History

The birth of a great idea

The Industrial Revolution took place in England in the 18th century. Labor lost much of its bargaining power. Low salaries and long work days imposed a series of socioeconomic burdens on the population. As a result of this crisis, leaders arose from the working class who created associations that provided assistance. This initiative was not successful. Based on their failed prior experience, they sought new forms and concluded that difficulties could be overcome through formal organizations called cooperatives, provided that human values were respected and certain rules, norms and principles were followed.

Thus, 28 workers, mostly weavers, gathered to assess their ideas. Respecting their customs and traditions, they established certain norms and goals upon which a cooperative was organized. After a year, they had raised 28 pounds of capital and, on December 21, 1844, opened a small cooperative warehouse in Rochdale, in Manchester (England).

Thus the Rochdale Quitable Pioneers Society was born, which is known at the world's first modern cooperative. The principles of moral conduct it created are considered, to the present day, the basis of authentic cooperatives. In 1848, there were 140 members, and twelve years later membership reached 3,450, with a capital of 152 thousand pounds.