Worker's Rights

THE RULES: Structuring Human Dignity’s Community Development Cooperative

HD by-laws provide for an election by owner members within the community to serve on ten standing committees to achieve the HD mission and build an exemplar community of the 21st century, known as the Seattle Renewal Project: A destination for new ideas and opportunities.

(1) Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (to resolve disputes and secure an equitably balanced system of justice among resident and worker member owners of the cooperatives)

(2) Community Leadership Development (to educate all resident and worker owners... committed to empowering our human dignity by serving the people, providing free and equal access to the power and wealth of knowledge, opportunity and ownership)

(3) Communications (to handle PR, membership, staff communications, and community education on everyone’s right to financial literacy, the pathway to an equitable human equality.

(4) Stakeholders Participation ($25 membership fee plus $50 (5 units @ $10) establishes eligibility, the distribution of (one man one vote) units and dividends, governance powers, and issuances of value units for physical property owners and those making exceptional contributions to the quality of life of all cooperative members, and other matters affecting the ownership rights of residents and workers who might include persons hired as HD managers and others)

5) Strategic Planning (to develop and refine both the long-term vision and strategy for developing the Fresno Renewal Project as a national exemplar of an equitable human equality; in the shortest possible time with the spontaneous cooperation of local resident and worker owners.)

(6) Land Acquisition (to enable HD to accept property as loaned assets within all development projects; other HD land acquisitions may come either (a) from gifts of lands by government, non-profit groups or other donors, or (b) by paying private owners the fair market value of their land and improvements, if needed to compliment or enhance Fresno Renewal Projects.)

(7) Site Development (to set HD’s standards, approve plans, negotiate contracts, and handle all matters affecting any/all development of specific HD projects)

(8) Management Accountability and Audit (to assure transparency and arrange independent ongoing audits on all management activities and financial affairs)

(9) Finance and Budgeting (to approve HD budget and loan finance terms for projects and operations)

(10) An Executive Committee consisting of the chair of each of the standing committees, plus a chair and co-chair, each of whom should be elected for a three-year staggered term, along with other members of each of the standing committees.