1.

The Rochdale Pioneers

The Rochdale Pioneers – formation

Hungry FortiesUnemploymentPovertyFood adulterationChartism collapsing

The Rochdale Pioneers – formation

• Not the first co-operative society• Learning from earlier

experience• Learning from thinkers like

– Robert Owen – William King– George Jacob Holyoake

• Developing a workable model• Developing the co-operative

principles

The Rochdale Pioneers – formation

The Rochdale Pioneers – formation

First meeting 11 August 1844Decision to collect money to enable opening of shop£28 saved (£1 shareholding)

Insert section of film outside the shop

The Rochdale Pioneers – formation

Difficulties in finding premisesProviding shop fittingsProblems in getting supplies of stockFirst night of trade

11.

The Rochdale Pioneers

The Rochdale Pioneers - objectives

THE objects and plans of this Society are to form arrangements for the pecuniary benefit, and the improvement of the social and domestic condition of its members, by raising a sufficient amount of capital in shares of one pound each, to bring into operation the following plans and arrangements.

• The establishment of a store for the sale of provision and clothing, &c.

• The building, purchasing or erecting a number of houses, in which those members desiring to assist each other in improving their domestic and social condition may reside.

The Rochdale Pioneers - objectives

The Rochdale Pioneers - objectives

• As a further benefit and security to the members of this society, the society shall purchase or rent an estate or estates of land, which shall be cultivated by the members who may be out of employment, or whose labour may be badly remunerated.

The Rochdale Pioneers - objectives

• That for the promotion of sobriety a Temperance Hotel be opened in one of the society's houses, as soon as convenient.

The Rochdale Pioneers - objectives

• That as soon as practicable, this society shall proceed to arrange the powers of production, distribution, education, and government, or in other words to establish a self-supporting home-colony of united interests, or assist other societies in establishing such colonies.

Rochdale Principles

• Open Membership• Democratic Control• Distribution of Surplus in Proportion to Trade• Payment of Limited Interest on Capital• Political and Religious Neutrality• Cash Trading• Promotion of Education

• NB. The principle ‘Concern for community’ was added when these were reviewed by the ICA in the 1960’s

The Rochdale Pioneers – education

1849 First Reading RoomCommitment to educationDevelopment of LibraryDevelopment of Education DepartmentCourses

LanguagesArtsSciences

Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society Library Catalogue 1868

The Rochdale Pioneers – development

Expansion of tradeTwo evenings a week for first three monthsFive evenings a weekNew trades and departmentsDraperyButcheryTeaWholesaling

The Rochdale Pioneers – development

Trade Membership Surplus (Profit)

1845 £710 74 £22

1848 £2,276 140 £118

1849 (after collapse of Rochdale Savings Bank)

£6,612 390 £561

The Rochdale Pioneers – development

• Branch store developments from 1856

• 1857 George Jacob Holyoake’s “History of the Rochdale Pioneers”

• 1861 Rochdale Land and Pioneer Company

• 1862 Impact of Cotton Famine• Opening of new central premises

1867• By 1880 membership over 10,000

Influence of the Pioneers

Formation of other co-operative societies

1881547,000 members in 971 societies19001.7 million members in 1,439 societiesFormation of secondary or federal co-operatives

Co-operative Wholesale Society

Initial meeting 25 December 1860Formed 1863 as North of England

Co-operative Wholesale SocietyRochdale Pioneers as members of first committeeWilliam CooperJames SmithiesAbraham GreenwoodRented offices in Manchester withtwo men and a boy

Co-operative Wholesale Society

1868 first premises built1868 first depot – Ireland1872 began banking (now

The Co-operative Bank)1873 manufacturing of biscuits and shoes1878 purchase of first ship1903 purchase of first tea plantations

The Rochdale Pioneers – formation