Co-op to close Member Pioneer Programme, putting 766 jobs at risk
The Co-op is set to close its existing Member Pioneer Programme in a move that will put 766 jobs at risk of redundancy.
The convenience retailer is currently going through a consultation process with the 689 member pioneers and 77 member pioneer coordinators.
Under the current programme, member pioneers are typically committed to four hours of paid work per week in their community, while member pioneer coordinators customarily undertake 18 hours of paid work.
However, the convenience retailer is proposing to replace the scheme with a new Member Engagement Activator programme from August, meaning the member pioneer and coordinator roles will no longer exist.
It is understood the reasons for the change in structure are due to limitations to role hours and design, which resulted in people frequently leaving the position.
Subscribe to Grocery Gazette for free
Sign up here to get the latest grocery and food news each morning
Under the new programme, Co-op is proposing to create 61 full-time equivalent ‘member engagement activator’ roles located regionally across the UK, which it said will have “the sole remit to connect, engage and support member-owners in communities at a regional level, whilst making a real difference in how people experience our Co-op in their community.”
These roles will be offered to member pioneer coordinators, with the positions being Full Time Equivalent (FTE) located regionally across the UK. The roles have also been designed so that they can be done on a part-time basis (2.5 days per week).
As a result, the new model will have fewer colleagues, but more hours available.
A Co-op spokesperson said: “We have commenced collective consultation with our trade union, Usdaw.
“We recognise the impact this proposal may have on a number of our colleagues and our priority now is to support those colleagues potentially impacted and help find alternative roles within our business including from the newly created roles and vacancies we have available.”
They added that the change will help to build on its ambition “to grow membership from five million to eight million active member-owners by 2030.”
1 Comment. Leave new
The high turnover rate was nothing to do with restricted hours, but rather the shockingly bad IT system the Co-op has.
The only time restricted hours came into it was when our allocated tasks were such that they were impossible to do in our contracted hours. Most Pioneers did far more than their 4 hours a week for no reward, other than knowing they were benefitting their community.
This is the only job I’ve had where I had to live where I worked as one needed the local knowledge, to know ones community.
Sadly it will be the communities who will lose out as the Co-op uncaringly removes the grass roots support which has spent tens, even hundreds, of thousands of hours helping local groups, causes and members.
The caring, sharing Co-op? Not a chance, it’s now run by bean countere