Work Reform

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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.

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

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1923

Bernie Sanders Champions 32-Hour Work Week With No Loss in Pay (www.commondreams.org)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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As part of his Labor Day message to workers in the United States, Sen. Bernie Sanders on Monday re-upped his call for the establishment of a 20% cut to the workweek with no loss in pay—an idea he said is "not radical" given the enormous productivity gains over recent decades that have resulted in massive profits for corporations but scraps for employees and the working class.

"It's time for a 32-hour workweek with no loss in pay," Sanders wrote in a Guardian op-ed as he cited a 480% increase in worker productivity since the 40-hour workweek was first established in 1940.

"It's time," he continued, "that working families were able to take advantage of the increased productivity that new technologies provide so that they can enjoy more leisure time, family time, educational and cultural opportunities—and less stress."

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Nobody is saying you should have to do 40 hours work in 32 hours - rather the company hires more people to cover those hours.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

This only works out in 9 to 5 jobs. There are ao many people out there that work very different hours. Many career fields that work a lot longer shifts wouod not be able to simply work less. It just doesn't work that way.

Firefighters work 48 or 72 hours a week depending on the week. We can't just say, ok cool. You work 32 hours a week now.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

You don't understand... After 32 hours it's overtime pay instead of after 40

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's totally understandable, but the "standard" work week is 40 hours. He's just saying to change the standard. So if you're job isn't standard hours, it would probably just mean a little more overtime pay. Still a benefit to those people

[–] [email protected] -2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The point is, why is 40 hours the standard? What makes that the standard? Who says it's the standard?

Lobbyists for the 1%....ohhhhh.......right......and now the real issue comes about.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

This is the opposite of where the 8 hour day/40 hour week came from. In the US, it was fought for and won by various pro labor groups and unions in the early 1900s and became part of US law under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.