The banner of the Cowlairs Co-operative Society Women's Guild, Possilpark branch.
The co-operative movement was founded on the belief that ordinary people could improve their standards of living by working together, and the organisation played an important role in the lives of many working-class women. Co-op shops sold products of good quality at reasonable prices and members were paid a quarterly dividend that was a percentage of the amount of money they had spent in the shops. The co-op was a major employer in some areas of Glasgow, and offered a wide variety of social activities such as drama groups, choirs and educational activities. Membership of the Co-operative Women's Guild (CWG) offered women the opportunities to become involved in the management and policy-making processes of the movement and to develop their political and organisational talents.
This branch of the CWG was inaugurated in September 1914. The banner is illustrated with a lifebelt with the slogan "Co-operation saves millions".
Reference: 345.86.271 / PP.1984.104
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Museums
Keywords:
banners, co-operation, Co-operative Women's Guilds, co-ops, Cowlairs Co-operative Society, lifebelts, thistles, women