Principles
Unicorn seeks to operate within a set of ethical and social guidlelines which we call our statement of purpose, this is set out below:
Secure Employment (empleo seguro)
We aim to provide secure employment for our members. We seek above all to provide a livelihood for ourselves with some control over our working environment. We accept the responsibilities and rewards of this challenge.
Equal Opportunity (igualdad de oportunidades)
We aim to reserve some employment for members with a learning disability. We believe that all should have an equal opportunity to undertake paid work. Ignorance and prejudice should not be an obstacle to this. The ability to carry out a minimum of 8 hours useful work per week entitles a worker to apply for membership. The respect and income derived from a job are important to many people in our society which is one which values paid work highly.
Wholesome Healthy Consumption (consumo saludable completo)
We aim to trade in wholesome foodstuffs and household goods of non-animal origin. We trade in foodstuffs which have undergone minimal processing, in contrast to the steady trend towards a highly processed diet in this country. Specific product guidelines include the avoidance of added sugar, salt and animal derivatives. We strive to sell products of organic standard and maximum nutritional value whenever we can find or generate a market. Provision of food educational materials help in this aim.
Fair and Sustainable Trade (comercio justo y sostenible)
We aim to trade in a manner which supports a sustainable world environment and economy. We trade preferentially in products which follow the "Fair Trade" ethos and alert our customers to the problems cash crop agriculture. We are concerned that much of world trade is to the disadvantage of poorer nations with a consequence for people's health and lives. We operate a fund from which to support projects addressing and challenging this imbalance. 4% of our wage costs are contributed to this fund. We trade in products which in themselves and in their packaging produce minimum impact on the environment because we are concerned at the current large scale disposal or inorganic waste. Wherever possible we lobby for the use of reusable packaging (e.g. glass containers of standard size).
Solidarity in Co-operation (solidaridad con la cooperación -cooperativas; habla también de boicots necesarios
)
We aim to support like minded ventures, co-operatives or otherwise. We acknowledge both competition and co-operation as fundamental to human nature. We seek to encourage co-operation by operating a fund to support projects which share our vision of community and society in the United Kingdom. 1% of our wage costs are contributed to this fund. We promote co-operative structures and spirit through all our trading, social and educational activities. Solidarity requires occasional boycotting of goods, services and companies and the promotion of such boycotts.