Workers’ cooperatives are typically lean businesses with high efficiency and employee motivation. The employee-owners play meaningful roles; they not only do their jobs, but they also collectively determine the future direction of the company. This, in turn, often leads to higher productivity and better overall business performance.
If their business is performing well and the employee-owners have more money in their pockets, the community and the local economy prosper.
It is no secret that Rhode Island’s economy has been struggling for far too long. When other states have bounced back from bad economic times, Rhode Island’s economy has continued to struggle. Rhode Island should embrace any innovative model with a potential promise to boost our economic recovery. Workers’ cooperatives are thriving in 13 other states, and are proposed in 15 more. Let's hope Rhode Island joins the workers' cooperative bandwagon.
2017-H 6155aa passed the House of Representatives and 2017-S 0676 awaits consideration by the Rhode Island Senate.
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