News

Representing more than 30 million members, Euro Coop consumers' co-operatives are a major actor on the retail market. Consumer cooperatives are fighting against social exclusion, generating growth and jobs and supporting equality and solidarity.



Using good practices in consumers cooperatives, as a benchmark, UNI Europa and Euro Coop wanted to highlight a number of key issues that should be at the heart of sustainable and responsible growth in the retail sector:

1. Firstly, the declaration call for more stable and quality employment, for decent pay and working conditions as well as for social inclusion policies aimed at supporting more vulnerable retail workers.
2. Secondly, they acknowledge the contribution of consumers’ cooperatives in ensuring a better social cohesion by promoting an alternative more sustainable business model
3. Most importantly, they recognise the key role of collective bargaining in improving working conditions for employees in consumers’ cooperatives. Good practice examples show how through effective collective bargaining, workers can achieve improved access to training and work towards developing positive solutions to better reconcile family and professional life.
4. Lastly, UNI Europa Commerce and Eurocoop stress the need to implement constructive policies to anticipate changes such as the introduction of new technologies in the workplace.

In conclusion, UNI Europa and Eurocoop:

• Recognise and share the positive values and principles of consumers cooperatives for both employers and employees
• Announce that they want to initiate, for the first time, a process of cooperation and dialogue at European level
• Call on the European institutions to support any future initiatives that could help in strengthening the cooperation between the two organisations.

The UNI Europa / Eurocoop declaration can be accessed via the Related Files tab.