Who we are:
Third Coast Workers for Cooperation is an Austin-based organization committed to the development of ecologically sustainable worker cooperatives. Our mission is to empower low-income communities to create a thriving network of eco-friendly, worker-owned businesses throughout the greater Austin area--combating the growing crisis in our economy and the environment at the local level. The City of Austin prides itself on its dedication to locally-owned businesses, compassion for the environment, and progressive character. Third Coast embodies all these qualities and more through the creation of democratic workplaces where people and the planet come first.


What is a worker co-op?
A worker cooperative is a business that is owned and controlled by the people who work there. Worker cooperatives can be found in a range of industries across the country and across the world--from restaurants in New York City to manufacturing plants in Argentina. In a worker cooperative, decisions are made democratically by the workers themselves and profits are shared equally.


Worker cooperatives offer a powerful alternative to conventional businesses. Instead of being driven solely by profits, worker cooperatives often have a "triple bottom line," measuring success not simply by the money they earn, but by the well-being of their workers; their sustainability as a business; and their overall contribution to the community and the environment. Worker co-ops also tend to create:


Why for the planet?
The debate is over. Our planet is in peril. Resource-heavy production, over-consumption, and dramatic climate change are delivering a severe blow to mother earth. Our economy needs to shed its "grow or die" approach and develop new ways to relate to the environment to meet our needs without compromising the ability of the next generation to meet theirs. We need ecological sustainability.


Why for the people?
The heavy weight of our environmental problems is placed largely on the shoulders of low- income communities of color here in Austin and elsewhere. Environmental justice advocates have demonstrated for years that due to race and class discrimination, communities of color and low-income neighborhoods are most likely to be exposed to polluting industries; least likely to have access to healthy food; and least likely to hold leadership positions in environmental organizations. If we are serious about equity and sustainability, we need more ecologically friendly workplaces owned and controlled by communities of color.


Our Vision:
We envision a richly democratic Austin, where workplaces offer a living wage, as well as empowering, long-term stable jobs rooted in the values of self-management, equity, solidarity, and ecological sustainability. To achieve our vision, we will