Workers at Urban Ore, a co-op salvage yard in Berkeley, suspended their strike after 45 days, achieving key agreements such as union recognition and just-cause discipline. The strike highlighted ongoing tensions with management over negotiations. Urban Ore's founding reflects the 1960s' co-operative movement in the Bay Area, aiming to counteract consumerism and promote collective profit-sharing among workers. Co-owner Mary Lou Van Deventer attributed the organization's longevity and success to its equitable wage structure and collective management approach, vital for maintaining worker satisfaction in the face of high living costs.
Workers earn a modest salary but also take home a share of the revenue, fostering collective management and economic equity at Urban Ore.
The history of Urban Ore reflects a transformation from 1960s idealism to co-op models that challenge traditional capitalism and promote worker empowerment.
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