| R 268 |
| 2022 -- H 8201 Enacted 05/03/2022 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| COMMEMORATING THE 4TH ANNUAL "STATE DAY OF THE COOPERATIVE" ON MAY 3, 2022, IN RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Representatives Giraldo, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Felix, Alzate, Barros, Tobon, Kazarian, Williams, and Filippi |
| Date Introduced: May 03, 2022 |
| WHEREAS, Worker-Owned cooperatives are business enterprises that are owned and |
| governed by their employees and have two common characteristics, member-owners invest in and |
| own the business together and share in the enterprise's profits, and the business' decision-making |
| is democratic, with each member having one vote; and |
| WHEREAS, In 2012, the United Nations declared "The Year of Cooperatives" and |
| encouraged governments "to establish policies, laws, and regulations conducive to cooperative |
| formation and growth"; and |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island provided for the creation of Worker-Owned Cooperatives as a |
| recognized form of business incorporation with unique characteristics, through legislation that |
| allows workers and investors to form workers' cooperatives and are specifically aimed at |
| empowering workers; and |
| WHEREAS, Worker-Owned Cooperatives have a long and proud history of building |
| wealth, security, equality, resiliency, solidarity, and hope for individuals and families, especially |
| in those communities and among those populations historically disadvantaged; and |
| WHEREAS, Because Worker-Owned Cooperatives are owned by their workers, they |
| concentrate as much on creating lasting and meaningful employment and good, healthy working |
| conditions as they do on generating profits for the owners/workers; and |
| WHEREAS, Worker-Owned Cooperatives have as their express purpose and charter, the |
| increase of equity, participation in democratic governance, control of working conditions, |
| security, and control of economic destiny for their members; and |
| WHEREAS, The diverse communities of Rhode Island offer myriad opportunities for |
| entrepreneurship, innovation, development, and investment by Worker-Owned Cooperatives, |
| whose members hail directly from those communities and whose business activities directly serve |
| those communities and whose actions are directly accountable to those communities; and |
| WHEREAS, Conversion of businesses to Worker-Owned Cooperatives to avoid closure |
| or sale to out-of-state entities, represents a sound and creative response by this State to the |
| inevitable retirement of Rhode Island small business owners; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby |
| commemorates the 4th annual "State Day of the Cooperative" on May 3, 2022, in order to |
| celebrate and promote the proliferation and growth of Worker-Owned Cooperatives in our State - |
| businesses which have demonstrated the ability to bring "the economic benefits of a fulfilling life |
| with a good job" along with dignity and self-determination, to individuals and communities |
| around the State; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Fuerza Laboral/Power of Workers. |
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| LC005848 |
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