Covid-19 was in the midst of a health crisis after the first successful edition of "¡Ya!" The second part of the Platform Cooperatives course has been presented. The first edition was attended by 418 people from 50 countries.

The second edition is intended for:

• Unemployed people and those who want to find decent work, especially in the service sector.
• Those who want a decent work environment and digital format, where ownership and governance of the digital platform for communicating with customers are shared.
• Cooperatives in transition to platform cooperatives.

Platform cooperatives

Platform cooperatives are a tool for creating high quality employment. At a time of enormous concentration of large technology companies, this course prepares people to succeed as an platform entrepreneur in an exponentially growing ecosystem of collaborative economics, commonly known as the gig economy.
 

According to the organizers, this course provides participants with the opportunity to “explore and participate in a generation of young leaders who are experimenting and innovating through cooperative platforms”. From a sharing economy, "the economy is a truly participatory one. A shared and democratic property economy is possible," they added.

Goals

Around the world, millions of young people will suffer from unemployment due to Covid-19. From India, Italy, Spain, and Brazil to the United States, the virus does not distinguish classes. However, its economic and social impact is inadequately distributed. In tourism, among others, retail, education and all informal workers will bear the greatest burden. The working class, the low-income, and immigrants are the most affected groups who are at risk or in a state of exclusion. Income inequality is growing, confidence in governments is weakening and this is leading to a rise in populism and nationalism. Working people lose power and their sense of control disappears in their lives. Given this approach, how can workers be reorganized, regain control, and participate in the creation of alternative economic models?

And what about this? Employees at Amazon, Wholefoods and Instacart said "Enough!" to have said it can only be the beginning. A general strike of temporary workers? Strike people with student debt? It is seen on a global scale. In a time of crisis like this, situations that are considered impossible become common sense: the Great Depression created the New Deal. It must be shown that there is a better world.

Platform cooperatives are a tool for creating quality jobs on a large scale, and they are already a reality. At a time when the concentration of large technology companies is on the roof, this course is not limited to creating analysis and surveillance of capitalism. In an ecosystem where the economic concert is growing exponentially, this platform prepares people for success as entrepreneurs. It allows participants to build power based on ownership of the platform’s cooperatives, with innovative strategies, to conduct and participate in the analysis of a generation of young leaders who are experimenting. It is a leap from a “shared economy” to a truly participatory economy. Democratic and shared economic ownership is possible.The first edition of this course was held in the midst of the Covid-19 health crisis. It was attended by 418 people from 50 countries around the world. In fact, "it's time to take the lead and be part of a movement that wants to shape the society we want to live in."
More information: www.mondragon.edu