Uniforja

This chapter details the 24-year history of worker cooperatives in Brazil, focusing on Uniforja, a cooperative formed from the bankruptcy of Conforja in 1999. Driven by the ABC Metalworkers’ Union and inspired by European models, Uniforja and its constituent cooperatives (Coopertratt, Cooperlafe and Cooperfor) successfully transitioned a bankrupt company into a self-managed cooperative, employing over 184 cooperators and 140 contractors in 2024. The cooperative’s success is attributed to worker ownership, strong internal governance, consistent training programs and financial support from the BNDES. The document highlights the legal framework supporting worker buyouts, the cooperative’s structure and values, its achievements in job creation and worker well-being, and its ongoing challenges. The experiences of Uniforja and its affiliates are being replicated nationally through Unisol São Paulo, aiming to promote and strengthen cooperative models across Brazil.