The 4-day workweek was a longshot. The UAW isn’t giving up

3 years ago by return2ozma to c/workreform

Of all the bargaining goals set out by the United Auto Workers union in the just completed talks, none was more ambitious, or gained less traction in negotiations, than the idea of a four-day, 32-hour work week.
Shadywack 105 points 3 years ago

Being stuck on a 40 hour work week, but just doing four tens, I can say the 32 hour concept needs to continue having traction. More and more people are waking up to the reality that work is just work. There's life to live and we have the means nationally to allow for a meaningful life. When considering employment, only getting two days off is a dealbreaker.

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WarmSoda 26 points 3 years ago

I agree. I won't do four ten hour shifts. You're just adding two more soul crushing hours to your day.

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toynbee 4 points 3 years ago

But removing one entire soul crushing day from your week, allowing you to sleep in, do chores or errands, go somewhere fun, whatever you want. You are less free to do those things with the two extra hours per day because the two hours are probably before or after when many places are open, plus you and any compatriots with whom you might want to associate are more likely to be tired from work. (I'm speaking of a hypothetical "you," not necessarily you personally, of course.)

I certainly think 4x8 should be implemented as the standard, but until that happens, I consider 4x10 to be far, far preferable to 5x8, especially if you get to choose your day off. I've mostly worked 4x10 for many years and the few times I've had to switch back to 5x8 have been soul crushing due to how much opportunity and "me time" I've lost.

I didn't know I wanted it until the first job that offered it, but now it's a requirement I'll mention the first time I speak to any recruiter.

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agent_flounder 24 points 3 years ago

Agreed. Sure it is nice getting 3 day weekends but I am not cut out for 10h days. I just cannot be productive that long.

I'm glad that younger generations are more about work to live instead of pointless live to work bullshit. I saw my mom fall into that trap. Not worth it.

I don't even hate my job. I like it. But I have way too many other things I could do with my time and life is fucking short. Going above and beyond so some rich douchebags can get more rich? Kinda low on the priority list.

What's the point if you work until you die or even if you retire at 60-something and only get a few years to enjoy the free time before you're too sick or dead? Saw my mom do that too. No thanks.

Let me know when I can join a union. All of us ought to link up and fight for a 4 day, 32 hr work week and enough money and benefits to retire at a younger age.

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Zaktor 7 points 3 years ago

Sure it is nice getting 3 day weekends but I am not cut out for 10h days. I just cannot be productive that long.

There's a strong argument that people also can't be productive for 5x8h days. Cases of the Mondays, Friday afternoons, just staring at the wall. I think a fundamental aspect of the standard workweek is a lot of employees are sometimes just at work without actually being productive. That's why some studies find no reduction in productivity when people go 4x8.

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Shadywack 5 points 3 years ago

I'd be happy if I could just retire on time, which I don't think is going to happen. I look at many people and still feel lucky that I "only" have to work 40 hours. People are compelled to work 60+ just for their subsistence and even they won't have enough to retire.

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alvvayson -2 points 3 years ago
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Shadywack 7 points 3 years ago

This right here, I get the bulk of my responsibility completed in about 20 hours, where the rest of the time my particular role is that I'm compensated for "being available". As for completion of my duties and helping the mission of the company is concerned, 32 hours for the same pay would actually save the company money. The "optics" though is what companies fear, and they don't want to lose their leverage and power over workers.

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_number8_ 68 points 3 years ago

why the fuck is it a longshot? god forbid people have more time to themselves

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fubbernuckin 27 points 3 years ago

Long shot because good luck convincing some big corporation you should have any time to yourself at all.

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uriel238 14 points 3 years ago

Because our industrialist masters think revolution is no longer an option.

