Garment Worker Staffing Cooperative
For the past several years, Garment Worker Center has engaged members on the principles and practices of worker cooperatives, culminating in the incubation of the first ever garment worker owned staffing cooperative (co-op). A first for GWC, this initiative was born from the need to connect garment workers with good, safe jobs and connect sustainable and ethical businesses with highly skilled workers.
The Cooperative will formally launch later in 2025 with its founding members.
To learn more about contracting with the cooperative or about the cooperative movement, email Nayantara@garmentworkercenter.org.
1. The Vision
The GWC Co-op is being built by and for garment workers to create good jobs, fair wages, and worker control in an industry long dominated by exploitation.
It will challenge the exploitative staffing agency model by prioritizing worker rights and ethical employment practices.
2. Worker Leadership & Training
Worker-owners are at the center of this initiative—learning governance, cooperative management, and financial operations through intensive training.
Training included comprehensive Introduction to Cooperatives workshops with L.A. Co-op Lab and advanced training on worker ownership using the DAWI RRC model (Rapid Response Cooperative), governance, operations, and finance, ensuring members have the tools to lead.
Founding members are reviewing and deciding on the Operating Agreement and Membership Handbook, setting the foundation for a worker-led business and recruitment of additional members.
3. Timeline & Next Steps
The Co-op is set to launch in late summer 2025, following years of founding-member training and finalizing business structures.
The next phase focuses on business development, securing contracts, and building relationships with ethical brands and manufacturers.
4. Policy & Industry Change
The co-op is a model for how garment workers can have real power in the industry, influencing not just jobs but policy and industry standards.
It connects to broader campaigns for workplace protections, SB62 enforcement, responsible procurement, and ethical production practices in LA’s garment sector.
5. Connection to ARAMP & Broader Movement
While distinct from ARAMP, the co-op is part of a larger effort by GWC to create a worker-led garment ecosystem in LA, combining business innovation with advocacy.
This is about workers taking ownership of their future—not just securing jobs, but creating the conditions for dignified and sustainable work.