Co-op Fortnight proposal to be debated at Congress 2009

May 17 2009

A PROPOSAL for an annual ‘Co-operative Fortnight’ — similar to Fairtrade Fortnight — will be debated at Congress 2009 at the Beaumont House Hotel, Old Windsor, over the weekend of June 26 to 28.

The idea has been suggested by the Co-operative Group’s South and West Region, who say such an event should be developed to focus on co-operation in its many forms.

A separate proposal from the Group’s Wales Region urges the Co-op Movement to work at building and cementing links with Britain’s trade unions.

The proposal states that “given the similar values, principles and history shared by the Co-operative and trade union movements, greater and more creative efforts should be made to build links and collaboration between the two movements.”

Meanwhile the UK Society for Co-operative Studies have called on the Movement to mount what it calls a “co-ordinated co-operative response to climate threat.”

Their proposal calls on all UK co-operatives to support co-operatives in Europe fighting the climate threat, particularly in the build up to the Copenhagen Conference in December 2009 and beyond.

An additional proposal by the Wales Region, Co-operative Group, emphasises support for a strong independent retail sector within the Co-op Movement.

Co-operatives UK member organisations are invited to submit amendments to the proposals, which should not exceed 50 words and must be received no later than May 22.

On May 29, the final proposals and amendments will be accepted on to the Congress Agenda. This year, proposals will be debated in a separate session of Congress, “The Co-operative Debate”, on June 27. Each proposal will be debated for no more than 30 minutes before delegates are invited to vote for or against each proposal.

• For full details on Congress 2009, please visit www.congress.coop