By

Thomas Isaac, T.M.

Serial

15433

Publisher

LeftWord Books

Description

320 pages; 22 cm

ISBN / ISSN No.

9789380118468

Subject

1. Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (Kerala, India)--History; 2. Construction workers--India--Kerala--History; 3. Labor contract--India--Kerala--History.

Summay

The Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS) in northern Kerala is a remarkable institution, founded as part of the early 20th century anti-caste movement. The Cooperative's raison d'être - as enshrined in its bylaws - is to 'promote the economic interests of the labourers of the Society'. Despite ups and downs over its 90-year history, the ULCCS is a highly successful cooperative, both in terms of its profitability and in its enhancing the lives of its worker-owners. This, despite the neoliberal policies that have suffocated much economic activity that lies outside of monopoly capitalism's interests. Building Alternatives provides an honest appraisal of a heroic venture of a cooperative enterprise, demonstrating that cooperatives are not only able to survive in a small niche, but are able to grow into substantial institutions within the social life of a region. The book does not gloss over the problems that come with this history, providing a rich empirical account that helps us learn from the challenges and successes. The story of ULCCS is not merely an inspiration to the world, but a guidebook to the resilience of cooperatives as alternatives within capitalism.

DDC Classification No.

331.7624095483

Accession No.

15433

Shelving location

52

Category

Social Science