Solidarity
Co-ops and unions are rooted in the same principles of social justice and solidarity. Some co-ops have affiliated with unions simply as a way to express that solidarity.
Network
Union membership provides a means to build individual and organizational relationships between co-ops workers in the area, including creating a stronger, more unified voice and more access to policy makers and elected officials.
Access to More Affordable Benefits
Many times, larger groups can negotiate stronger benefits, and through joining together, the USW can provide access to lower-cost benefits, such as:
Access to Expertise
Being part of a larger union provides better access to other areas of expertise like health and safety resources, educational opportunities and more.
Better Participation in Ownership
Voting at an annual meeting can be an important part of ownership, but how do workers exercise ownership the other 364 days a year? Especially for larger co-ops, a union committee can fill a role similar to that of Social Councils at Mondragon, which were conceived at a time when unions were illegal in Spain.
Where the role of managers may be to focus on the business and advance the interests of members as owners, the role of a union committee is to advocate and advance the interests of members as workers on an everyday basis. Even for small co-ops that may operate collectively on a daily basis, opting for some to take the role as an advocate for worker-owners as owners and some to take the role as an advocate for worker-owners as workers, can lead to a more engaging and fruitful discussion and resolution.
Guardrails of a Contract
Sometimes guardrails are needed, such as just cause and due process / arbitration. Like physical guardrails along a road, the goal is to never need them, but they are there just in case you do.