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books 26 points 3 years ago

This was the one I wanted to see most out of all their demands

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LemmyKnowsBest 23 points 3 years ago

Gentlemen, it is with great pleasure I inform you that I have just been hired onto a new job and it is a 3-day work week. Am much pleased. Believe me, my whole life I've been working 5 or 6 day work weeks working my ass off for very little pay, finally I have this reprieve. In these three days I am earning as much as I would normally earn in five or six days. Again I express my gratitude and I hope someday everyone in the world may feel this reprieve.

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A_L1FE 7 points 3 years ago

What is your trade if I may ask ?

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LemmyKnowsBest 1 point 3 years ago
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Chetzemoka 4 points 3 years ago

I'm curious how many hours you work in one day? I work three 12hr shifts. It's still better than working that M-F 9-5 nonsense

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LemmyKnowsBest 5 points 3 years ago

I work 4 hours a day. Three days a week. My manager explained to me he keeps everyone at 3 days a week so we don't get burnt out. And I'm pretty sure on their end they keep us at 3 days a week so they don't have to consider us full-time employees and pay out benefits 🤷🏻‍♀️ So there's that. I don't need benefits though. I'm a military veteran so I've got benefits there.

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Chetzemoka 1 point 3 years ago

Oh, ya. I could work like that, but I need health insurance, sadly.

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exoplanetary 3 points 3 years ago

Man, I’d kill for a 3 day work week. I’m on a 9-80 schedule but also have to go into the office (1hr each way) 2 days a week, so I end up spending around 10 hours per day on avg Mon-Thurs and it’s absolutely miserable.

Even just a 32 hour 4-day work week would be life changing. As is, I feel like I’m just wasting time half the time i spend working because I’m so burnt out that I’m not as productive as I would be otherwise.

Good for you though. Glad to hear some employers are trying out something more conducive to how human beings actually function.

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wishthane 13 points 3 years ago

You have to shoot big if you want to get anything close to what you want - it's a basic principle of negotiation

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hex_m_hell 10 points 3 years ago

Eliminate bullshit work and you'll be down to a 15 hour work week.

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Froyn 8 points 3 years ago

A hockey game is only played for an hour, yet each team has 5 lines.
Auto plants run 24 hours and have 3 lines.

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AnarchistsForDemocracy 7 points 3 years ago
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rickdg 6 points 3 years ago

I mean the issue being that people have 40 x 5 but still end up working more.

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Snapz 4 points 3 years ago

This guy walking into presidential aspirations? The bully pulpit needs a rational person, on the side of good against "endless growth" mentality, who doesn't hesitate to kick ass.

Seems like he's checking boxes...

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reddig33 3 points 3 years ago
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Poggervania 27 points 3 years ago

Why not both?

4-day work week means less stress and more time to rest and be healthy, and a NHS system would also be very good as well.

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RGB3x3 3 points 3 years ago

It's way past time for both.

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llama 3 points 3 years ago

If the conditions are still the same that cause people to want to ask for a 4 day work week, then people will keep asking!

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rickdg 2 points 3 years ago

Fight for a real 40 x 5 week first, otherwise it doesn’t matter.

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Rentlar 12 points 3 years ago

Fighting for a 32h/4day work week is a great way to get a proper 40h/5day work week as a concession. But I've heard some union contracts get 72h/9 day fortnights (5-4-5-4) so that's a promising sign.

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Omgarm 2 points 3 years ago

I already have that though.

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workreform
workreform

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A place to discuss positive changes that can make work more equitable, and to vent about current practices. We are NOT against work; we just want the fruits of our labor to be recognized better.

Our Philosophies:

  • All workers must be paid a living wage for their labor.
  • Income inequality is the main cause of lower living standards.
  • Workers must join together and fight back for what is rightfully theirs.
  • We must not be divided and conquered. Workers gain the most when they focus on unifying issues.

Our Goals

  • Higher wages for underpaid workers.
  • Better worker representation, including but not limited to unions.
  • Better and fewer working hours.
  • Stimulating a massive wave of worker organizing in the United States and beyond.
  • Organizing and supporting political causes and campaigns that put workers first.

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