The Nation columnists Bryce Covert and Mike Konczal go in depth on the subject of better work/life balance in The 32 – Hour Week…
Fain isn’t the only labor leader seeking to revive the issue now. In 2019, the AFL-CIO released a report that called for a four-day workweek. And there may be an opportunity to shout this demand more loudly in the future. The UAW contracts would expire at the end of April 2028, and Fain has called on other unions to align their contract expirations with the same date. That way, workers can engage in a mass strike on May Day of that year—possibly even a general strike—thereby putting enormous pressure not only on employers but on lawmakers. There’s a lot of time between now and then to figure out exactly what workers should call for, but there will be no better moment to demand more of our time back from our bosses.
The fight for everyone, no matter where they work, is to return to a society in which people have both enough money to provide for their needs and enough time to eat, sleep, and do what they will. Fighting for higher wages isn’t enough. We must fight for the right to live our lives outside of work, too.
( graphic via The Nation)
