There is also the possibility that shorter work time (and negotiating for
shorter work time) could contribute to the survival of union densities and
welfare state policies thus making the net benefit more substantial than a
quick glance at direct employment and income benefits might imply.
On Thu, 30 Mar 2000, Max B. Sawicky wrote:
- snip -
> European systems make shorter weeks easier
> because some crucial benefits like health
> care are not contingent on the 'last hour'
> of work. In the U.S., obviously, a less
> than full-time job makes such fringes
> problematic.
>
> In general, in the union-rich social-
> democratic context, shorter weeks is
> a much more benign reform than in the
> U.S. But even so, at this point it
> looks to be a far cry from a radical
> challenge to the system, or one that
> would make a great difference in
> living standards, however defined.
>
> I still think a shorter work week is
> an important political priority. But
> it seems crucial to define a
> work time agenda that is less
> susceptible to descriptions like,
> 'same shit, different day.'
>
> mbs
>
>
Tom Walker
