The Workers Co-operatives in the Urban Setting in Quebec [Canada]: Emerging Conditions and Growth Potential

Analyzes action-research allowed to explore the conditions of development & viability of the workers' cooperative (WC) as a local development tool in an urban setting in Quebec (Canada). Compared to the others sectors co-op development, the poor development of the WC in Quebec can be explained from an historical point of view while case studies of these types of cooperatives & interviews with field experts constituted the main work for the field research. It draws a picture of the situation in regards to the emerging & recent developing conditions of the WC starting from the point of view of imminent protagonists which support the development of WC, & from a process of group creation which generate projects as well as from viable entrepreneurial conditions for these projects. A close look at the link between the WC & the local urban development brings the authors to the conclusion that there isn't any particular difference with that of the rural setting, the approach being rather one of the adaptations of a collective desire & of a global strategy of development of the WC, according to the impoverished settings. The article ends on an outline of hints & conditions which could favor the development of the WC in Quebec, which rest on a global approach of promotion, implying a common participation, & a firm will from its natural allies: the State, the trade union, co-op, & community movements. 19 References. Adapted from the source document.