COOPERATIVA CAL IS A CULTURAL CO-OPERATIVE FOUNDED IN APRIL 2015 BY SIX CREATIVE WORKERS IN MONTEMOR-O-NOVO, A SMALL RURAL CITY IN ALENTEJO, SOUTHERN PORTUGAL.

MOST OF US WERE FREELANCE WORKERS AT THE TIME AND WANTED TO FIND A WAY TO FIGHT A STATE OF CONSTANT PRECARITY - NO HEALTHCARE SUPPORT, NO MATERNITY NOR PATERNITY LEAVE AND NEVER KNOWING WHEN YOU WILL GET PAID.

WE DECIDED THAT THE CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT HAD THE PHILOSOPHY WE WERE LOOKING FOR AND SO WE BECAME A WORKERS’ CO-OPERATIVE: WE, THE WORKFORCE, MAKE ALL THE DECISIONS COLLECTIVELY AND EQUALLY.

THE 'JOB WITH BENEFITS' EXPERIENCE

FOR THOSE OF US WHO WERE FREELANCING, ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS TO PROVIDE A SERVICE TO OUR CLIENTS THROUGH THE CO-OPERATIVE. WE SIGNED A PART-TIME CONTRACT WITH THE CO-OP AND STARTED RECEIVING A MONTHLY WAGE. NOW THE CO-OP HAS ALL OUR CLIENTS AND WE ARE EMPLOYED.

LARGER PAYMENTS FROM CLIENTS ARE NOW SPREAD OVER SEVERAL MONTHS TO THE WORKER. FOR A CREATIVE WORKER, WHOSE WORK/CASHFLOW IS USUALLY UNCERTAIN, THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO FEEL SAFE EVERY MONTH, EVEN WHEN YOU HAVE LESS WORK, OR ARE WAITING FOR AN OVERDUE PAYMENT.

YES, WE DO HAVE TO PAY MORE TAX AND WORK INSURANCE, BUT NOW WE ARE PAID MONTHLY. PAYING RENT IS NO LONGER A CONCERN. IF WE DECIDE TO BECOME PARENTS, OR IF WE FALL ILL, WE DO NOT WORRY ABOUT HOW TO SURVIVE.

SO THIS GOT US THINKING: HOW MANY OTHER CREATIVE WORKERS ARE IN THE SAME SITUATION? HOW CAN THE CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT HELP CREATE STRATEGIES TO FIGHT PRECARITY IN THE CREATIVE SECTOR?