Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff

Episode: EU Extra: Kali Akuno
Date: December 20, 2018
Guest: Kali Akuno (Cooperation Jackson, Jackson, Mississippi)

Overview of the Episode

This Economic Update Extra episode is a candid, deeper dive into the work of Cooperation Jackson, focusing on how they set up worker co-ops and democratic workplaces amid considerable economic and structural challenges. Host Richard D. Wolff converses with Kali Akuno about the nuts and bolts of building a solidarity economy in Jackson, Mississippi, and the lessons drawn from their grassroots organizing.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Structure and Setup of Worker Co-ops

[01:04–05:11]

• Unique Model: Cooperation Jackson’s approach is adapted for people with limited or negative credit history. Akuno stresses the need to avoid external loans and instead pool resources internally.
  • Quote: “Most of the workers that we were going to encounter do not have a deep credit history other than a negative one… so there's hardly any credit.” (Kali Akuno, 01:08)
• Resource Pooling & Internal Support: Cooperation Jackson serves as a central entity offering training, incubation, and small loans. Startups receive stipends for participants and startup capital, allowing experimentation without outside debt.
• Example Co-ops:
  • Freedom Farms received ~$20k in startup funds
  • The Green Team received ~$30k
• Revolving Fund: Once these co-ops generate returns, they pay funds back into an internal revolving fund to help launch future initiatives.
• Timeframe & Reality Check: Original ambitious goals ("30 co-ops in five years") have been slowed by real-life constraints: diverse skills, family demands, and the challenge of learning democracy at work.

2. Building Democratic Workplaces

[05:11–07:56]

• Democratic Learning Curve: For many, democratic work is unfamiliar, as workers are used to hierarchical structures.
  • Quote: “How are we going to make decisions? Are we going to make decisions by majority vote, by consensus, or…some combination?...People have to figure all that out.” (Kali Akuno, 01:48)
• Responsibility and Ownership: Members must understand that their outcomes depend on collective effort and individual responsibility.
  • Quote: “You’re the ones who are going to be getting up 6 o’clock in the morning…you have to figure out how to make that work for yourself.” (Kali Akuno, 05:36)
• Participatory Decision-Making: Even when Akuno or others make suggestions, the collective has the final say to truly foster democracy.
  • Quote: “We should come with our best ideas, put them forward, and people can accept them or reject them if you're building a democratic culture and not imposing.” (Kali Akuno, 06:31)
• Testing the System: Team members sometimes challenge suggestions to ensure the democratic process is genuine.
  • Quote: “People sometimes want to test, like, how democratic—like, okay, you the one doing it. This. Just suggesting you’re doing.” (Kali Akuno, 07:35)

3. Collective Economic Decisions & Solidarity

[07:56–10:56]

• Setting Pay Collectively: Worker-owners decide their own pay and how resources are allocated.
  • Quote: “That’s all on them.” (Kali Akuno, 08:08)
• Personal Sacrifice for the Collective: Akuno shares his own story of choosing collective strategic priorities over immediate personal financial needs (prioritizing land purchase over back pay—even as personal bills stacked up).
  • Quote: “Are we going to take some of this and, like, pay ourselves…or are we going to utilize these resources for something more strategic?” (Kali Akuno, 09:06)
• Social Safety Net: Collective solutions extend beyond economics—helping each other with child care, job search, and basic survival during lean times.
  • Quote: “We found ways democratically and collectively to help each other. And that's ultimately what I think we are trying to build. That's the solidarity component…” (Kali Akuno, 10:41)

4. The Broader Social Impact & Remedying Isolation

[10:56–12:57]

• Loneliness & Neoliberalism: Wolff describes rising social isolation among workers due to gig work and neoliberal economic policy.
  • Quote: “I sometimes think that what will get this worker co-op idea to become a prairie fire is when people realize that's really a better way to live.” (Wolff, 11:24)
• Solidarity as Resistance: Akuno argues that neoliberalism intentionally fragments solidarity to prevent working-class power—co-ops can rebuild that consciousness and collective future.
  • Quote: “I think I've got a deeper understanding of it [neoliberalism] as a political project which is about breaking all the social solidarity amongst us.” (Kali Akuno, 11:57)
  • Quote: “If we don't have it, we'll all be stuck in front of our own individual TVs and our smartphone. Yeah. Suffering, stupid. Suffering in silence. And there's a better way to do it.” (Kali Akuno, 12:39)

5. How to Get Involved or Learn More

[12:57–14:21]

• Engagement Opportunities:
  • Visitors are welcome in Jackson to tour, but even more, to work alongside the co-ops
  • Online: cooperationjackson.org, Facebook (Cooperation Jackson), Twitter (@CooperationJXN)
  • Email: cooperationjackson@gmail.com
  • Quote: “Come and work. Come and engage in some solidarity with us…and, you know, go out with green team or come do some new work at our developing community production center or go put some time in one of the farm plots.” (Kali Akuno, 13:23)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Credit and Access: “Most of the workers that we were going to encounter do not have a deep credit history other than a negative one…so there's hardly any credit.” (Kali Akuno, 01:08)
• On Democratic Process: “How are we going to make decisions? Are we going to make decisions by majority vote…People have to figure all that out.” (Kali Akuno, 01:48)
• On Participatory Culture: “We should come with our best ideas, put them forward, and people can accept them or reject them if you're building a democratic culture and not imposing.” (Kali Akuno, 06:31)
• On True Solidarity: “We found ways democratically and collectively to help each other. And that's ultimately what I think we are trying to build. That's the solidarity component…” (Kali Akuno, 10:41)
• On Loneliness & Systemic Change: “I sometimes think that what will get this worker co-op idea to become a prairie fire is when people realize that's really a better way to live.” (Richard D. Wolff, 11:24)
• On Neoliberalism: “Neoliberalism…is about breaking all the social solidarity amongst us.” (Kali Akuno, 11:57)
• On Involvement: “Show and tell, but we prefer come and work. Yes, even better.” (Kali Akuno, 13:19)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:04–05:11: How Cooperation Jackson structures worker co-ops, internal finance, examples of Freedom Farms and Green Team
• 05:12–07:56: Learning and applying democracy in everyday work, handling responsibility
• 07:56–10:56: Collective decision-making; Akuno’s personal choice of collective over personal gain
• 10:56–12:57: Addressing worker loneliness and social fragmentation; how solidarity economies offer a remedy
• 12:57–14:21: Ways to visit, participate, or connect with Cooperation Jackson

Conclusion

This episode provides a practical and inspiring insight into building cooperative economics from the ground up, including the obstacles, the evolving process of genuine democracy at work, and how solidarity and mutual aid are fundamental responses to both economic austerity and social isolation. Kali Akuno and the model at Cooperation Jackson offer a vision of workplace democracy rooted in solidarity—one aiming not just at economic survival, but at the transformation of society itself.