Mondragon Co- operative Experience

Primary Social Ideals 10 Basic Principles Worker focused Open to all Nature of capital Inter-Cooperation Universal

Ideals Made Manifest Co-operatives are able to join Mondragon Mondragon Unibertsitatea University open to anyone who is qualified. No obligation to work with the co-operative after graduation Co-operatives are able to join Mondragon Co-operatives include non-members People with disabilities welcomed into the co-operatives

Motivation Founded in 1956 25 years after Spanish Civil War Founded by a Catholic priest and students at his business school Wanted to create an industrial business where the workers came first

New Opportunities Diversification International Presence Finance Increased Globalization International Presence Diversification Finance Industry Knowledge Retail

New Challenges

Response Unilateral reduction in wages Transfer of employees By democratic vote Transfer of employees Pooling of profits International resources

Continued Success 268 Associated companies 73,635 Employees 102 co-operatives 73,635 Employees Production facilities on five continents Production subsidies and corporate offices in 41 countries Sales in more than 150 countries

Continued Success

Influence Largest Corporation in the Basque region Tenth largest corporation in Spain Has helped to found and sustain co-operatives around the world Unities Steelworkers and OEOC in 2012

Lessons to Learn Focus on the workers Helped to save jobs during an unemployment crisis Minimum wages are higher than average Focus on co-operation has led to many co-operatives joining the group Diversification and Globalization The corporation has remained adaptive and competitive

Relation to Mechanical Engineering Talleres Ulgor Original co-operative, produces electrical appliances Many of the co-operatives are industrial in nature