Cooperative work as a mix of commons-oriented voluntary and paid work at Guerilla Media Collective
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Global, Guerilla Media Cooperative, Online- Where did this use case occur?
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2014 - ongoing- When did this use case occur?
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Guerilla Media Collective, DisCO.coop- Who were some of the key collaborators
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8 worker-owners- How many people participated?
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Cooperative, Worker's Rights- What are some keywords?
What was the problem?
Translation and further adjacent media services sectors have become precarious places for their employees, who face the threats of having their position eliminated by some AI model or further technology. Besides, good craftsmanship in writing is hard to find with the cheaper alternatives to human creative effort.
How does the community approach the problem?
The Spanish-English translator community formed a collective which does both pro-bono work towards culminating a knowledge of commons, and subsistence work.
What were the results?
The cooperative’s pro-bono work further cultivates their blog [3] with translations of free culture-oriented, feminist and non-capitalist principles texts. This blog also helps them find further job opportunities as it showcases their craft.
How participatory was it?
Empower
Guerilla Media Collective is a cooperative where members have democratic control.
What makes this Use Case unique?
'Engaging in pro-bono work through their blog and other areas, such as the design and documentation of DisCO, ensures that the collective attracts and retains individuals who share a commons-oriented worldview. It also helps forge partnerships with other cooperatives. This way, pro-bono work becomes an integral part of the cooperative's DNA, serving as both a revenue generator and a cultural influencer.' -Sem