Marie Michael Library

The Meaning of Rochdale: the Rochdale pioneers and the co-operative principles

Fairbairn, Brett

Rochdale, England is known for the co-operative established by labourers there in 1844, called the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers. That co-op was adopted as the inspiration and model for a movement that now includes 700 million world-wide. To commemorate its 150th anniversary, this paper examines what Rochdale means and why it is so important.