Events

I'd like to go @peteburden, been meaning (ha) to for ages but I've never made it. Anyone else?

Sent to me by TU colleague. May be of interest to some in worker co-op community . Public Ownership 2.0: Worker and Trade Union Representation and Democratic Control 17th October, London. https://www.gre.ac.uk/events/current-events/faculty-of-business/Public-Ownership-2.0-Worker-and-Trade-Union-Representation-and-Democratic-Control-d17-10-2019-a1666729

How to manage conflict in a Workers Co-op Webinar, 11 Dec 3pm

As a result of the recent Loomio vote, to see which subjects you'd like us to cover in Webinars, 'How to Manage Conflict in a Worker Co-op' came high up the list. So we invite you to sign up to our latest webinar presented by Co-operatives UK HR manager, Kate Fielding, and Unicorn's @britta on exactly that subject. Click for more info and register via https://www.uk.coop/uniting-co-ops/events-calendar/managing-conflict-worker-co-op-co-op-connections-webinar

Last time I looked, there were still some physical copies of @katewhittle 's guide From Conflict to Co-operation in the basement at Holyoake House. Might make a good resource for this workshop.

Thanks for the link Mark

The updated version is available online on CUK website

Hi Irena - sounds fascinating. I'll join if I can.

Might be interesting to discuss the framing - conflict as something that can be 'managed'?

For me, and I guess for others, conflict is essential - the basis of creativity and accountability - of cooperating and getting things done?

So maybe 'nurtured' instead of 'managed'? :)

Best

Hi all, thanks for the alert Mark, what a waste of resources! Grrr. But the updated version (available as Nathan says online, at www.cooperantics.coop and via CUK) is IMHO much better, booklet 4 almost completely rewritten with more content and the booklets now refer to 'co-ops' rather than 'community food enterprises' . Great news that Britta and Kate Fielding are running a webinar. Fascinating topic!

Not sure I'd want to 'nurture' a conflict, Pete? Learn from it maybe, or recognise its value?

Yes, Kate, I am not necessarily talking about nurturing an individual conflict. Learning from a conflict and recognising its value is probably more appropriate.

I was responding to the idea that in general, in an organisation, we might 'manage' conflict. This to me sounds a little like the outcome of a 'managerialist' agenda - ie the assumption is that we can and ought to manage conflicts (plural) in the same way that we manage machines, people or risks.

For me managing anything in that way can have a less than positive connotation - control. I think we can probably manage or control a machine, and perhaps risks. But I don't think we can or should even try to 'manage' or control people.

And I don't think we should try to manage conflict, when the connotation is control. For me, it is better to nurture conflict behaviour in an organisation. Because organisations that manage - or control - conflict risk driving it underground or into less useful places.

I think human societies advance through peace and through conflict - conflict arises from differences and differences are vital to creativity. So when I say 'nurture' I mean encourage and sustain that behaviour and create conditions where it works constructively, which is often about attitudes to conflict, and about timing.

Best