Co-op News (August 2019)

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CO-OP GROUP Results announced for National Members’ Council elections The Co-op Group’s National Members’ Council held its annual elections on 6 July, with Nick Crofts re-elected president for another two-year term. Lesley Reznicek was elected as vicepresident for democratic processes, co-op performance and member voice. Council members can also stand for the senate, which is made up of 15 people who co-ordinate activity for council and act as p Nick Crofts and Lesley Reznicek were re-elected to their posts a link between council and the board. In the senate elections, five new council members secured one and two year terms. An elected member of the Co-op Group since 2009, Mr Crofts also represents the Knotty Ash ward on Liverpool City Council and is office manager for Stephen Twigg MP. He said: “Council elections hustings is the Co-op’s internal festival of democracy and always an exciting time. I’m delighted to have been re-elected as council president and am proud to play such a role in the Co-op – a member-owned business that strives to change the world and show that there’s a better way of doing things. Congratulations to my fellow successful candidates, I look forward to working with you all and achieving change together.” The 100 council representatives serve up to three years before facing re-election. Their role is to represent the membership, safeguard the values and principles and hold the Group board to account. PRESIDENT ELECTIONS Nick Crofts, Elected for a two-year term VICE-PRESIDENT ELECTIONS Lesley Reznicek, Elected for a two-year term SENATE ELECTIONS Sue Smith Elected for a two-year term David Stanbury Elected for a two-year term Debbie Williams Elected for a two-year term Ruth Barrow Elected for a two-year term Danny Douglas Elected for a two-year term Jeevan Jones Elected for a one-year term New commitment to curbing greenhouse gas emissions The Co-op Group has committed to further reductions in its direct greenhouse emissions, with a 50% reduction by 2025. The retailer said it has halved its emissions in the 10 years from 2006, with a 20% cut last year. It says short-term targets are crucial elements to longer-term strategies for tackling climate change. The Group plans to achieve the target by using natural refrigerants and responsible sourcing, such as its commitments to sustainable soy. All its stores, offices and funeral homes already use 100% renewable electricity. Retail chief commercial officer Michael Fletcher said: “The world is experiencing a climate crisis and we need to work together to avoid it. Accelerating action is the only way to mitigate and reduce impacts on our natural world, and to ensure stable food supply chains in the future. “A rolling set of publicly available and reviewed stretching, short term targets, are imperative if we are to hold ourselves to account. Making sure we have a natural environment we are proud to pass on to future generations needs action now.” Slavery survivors need benefits reform, says Bright Future review An independent review of the Group’s Bright Future programme, which supports victims of modern slavery, has called for greater flexibility in the benefits system to help survivors gain work experience. Bright Future provides job opportunities for people rescued from slavery. Candidates are offered a four-week paid placement before a non-competitive interview, but this risks them losing benefits. This can lead to financial hardship, especially if it does not lead to a permanent job. The review by the University of Liverpool and makes several recommendations, including a clarified position on benefits. Speaking at a summit of charity and business leaders in Manchester – attended by anti-slavery commissioner Sara Thornton – the Group’s director of campaigns, Paul Gerrard, said: “The benefits system remains a challenging area but there have to be ways to mitigate some of the disadvantages ... Could a Bright Future placement be considered ‘therapeutic work’? If so, it would be exempted from affecting benefits until the candidate is in a stable position.” 12 | AUGUST 2019
OBITUARY Radical Routes loses two of its leading lights Two wonderful West Yorkshire co-operators from the Radical Routes network of co-ops died in the last few months – Sean Moran of Catfish Housing Co-op and Dave Brooks of LED Fantastic Workers Co-op, both in their early 50s, writes Cath Muller. Dave, who died on 14 June, was a founder member of Zion Housing Co-op (now Nutclough Housing Co-op), acquiring the Nutclough Tavern, Hebden Bridge, in 2001. Sean, who died on 21 March, lived at Townhead Housing Co-op near Holmfirth with partner Cath, their four sons and a circle of friends; they fought for years to get a house for Catfish and in late 2018 they succeeded. The co-op now houses the younger members in Marsh, Huddersfield. Dave’s partner in crime, Em, moved into Nutclough and they set up Weirdigans Cafe, before leaving Nutclough to run Mama Weirdigans (Hebden Hostel) and help produce the Green Gathering festival. Sean and Cath were a regular fixture in the Permaculture Area at Green Gathering, extolling the virtues of co-ops and communal living. Meanwhile, Em and Dave catalysed the festival’s Co-op Camp, a space to promote radical co-ops. Sean was the secret source of 12V phone and laptop charging, keeping the Co-op Camp online, while Dave’s workers co-op, LED Fantastic, provided twinkly night-time illumination. Dave loved cricket, beer and music, so he joined the committee of the Hebden Cricket Club, the Fox & Goose co-op pub