(Re)Envisioning Human Service Labor: Worker-Owned Cooperative Possibilities

ABSTRACT

This article explores the viability of worker-owned cooperatives as a promising human service delivery model that prioritizes the well-being of both care recipients and providers. In so doing, the current labor conditions of those providing direct care services are presented, followed by a review of cooperatives as a promising countertrend within human service delivery. Three case examples of worker-owned, direct-care cooperatives are presented, concluding with a discussion of the challenges and possibilities of this model and suggested next steps as we continue to (re)imagine modes of care provision premised on worker sovereignty, economic equality, and social justice.

KEYWORDS:

• Aging care
• case example
• worker-owned cooperatives
• workplace democracy

Notes

¹ It should be noted that the recent U.S. Department of Labor amendment to FLSA was brought about in large part due to the persistent advocacy and organizing efforts of, among others, the National Domestic Workers Alliance (http://www.domesticworkers.org/), Jobs with Justice (http://www.jwj.org), and the Caring Across Generations Campaign (http://www.caringacross.org/).

² Although declining inclusion in the current article (via non-response to phone/e-mail inquiries), it should be noted that the fourth cooperative stands as the largest, most successful worker-owned (in general), direct-care (specifically) cooperative in the United Sates—Cooperative Home Care Associates (CHCA) (http://www.chcany.org/). Founded in 1985, CHCA currently employees more than 2,000 staff members (of whom more than 1,000 are worker-owners, as referenced in Flanders, 2014) and continues to transform the cooperative caregiving landscape based on their “quality jobs = quality care” framework. For more information regarding this cooperative, please see DeFilippis, 2004; Flanders, 2014; ILO, n.d.; and Inserra et al., 2002.