Co-ops & TU Event

It's not often you get one of these - a "Co-operatives and Trade Unions in the UK" conference all in the same room.

Friday 22nd May 2009, 1000h - 1500h
the Mechanics Institute,
103 Princess Street,Manchester, M1 6DD.

Speakers from both movements, include:
Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
Dame Pauline Green, Chief Executive of Co-operativesUK
David Jenkins, Chair of Wales Co-op Centre, former General Secretary of Wales TUC
Neil Buist, General Secretary of the National Association of Co-operative Officials
Mick Taylor, founding partner of from Mutual Advantage
Guy Collis, UNISON

All the usual conference arrangements - coffee, registration, time for questions, and the open debate. The event is organised by Co-operativesUK with Unions21 and Ruskin College, Oxford.

Members Meetings in May

After a quiet few months got two meetings to go to in one month...
The Co-operative Group round of regional annual general meetings is currently happening around Britain. The one in Manchester is at Co-op HQ - New Century House on Tuesday 26th May at 1930h. The next night is the final of the Champions League so am not sure how many will be going to the meeting in Eccles that night.

Nearly half of meetings are being broadcast live over the internet. You can see the full list of dates at Members Meetings.

Our own Co-op Party meeting is this Friday - see previous post - photos to follow after the event. There should be something worth snapping and posting.

Next Meeting is in town

This will be a first for Withington Co-op Party but the next meeting is in the city centre
The Euro Election Meeting
Arlene McCarthy MEP and Anthony McCaul from Hope Not Hate
Friday 15th May 2009 at 2000h
Friends' Meeting House, 6 Mount Street, Manchester M2 5NS

Euro Elections on Thursady June 4th are critical for Labour. In the North West we are hoping to return at least 3 and maybe 4 or even more MEPs (Arlene Mc Carthy, Brian Simpson, Theresa Griffin, Steve Carter or Claire Reynolds ) all of whom are Co-op Party members. The BNP do pose a threat under the proportional representation list system being used. We are grateful to Anthony McCaul from Hope Not Hate for agreeing to say a few words.

FC United join Co-ops UK

Football Club United of Manchester, owned by its members has joined Co-operatives UK. They are in the Unibond Northern Premier League, which is three divisions below the Football League, and playing at Gigg Lane, home of Bury..

Andy Walsh, General Manager at FC United says: “We are proud to be an Industrial and Provident Society and it felt like a natural progression to join Co-operatives UK."

Story at Crain's Manchester Business.

Spy Who Came in From The Co-op

What a great title? What a story - not that I've read it yet. Do the washing, pop down to local Co-op for some groceries, bit of espionage, put kids to bed. Maybe not in that order.

You can get the publisher's details at Boydell & Brewer. It's just out in hardback.

Read Paul Gosling

Paul Gosling writes a fortnightly column for the Co-operative News. It's a good informative read about financial matters of co-operatives and mutuals. You can see for yourself as the writings are available online.

He also writes, researches and broadcasts for lots of other titles.

Hardy Lane Co-op History Talk

Thursday 23rd April 2009 at 1500h
(yes an afternoon meeting)
Tilley's Coffee Shop, Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton
(opposite Southern Cemetery).
Chorlton History Group
Talk about the Hardy Lane Co-op Store and the possible last co-op meeting rooms above in shop in the UK. You can read about the project to record the history of Store & Meeting Room at
Hardy Lane Scrapbook. Photographs, video footage, posters are being collated. Lots of material still needed.

Olive Co-ops Come to Chorlton

Chorlton's Big Green Festival on Saturday 4th April.
The Olive Co-op will be there :-
"Olive Co-operative seeks to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by Palestinians, and to support those working for a just peace in Palestine and Israel. It aims to do this by three main means: sponsorship of new olive trees, arranging tours to Palestine and Israel, and selling Palestinian fairly traded goods in the UK."
There is a lot of events, food, bicycle parade, films etc... on at the Green Festival so you need to check their website.

Unicorn Co-operative Grocery in Chorlton on Sunday 5th April.
Sindyanna of Galilee will be there
"this is an organisation based on co-operation between Palestinian and Jewish people, founded on a mutual belief in equality and Palestinian right to self-determination. Sindyanna founders, Samia Nasser and Hadas Lahav, will be offering samples of their range of high quality, popular products including extra virgin organic olive oil, olive oil soap (plain and with four blends), olive wood soap dish, za'atar herb mixture, carob syrup, baskets and artwork."

Trees for Life

"Trees for Life was launched in 2006, a joint project from the Olive Co-operative Ltd in Manchester and Zaytoun, a community interest company and member of Co-operatives UK. In the first six months the campaign had raised £20,000 to plant more than 5,000 olive tree saplings in Palestine..."

Greater Nottingham Co-operative Party have adopted this campaign with some vigorous fund raising activity. You can read about it at their website.

AGM done and dusted

The AGM was held a couple of Monday's ago and forgot to post....We predicted a low turnout but come the Monday a good muster. The usual people stand for office and the usual people let them. The highlights are the refreshments - some home made Fairtrade crunchy banana slice, beers and crisps. Then a chat about a future programme. Settled on a realistic three meetings this year :-

1) An event at an ambient venue in the City Centre for the new members who have recently joined in that part of Manchester. Going to leave to cosy world of the Co-op Rooms of Chorlton, about time we got out more. A theme based around the forthcoming European Parliamentary Elections with a notable speaker and refreshments.

2) An update on The Co-operative's new Fairtrade products which is a heavy hint on New World wine tasting and some accompanying short video clips.

3) A meeting about the campaign to erect a statue to mark Peterloo. It might be 190 years after the event but it still provoked a lively discussion in the room.