We’re almost in production

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Eureka’s Future Workers Cooperative will be in production by July this year!

Douglas Solar, one of two private sector partners (along with Everlast) who have patiently stuck through 12 years of discussion within the union movement, will become the first active part of Eureka’s Future Workers Cooperative by July this year. So we will be in production and although the operation is in Knox, Melbourne, this moves us more firmly on the road to Morwell.

Within 12 – 18 months of an operating factory in Morwell, Eureka’s Future Workers Cooperative will leverage off that to establish the same factory in the Hunter, Geelong and WA. Then on to other carbon dependent regions of Australia.

The model is unique not only because it seeks to build a strong social sector of the Australian economy, but also because of the distribution method. Distribution of the solar hot water systems will occur through the wages component of the EBA’s negotiated between unions and companies. Incentives will be paid out of rebates/REC’s (whatever remains of them once carbon pricing is introduced) to both unions and employers.

The MUA National Council voted recently to take Dave Kerin, Project Officer for Earthworker Cooperative, round their jobs nationally to recruit to Earthworker. Other unions are coming in behind the project now as well, with the AMWU and CFMEU taking Dave through workplaces in WA beginning May 22nd.

Local events and campaign updates:

  • Dave will be visiting WA 22 – 27 May. He will be addressing the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) State Council on 22nd speaking about Earthworker Cooperative; and also to unions and the unions’ peak council body.
  • From 28- 31 May, Dave will be in South Australia.
  • From 1 June, back in Melbourne, Dave will continue speaking to workplace meetings of unionsists in Victoria, WA and SA to recruit the 100,000 members of Earthworker Cooperative, to move us closer towards the Morwell factory.

For further information or to inform us of local meetings or festivals anywhere in Australia, contact Dave Kerin on 0412 484 094.

To join Earthworker Cooperative, download the form or enter your details here.

Finally, Earthworker Cooperative’s registration problems solved!

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Just days after Earthworker Cooperative’s launch in Melbourne last year, Consumer Affairs wrote to the Cooperative indicating we could not use the name Earthworker.

Even though we owned Earthworker Inc for many years, Consumer Affairs stated that it did not matter who owned the name, all that was important was that it was already taken.

Apparently, we were told, the rules had changed. Even though we had followed the guidelines in changing the name from Earthworker Inc to Earthworker Cooperative – giving the appropriate notice, holding the appropriate meetings, passing the appropriate resolutions – we now had to gazette the closure of Earthworker Inc, which took three months, and only then could we officially register Earthworker Cooperative.

Why haven’t Earthworker’s members and supporters heard from the Cooperative since the launch?

Earthworker Cooperative registration

It was a week out from Christmas that we finally received paperwork, dated December 1 2011, to certify Earthworker Cooperative’s registration. Until that time, we have been unable to  continue functioning as a cooperative and building the 100,000 Australians Campaign.

To all our members, we look forward to a fresh start, in this – the UN International Year of the Cooperative – 2012. We are now in the process of sending out certificates to all current members.

Watch out for local events and campaign updates on this website. We renew the call, asking all members to organise meetings in their suburb or town. For further information or  to inform us of local meetings or festivals anywhere in Australia, contact Dave Kerin on 0412 484 094.

Currently Dave will be speaking at Transition Newcastle’s Fair Share Festival, 9 – 11 March, to speak on the 100,000 Australians Campaign. For more info go here.

Also on Saturday and Sunday 28 and 29 April, Dave will be speaking at the Australian Climate Action Summit, at the University of Western Sydney, Parramatta Campus. For more info go here.

To join Earthworker Cooperative, download the form or enter your details here.

National launch in Melbourne

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National launch in Melbourne another great success

Many unions and community and environment organisations joined forces to launch Earthworker Cooperative’s 100,000 Australians Campaign

Unions, community and environment groups gather to launch the 100,000 Australias Campaign

Representatives from our dedicated sponsorship companies, Everlast and Douglas Solar were also there on the day to celebrate the launch of the campaign.

Everlast water heater

 

You can download the media release THURS 11TH AUGUST 100000 MEDIA RELEASE.

AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING: WORKING OUR WAY OUT OF CLIMATE EMERGENCY

100 000 Australians Launch

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The launch of the 100,000 Australians Campaign in Morwell a great success

Representatives from Unions, Local Government, MECU banking, local media and the local community gather at the launch of the 100,000 Australians campaign on Thursday 28 July to discuss the new initiative to get Eureka’s Future up and running.

Members from the local community stand with Union representatives infront of Morwell Power Station smoke stacks

You can read more about the launch from the article in the Latrobe Valley Express here.A range of union and community partners are continuing to push ahead to establish Eureka’s Future in the Latrobe Valley – now that the initial work, by CFMEU Mining and Energy in commissioning the Business Plan, is complete.

We are building the 100,000 Australians Campaign as the appropriate means to establish Eureka’s Future and urge you to join us.

If 100,000 Australians join Earthworker Cooperative at $20 per member we will raise the $2 million needed for Eureka’s Future factory machinery, fit-out and finish.

Our communities: the new manufacturing base

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Green manufacturing jobs for Australia’s regions and cities.

Earthworker Cooperative is a social enterprise with a mission to create solutions for transitioning Australia’s workforce into a low carbon economy. It aims to create jobs, build social capital and protect the environment in local communities through the manufacture of renewable energy infrastructure.

The cooperative factories are to be established in regional areas where large proportions of the workforce are dependant on carbon intensive industries/energy generation.

The Earthworker Cooperative’s objective is to raise 100,000 Australians to contribute to the establishment of the first Cooperative in Morwell,Victoria via the purchase of factory equipment through a $20 membership fee. Joining the Earthworker Cooperative is simple and can be done at this site. Apart from the membership fee, there only remains acceptance of the single set of aims and objectives underpinning the work of the organisation.

Aim:  To facilitate the establishment of manufacturing workers cooperatives through our country, especially in the coal regions ofAustralia, through membership of the Earthworker Cooperative.

Objective: To support the factories in their work of manufacturing the best renewable energy products, through support with building the membership of Earthworker Cooperative, financial assistance to the workers cooperatives, support with marketing and any other forms of support asked of us by the manufacturing cooperatives.

Join us in this, our country’s work

Eureka’s Future - a solar hot water cooperative – will manufacture the highest quality solar hot water units; creating jobs in regional Australia and cities across the country. The three pillars of the project are job creation, sustainability and workers rights.

Eureka’s Future – the first Earthworker Cooperative – will provide Australian’s with new manufacturing jobs and produce the green technology to advance our living standards and protect our environment.