and the Trades Club Co-operative Society – and put on ‘Crickstock Festival’ to celebrate his loves. He believed that if a thing is worth doing, it’s worth getting other people to do it too. He was committed to developing Hebden’s co-op identity and was an organiser of the Calderdale Bootstrap initiative. I remember one midnight walk into the cemetery to check out the grave of Joseph Greenwood, a founder of Nutclough Fustian Society. Sean was larger than life, curious and caring. His affinity with those excluded from society led him to drug and alcohol support work. And his enthusiasm for Radical Routes and for making the set-up p Dave Brooks (left) and Sean Moran of co-ops accessible to all was infectious. He had an unstoppable desire to learn and to communicate that learning to others. He joined the RR Legal Group and Rootstock Committee, challenging himself with legal documents and spreadsheets. At one RR day, he insisted we explain things in intelligible language – then he and Cath produced the Jargon Busting Guide to RR Meetings to help folks new to co-op development. At Extinction Rebellion’s Spring Uprising in April, he took a mic for the first time, to talk about radical co-ops as solutions for housing, inequality and social change. Two big-hearted, inspiring men, who lived with integrity, commitment and fun. Philip Jones, stalwart of the retail co-op movement Philip Jones was best known in co-op circles as secretary of United Norwest and then United Co-operatives, having started his career as a management trainee, writes Cliff Mills. He served under Martin Beaumont from 1994, and subsequently under Peter Marks following the Yorkshire merger until his retirement in 2008. Less well known was his nine-year stint as a director of Progress Housing Group, latterly as chair; his 10-year spell as a trustee of St Catherine’s Hospice in Preston, ending as vice-chair; and setting up and chairing community foundation at his Wigan Warriors Rugby League, where he was a lifelong supporter. He also played tenor horn, starting up Wigan and District Brass before joining the Royal Doulton Band, which took him to Nashville, the Royal Albert Hall, the Silver Jubilee and Charles and Diana’s wedding, as well as recording 14 albums. Phil carried out a remarkable number of senior roles out with enormous energy, commitment and competence. Former president of United, Bill Hoult recalled: “He took us through three mergers, with Sheffield, Leeds and Yorkshire, introduced a pioneering employee share scheme, and oversaw the establishment of the Co-operative Charitable Foundation.” Stephen Greenhalgh from St Catherine’s Hospice added: “Philip had a laser-like ability to get to the heart of what mattered.” Jacqui de Rose at New Progress Housing said: “There was never any doubt who was in charge. Phil did it in such a nice way, bringing just the right mix of support and challenge to make sure we were grounded and properly focused on our practical purpose – he is one of the most generous people I have ever met.” And Ian Lanegan, chair of Wigan Warriors, said: “He had a real selflessness and passion for helping people, as his charitable work throughout his life proves. His work and efforts have enabled Wigan Warriors to enact a positive and lasting change by ... motivating, educating and inspiring our local community.” Phil was warm-hearted, generous, caring and fun, but outspoken when needed. He knew when to stand up to a CEO, and when diplomacy was the way forward. He was hard-working, courageous, and committed to doing the right thing. He died on 21 April from the same cancer as his beloved wife Lois 15 years earlier. With their two boys, Chris and Rob, he nursed Lois p Philip Jones at home until the end, and this played a part in his subsequent commitment to the hospice movement. He was a devoted family man to all generations, especially to his granddaughter Kaci. In his later years, he found great happiness with Barbara, with whom he travelled extensively. Two days before he died, Philip received a letter telling him he had been awarded the Order of Mercy. This prestigious national award from the League of Mercy has just a handful of recipients a year. Barbara read the citation to Philip and he understood it. AUGUST 2019 | 13
Page 1 and 2: AUGUST 2019 CO-OP CULTURE What is i
Page 3 and 4: Why is co-operative culture importa
Page 5 and 6: NEWS RETAIL Campaign urges UK gover
Page 7 and 8: RETAIL GMB union slams John Lewis t
Page 9 and 10: CO-OP GROUP Co-op Food is a top sup
Page 11: DEVELOPMENT EU puts £3m into Welsh
Page 15 and 16: REI enters the newspaper trade to s
Page 17 and 18: SWEDEN New governance code for co-o
Page 19 and 20: USA A Green New Deal ‘can help el
Page 21 and 22: YOUR VIEWS DEFENCE OF CLAIRE MCCART
Page 23 and 24: 01 Issue #7288 OCT WHAT WHAT WILL C
Page 25 and 26: What would you say have been the Pa
Page 27 and 28: Is there a need to redefine afforda
Page 29 and 30: CO-OP CULTURE & RELIGION BY ANCa VO
Page 31 and 32: prayers most mornings before the st
Page 33 and 34: TEACHING YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT CO-OPER
Page 35 and 36: directions. I thought: ʻI’ve got
Page 37 and 38: In the mid 1990s Italian social co-
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Page 41 and 42: us and how we go about delivering o
Page 43 and 44: Legacoop to serve the socialist and
Page 45 and 46: shift the initial losses from worke
Page 47 and 48: As part of its year-long centenary
Page 49 and 50: Ted Howard: Architect of the Clevel
Page 51 and 52: The Fall of the Ethical Bank: how a

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