Archives West Finding Aid

Marmot, Inc. was a worker-self managed reforestation cooperative/collective. Based in Seattle and Bellingham, Marmot was founded in 1976 and ultimately dissolved in 1985 at the bottom of the timber industry recession of the mid-1980s. Marmot's structures mirrored a traditional corporation, but its internal operation was controlled collectively. Workers were allowed to become members after a trial period of several months of work, and all major company decisions were voted on by members at monthly meetings. Smaller day-to-day decisions were made by designated committees. Though members were required to own a share of stock, it was their status as a member of the co-op that allowed them to participate in company decisions. During its history, Marmot had around 30 worker-owners, and it was part of a larger network of forestry cooperatives called the Northwest Forestry Workers Association that probably totaled one to two thousand workers.