op News (August 2019)
What is co-operative culture - and why does it matter? This issue looks at how co-op values intersect with the values in organisations, across movements and between countries. Plus 100 years of the Channel Islands Co-operative – and how the new Coop Exchange app is tackling the capital conundrum.
What is co-operative culture - and why does it matter? This issue looks at how co-op values intersect with the values in organisations, across movements and between countries. Plus 100 years of the Channel Islands Co-operative – and how the new Coop Exchange app is tackling the capital conundrum.
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CO-OP GROUP<br />
Results announced<br />
for National Members’<br />
<strong>Co</strong>uncil elections<br />
The <strong>Co</strong>-<strong>op</strong> Group’s National Members’<br />
<strong>Co</strong>uncil held its annual elections on<br />
6 July, with Nick Crofts re-elected president<br />
for another two-year term.<br />
Lesley Reznicek was elected as vicepresident<br />
for democratic processes, co-<strong>op</strong><br />
performance and member voice.<br />
<strong>Co</strong>uncil members can also stand for the<br />
senate, which is made up of 15 pe<strong>op</strong>le who<br />
co-ordinate activity for council and act as<br />
p Nick Crofts and Lesley Reznicek were re-elected to their posts<br />
a link between council and the board.<br />
In the senate elections, five new council<br />
members secured one and two year terms.<br />
An elected member of the <strong>Co</strong>-<strong>op</strong> Group<br />
since 2009, Mr Crofts also represents<br />
the Knotty Ash ward on Liverpool City<br />
<strong>Co</strong>uncil and is office manager for Stephen<br />
Twigg MP.<br />
He said: “<strong>Co</strong>uncil elections hustings is<br />
the <strong>Co</strong>-<strong>op</strong>’s internal festival of democracy<br />
and always an exciting time. I’m delighted<br />
to have been re-elected as council<br />
president and am proud to play such a role<br />
in the <strong>Co</strong>-<strong>op</strong> – a member-owned business<br />
that strives to change the world and<br />
show that there’s a better way of doing<br />
things. <strong>Co</strong>ngratulations to my fellow<br />
successful candidates, I look forward<br />
to working with you all and achieving<br />
change together.”<br />
The 100 council representatives serve<br />
up to three years before facing re-election.<br />
Their role is to represent the membership,<br />
safeguard the values and principles and<br />
hold the Group board to account.<br />
PRESIDENT ELECTIONS<br />
Nick Crofts, Elected for a two-year term<br />
VICE-PRESIDENT ELECTIONS<br />
Lesley Reznicek, Elected for a two-year term<br />
SENATE ELECTIONS<br />
Sue Smith<br />
Elected for a two-year term<br />
David Stanbury<br />
Elected for a two-year term<br />
Debbie Williams<br />
Elected for a two-year term<br />
Ruth Barrow<br />
Elected for a two-year term<br />
Danny Douglas<br />
Elected for a two-year term<br />
Jeevan Jones<br />
Elected for a one-year term<br />
New commitment to curbing<br />
greenhouse gas emissions<br />
The <strong>Co</strong>-<strong>op</strong> Group has committed to<br />
further reductions in its direct greenhouse<br />
emissions, with a 50% reduction by 2025.<br />
The retailer said it has halved its emissions<br />
in the 10 years from 2006, with a 20% cut<br />
last year. It says short-term targets are<br />
crucial elements to longer-term strategies<br />
for tackling climate change. The Group<br />
plans to achieve the target by using natural<br />
refrigerants and responsible sourcing, such<br />
as its commitments to sustainable soy.<br />
All its stores, offices and funeral homes<br />
already use 100% renewable electricity.<br />
Retail chief commercial officer Michael<br />
Fletcher said: “The world is experiencing a<br />
climate crisis and we need to work together<br />
to avoid it. Accelerating action is the only<br />
way to mitigate and reduce impacts on our<br />
natural world, and to ensure stable food<br />
supply chains in the future.<br />
“A rolling set of publicly available and<br />
reviewed stretching, short term targets,<br />
are imperative if we are to hold ourselves<br />
to account. Making sure we have a natural<br />
environment we are proud to pass on to<br />
future generations needs action now.”<br />
Slavery survivors need benefits<br />
reform, says Bright Future review<br />
An independent review of the Group’s<br />
Bright Future programme, which supports<br />
victims of modern slavery, has called for<br />
greater flexibility in the benefits system to<br />
help survivors gain work experience.<br />
Bright Future provides job <strong>op</strong>portunities<br />
for pe<strong>op</strong>le rescued from slavery. Candidates<br />
are offered a four-week paid placement<br />
before a non-competitive interview, but this<br />
risks them losing benefits. This can lead to<br />
financial hardship, especially if it does not<br />
lead to a permanent job.<br />
The review by the University of Liverpool<br />
and makes several recommendations,<br />
including a clarified position on benefits.<br />
Speaking at a summit of charity and<br />
business leaders in Manchester – attended<br />
by anti-slavery commissioner Sara Thornton<br />
– the Group’s director of campaigns, Paul<br />
Gerrard, said: “The benefits system remains<br />
a challenging area but there have to be<br />
ways to mitigate some of the disadvantages<br />
... <strong>Co</strong>uld a Bright Future placement be<br />
considered ‘therapeutic work’? If so, it<br />
would be exempted from affecting benefits<br />
until the candidate is in a stable position.”<br />
12 | AUGUST <strong>2019</strong>