A very short presentation of two intriguing UK-based movements:

1. Radical Routes is “a network of radical co-ops whose members are committed to working for positive social change. The network is made up mainly of housing co-ops of various sizes (none with more than 17 members), a few workers co-ops and a couple of social centres”.

Four times a year, the member and associate member co-ops get together at “gatherings”. These weekend events have a social function, but are also the places at which all important decisions are taken. They are open meetings and anyone is welcome to attend.”

2. Dot Comrades “is a (very) loosely associated band of makers, activists, doers and your general salt of the earth awkward squad types”. “We’re marrying our geeky tendencies to our progressive politics, and assembled for the first time in June 2015 to think about/hack away at how technology might reboot/revive/”disrupt” organised labour.

A bunch of us are sniffing around how co-ops, mutuals, Guilds, credit unions, etc. might take advantage of advances in technology to outcompete incumbents and positively shape the markets/industries they operate in.”