INSIDE DOUGLAS COLLEGE / APRIL 18, 1989

 

 

 

New Work Options for Women

Tired of dealing with the boss
day-in and day-out? After an
especially bad day at the office
or business, self-employment
seems a tempting work choice.
But on deeper reflection, the
finances and responsibility may
be too much to handle alone.

But there is another option --
one which combines the better
aspects of self-employment with
working for someone else. That
option is the co-operative or
group approach to creating a
business.

Community Programs and
Services is offering a two-ses-
sion course geared specifically
for women who are interested in
working with others to develop
enterprises. It’s called "Another
Way to Be Your Own Boss --
Women in Worker Co-ops."

Co-ops have existed for more
than a century, with the first
starting in England during the In-
dustrial Revolution. They can
now be found all over the world,
and they vary in size and busi-
ness interests, from bakeries to
printing presses to producers of
agricultural goods. There are a
number of successful worker co-
ops -- including women-owned
-- in Vancouver and the Lower
Mainland.

The course will be directed at
"people getting together to give
themselves employment on a
small scale," says Melanie
Conn, who will be instructing
the course along with co-worker
Lucy Alderson.

 

Conn says there are two main
reasons people consider the co-
op option. "It’s a way of being
in control of an important part
of your life (work), and it can be
an antidote to unemployment."

She adds: "The structure of-

fers opportunity for women to
be more fully involved."

Conn explains that the es-
sence of the co-op -- regardless
of how it’s structured -- is that
the workers are the owners.
They are called members, and
their active co-operation as they
work together is emphasized.

Furthermore, it doesn’t matter
how much money each member
has put into the business from
the start -- everyone has one
vote.

Other principles that all co-
ops share include: open
membership, democratic control
and promotion of education

The "Women in Worker Co-

 

ops" program will examine the
co-operative principles and
structures. Participants, using
their own business ideas, will
consider various practical is-
sues. These include raising
capital, incorporation proce-
dures and integrating personal
and work lives. They will also
examine the individual and
group skills that are required to
develop and democratically
manage a Co-op.

"Another Way to Be Your
Own Boss -- Women in Worker
Co-ops" is scheduled for
Thursday, April 27, 7:30 to 9:30
p.m., and Saturday, April 29, 9
a.m. to 4 p.m., at the New
Westminster campus.

For more information call
520-5479. To register by credit
card call 520-5472.

 

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all events take place in the Performing Arts
heatre, Room 4100 (4th floor, North Building. For tickets and information call

the Douglas College Box Office 520-5488.)

@ Wednesday, April 19 - 8:00 pm.

Douglas College Amabilis Singers and Youth Choir presents
Tell Me a Story with surprise guest story tellers

Tickets: General $6.00
Students/Seniors $4.00