UAW President Fain Advocates for 32-hour Week at Senate Hearing

TL/DR -

UAW President Shawn Fain spoke to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions about the need for a 32-hour work week with no loss in pay. He argued that despite advances in technology and increased productivity, workers are working longer hours than ever and often into later years in life. Fain stated that the union will continue to fight for the rights of working-class people to reclaim their time, and called for support in that fight, criticising Wall Street and companies that profit off the labor of others.

UAW President Shawn Fain Addresses U.S. Senate Committee

Shawn Fain, UAW President, engaged with the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) on March 14. The hearing revolved around the topic: Need for a 32-Hour Work Week with No Loss in Pay amidst New Technology and Increased Productivity.

Fain’s key statement:

"Greetings, Chairman Sanders, Dr. Cassidy, and Committee members. I’m poised to share insights on a crucial issue affecting union leaders, working-class individuals, US Senators, and all humans - our time. As the UAW president, I represent 400,000 working class individuals across sectors, and 600,000 retirees. In reflection, my members never express a desire for more work or money, they yearn for more time."

"Time, a valuable resource in our society, is not freely granted to the working class. Since the industrial revolution, society’s productivity has soared. Advanced technology enables one worker to perform tasks previously requiring dozens. This productivity was predicted to give workers more leisure time. Economist John Maynard Keynes, nearly 100 years ago, envisioned a 15-hour work week due to productivity gains."

In contrast, the 21st century sees extended working hours, with people laboring into their 60s, 70s, even 80s. Workers' lives are marred by addiction and suicide, despairingly believing that life dominated by endless work isn’t worthwhile. "Last year, our Stand Up Strike advocated a 32-hour work week - a reality in many countries worldwide. With technology, we can achieve more with less. Yet, this never benefits the worker."

Who will address this work-dominated lifestyle? Employers? Congress? How can the working class reclaim their lives and time? "Critics may argue that people prefer not to work, branding the working class as lazy."

"I concur, there is an epidemic of individuals who prefer not to work. But these aren't blue-collar or working-class people. The culprits are Wall Street freeloaders, the masters of passive income. Those profiting off others' labor have ample time, while those contributing labor have diminishing time for themselves and their families."

"Our union will persist in fighting for working-class people's rights to reclaim their lives and time. We call for your support in this fight."

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