ICA Statement on Co-operative Identity

"By mutual confidence and mutual aid,
Great deeds are done, and great discoveries made;"
The Iliad, Homer 800 B.C.E. 

Co-operatives have a rich history of service in many forms throughout the world.

International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), the international peak body of co-operative organisations, adopted a Statement on the Co-operative Identity at its 1995 congress. This statement includes a co-operation definition: “A co-operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.”




Co-operatives can be found in almost every field of activity.

Examples of co-operatives currently providing services to members in Australia: antique collectors; artists; arts and crafts; barristers’ services; beef producers; bus and coaches; bush foods and products; bush land regeneration; cane growers; carriers’; coffee growers; community arts centres; community clubs; community food buying; community radio; community services; dairy; education and training; egg producers; employment services; energy; estate agents; family day care centres; fish producers; fruit producers; galleries; gold; golf clubs; gourmet meats; hairdresser buying; harvesting; herbs and spices; historical activities; housing tenants; kindergartens; libraries; liquor supply; marinas; marketing; meals-on-wheels; meat producers; media; medical services; music; native fish; native hardwood; newsagents; olives; packaging; permaculture; pet care; pre school; professional services; publishing; railways; recycling; rural education; sailing clubs; saw-millers; ski lodges; sugar milling; taxis; transport and haulage; water supply; wine consumers; winemakers; women’s refuges; wood-turners; labour supply; and youth theatre.

For every challenge there is a co-operative solution.

 

Definition

A co-operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.

ICA Statement on Co-Operative Indentity

Values

Co-operatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, co-operative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility, and caring for others.

Principles

The co-operative principles are guidelines by which co-operatives put their values into practice.

1st Principle: Voluntary and Open Membership Co-operatives are voluntary organisations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination.

2nd Principle: Democratic Member Control Co-operatives are democratic organisations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary co-operatives members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote), and co-operatives at other levels are also organised in a democratic manner.

3rd Principle: Member Economic Participation Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the co-operative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing their co-operative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the co-operative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

4th Principle: Autonomy and Independence Co-operatives are autonomous, self-help organisations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organisations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their co-operative autonomy.

5th Principle: Education, Training and Information Co-operatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives. They inform the general public - particularly young people and opinion leaders - about the nature and benefits of co-operation.

6th Principle: Cooperation Among Cooperatives Co-operatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures.

7th Principle: Concern for Community Co-operatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.