The Corps said it would lay off 770 community support staff in an effort to streamline operations at the department.
The mutual insurer said that Member Pioneer team roles, most of whom dedicate four hours of paid work a week to supporting their local communities, are due to be eliminated next month.
Their work includes organising charity activities to promote mental health, helping out with bingo nights, connecting people to combat loneliness and picking up litter.
The move has been criticised by those affected but Co-op denies it goes against its company philosophy of serving and protecting the local community.
The co-operative said the current model of community-led fieldwork, which consists of part-time positions, is not efficient enough.
Currently, Member Pioneers work four hours per week and Member Pioneer Coordinators work 18 hours per week.
The jobs will be cut and replaced with 61 full-time equivalent 'member engagement activator' roles based across the UK in August.
The Co-op has launched consultations with trade union Usdaw to discuss the planned changes and how they will affect current employees.
Many member pioneers and coordinators have expressed anger at the announcement of the job cuts, saying they go against the company's philosophy of community care.
One person wrote on X, formally known as Twitter, that after five years in the role, the news was “very sad and disappointing.”
Another person criticized the Co-op's move, saying the company's “exciting new vision” is moving away from their traditional community values.
A Co-op spokesman said: “We have a fantastic vision for the future – an ambitious vision to put member ownership back at the heart of Co-op and increase active member-owners from five million to eight million by 2030.”
The spokesman added that the company recognised the “impact this proposal will have on many colleagues”.
“Our priority now is to support those who may be affected and help them find alternative roles within our company.”
