Co-operative Union

This collection contains material created for the 150th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the Rochdale Pioneers Equitable Co-operative Society in 1844, which is known as the first modern co-operative society. Various events took place in and around the town of Rochdale.

In 1955, a resolution was adopted by the Edinburgh Congress of the Co-operative Union that led to the establishment of the Independent Commission. The purpose of the Commission was to advise on the future of the co-operative movement in Britain. Suggestions were accepted from various co-operative organisations; this collection is the submission of the Co-operative Union and its various sections, along with press cuttings and photographs relating to the Commission that were collected by the Union.

The Co-operative Productive Federation was formed in 1882 with the aim of promoting unity of action amongst the small number of productive societies that were in existence, securing capital for their use and finding markets for their products. Within ten years of its formation, the number of co-operative productive societies trebled and by 1940 it boasted 40 member societies and sales of over £3.5 million.

According to the CPF's rules, "Societies or companies only shall be admitted whose rules admit the workers employed by them to membership and to the participation in the division of profits in respect of their wages".

Its headquarters are in Leicester and the majority of its member societies are based in the East Midlands region.