Trade unions fought for an eight-hour day in the 19th century and a two-day weekend in the 20th. In the 21st century, it is time to take the next step and win a shorter working week with fair pay for all.
UNISON members work a wide range of shift patterns delivering essential public services, so some full-time workers will have an ambition for a true 4-day week, while others would like to get their contract reduced with shorter working hours across their usual pattern. Crucially, whichever the model, UNISON’s campaign is about reduced working hours with no loss of pay.
As bosses and profit-makers reap the benefits of automation and artificial intelligence, shouldn’t workers get a share of the productivity gains too, through reduced working hours? The government has stated that its ambition is to shape the AI revolution so that the “increasing of prevalence of AI in people’s working lives opens up new opportunities rather than just threatens traditional patterns of work”.
How would a shorter working week improve workers’ lives and public services?
UK trials of a four-day week in 2022 found that:
Levels of anxiety and fatigue decreased
Mental and physical health both improved
Turnover and retention are huge issues in many public services, including the NHS and social care, which have thousands of vacancies. Research conducted by the 4 Day Week Global Campaign has found that:
63% of organisations find it easier to attract and retain staff with a four-day week
78% of employees with a four-day week are happier and less stressed.
How can I help achieve a shorter working week?
Talk to your colleagues about how fewer working hours with no loss of pay would improve their physical and mental wellbeing and motivation at work – and share your thoughts too!
Read all the evidence in UNISON’s guide to bargaining for a shorter working week and share it with your branch.Read the guide
Support your branch to run an initial survey to ensure any claim is firmly based on colleagues’ experiences and views (there is a model survey in the bargaining guide).
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Shorter working week
Trade unions fought for an eight-hour day in the 19th century and a two-day weekend in the 20th. In the 21st century, it is time to take the next step and win a shorter working week with fair pay for all.
UNISON members work a wide range of shift patterns delivering essential public services, so some full-time workers will have an ambition for a true 4-day week, while others would like to get their contract reduced with shorter working hours across their usual pattern. Crucially, whichever the model, UNISON’s campaign is about reduced working hours with no loss of pay.
As bosses and profit-makers reap the benefits of automation and artificial intelligence, shouldn’t workers get a share of the productivity gains too, through reduced working hours? The government has stated that its ambition is to shape the AI revolution so that the “increasing of prevalence of AI in people’s working lives opens up new opportunities rather than just threatens traditional patterns of work”.
How would a shorter working week improve workers’ lives and public services?
UK trials of a four-day week in 2022 found that:
Turnover and retention are huge issues in many public services, including the NHS and social care, which have thousands of vacancies. Research conducted by the 4 Day Week Global Campaign has found that:
How can I help achieve a shorter working week?