Hi John, Margie, Robin, Taka, Cliff, Michel, Mike, Emily and colleagues

Please find attached the press release for the Not Alone report on the precariat that Co-operatives UK and the Wales Co-operative Centre have published today with Unity Trust Bank - the trade union bank.

http://www.uk.coop/newsroom/record-numbers-self-employed-enter-new-tax-year

Here also is the full report and a Blog article attached that I have done. If you can review the report or use the blog article to promote it, do let me know.

http://www.uk.coop/sites/default/files/uploads/attachments/not_alone_-_trade_union_and_co-operative_solutions_for_self-employed_workers_3.pdf

We think this report will find resonance in other countries as we have drawn examples of best practice far and wide from trade unions and co-operatives collaborating to meet the needs of this growing class of dispossessed workers - over 70% of whom in the UK are in poverty. The linked problems with a lack of access to workspace, housing and commons are clearly indicated and indeed illustrated with a precariat index that Co-operatives UK has developed. This was a brain wave of Ed Mayo’s to whom we are very grateful and for commissioning the research.

There are also some links to co-operative money and capital solutions and to basic income. This aspect needs further development in phase 2 work which we are moving forward on over the next few months.

All the best

Pat