THE DEMOCRATIC STRUCTURE OF THE COOPERATIVE
THE DEMOCRATIC STRUCTURE OF THE COOPERATIVE Within the Cooperatives, specific decisions are in the hands of the general assembly. The Co-op Acts provide the foundation for this authority by law, however the co-op’s bylaws may also provide that specific policy decisions, such as wage rates, may require approval by the members’ meeting. Importantly the bylaws of the co-op, which regulate the life of the co-operative, must be approved by the members and can only be changed by a meeting of the members. One of the key legal responsibilities of the members is to elect the board of directors of the co-op. The bylaws will specify the number of directors, their qualification and length of terms. Directors, by law, are responsible for the affairs of the co-operative. Their duty is always to make decisions in the best interests of the co-op as a whole. The directors, once elected, in turn elect other officers like president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. These office...