La Diaria cooperative

This chapter describes the history and current state of worker cooperatives in Uruguay. The development of these cooperatives is linked to the country’s history of industrial growth, with the first expansion occurring around the 1950s. Legislation supporting worker cooperatives began in 1946, culminating in the 2008 Framework Law on Cooperatives. The Federación de Cooperativas de Producción del Uruguay, formed in 1962, represents these cooperatives. Currently, there are over 900 worker cooperatives in the country, employing 10,495 people, along with significant numbers of social and artist cooperatives. These cooperatives span diverse sectors, from maintenance and cleaning to education and communication. The document highlights the success of La Diaria, a worker cooperative and the second daily newspaper in Uruguay, as a model for cooperative innovation and community engagement, showcasing its growth, financial stability, and diverse media offerings. Challenges, such as accessing capital, are discussed, along with strategies for future growth and international expansion.