Why Do We Work 40 Hours?| Robert Reich

Enjoy weekends? Thank a union.

[ReZipped]

I grew up working on a farm for my stepdad. He would hate hearing the term, but he was a sharecropper. I had to keep track of my time because he paid us about $0.75 per hour. In summer I averaged about 83 hours per week because we worked full Saturdays and nearly full Sundays. Work ended after dark. Still, we were poor as a family. I have never understood how my stepdad could believe so adamantly that unions were evil and republicans were the last and only defense preventing our nation from "those damned evil communists." As a poor family, all we ever got from republicans was more misery while the rich got richer.

[mikjb]

Thank you for reminding/educating people on what was fought for and is now being taken away.

[subtleobserver]

I'm a union worker. I work a four 10s schedule and get three day weekends. I'll never go back to five 8s.
Huge quality of life improvement.

[BlitzkriegOmega]

the Four Day Work-Week is such an incredible thing. Nearly every single employer who has tried it in a test-period has shown increased productivity, happier employees, and less errors in the work performed. and when I say "4 days" I mean 32 hours, Four Eights. not 40 Hours, Four Tens. It is mutually beneficial to employer and employee.

and yet, the majority of the employers who tried this setup reverted to a 40-hour schedule because they didn't like the freedom afforded to their employees. They didn't like that their employees had lives outside of their labor, and that they weren't "fully invested" in giving everything to the business. It wasn't about efficiency, or even profit. it was about control.

[juancarlosalonso]

Thank you for the work you do, mr. Reich, this is truly a public service.

[johnchessant]

Frances Perkins is one of the most undercelebrated heroes of American history.

[JLocke]

At our current rate of production, we should already be at a 4 day weekend.
With all of that free time we could spend more time with friends, relax more fully, and pick up hobbies.

[Ivehadenuff]

Francis Perkins is an unsung American hero.

[ElioGiuliani-fu]

Thank You
Frances Perkins is owed much more recognition for the work she did "in the system" for workers while unions and workers kept up the pressure from "the outside" to get the 40-hour workweek.
Everyone who watched this video could easily google her name and learn a brief history on some really great Labor history and that of a smart strong woman in government.
Thank you Frances Perkins!

[dvdv]

Unions ftw ❤

Collectively we bargain, alone we beg.

[eternaldarkness]

I've been watching a lot of documentaries on YouTube regarding poor workers around the world.
As a citizen of Canada, they are humbling.

[paulohenriquemelo]

We tend to take rights for granted and assume them as something that we always had and will always have. Thank you for making clear the history of fight behind our rights.

[Jackson-pugd]

Robert honest question, why do you not run for president? or even congress or the senate... your voice of reason is so badly needed in these outrageous times we find ourselves in.

[waldo]

Back in the 80s, I worked for a union shop. Benefit were still good at the time. Of course, time and a half for OT hours. Double time on Sundays that were optional. Paid holidays off. Or work one on a volunteer basis. Double time plus holiday pay equaled triple time. Do not know of any company that provides this anymore.

[roxannamarinak]

Tha k you for constantly educating our public that is so badly needed!

[mtnwriter]

Just compare our workdays and workers rights with those of most European countries and it's embarrassing. Not to mention their healthcare, but that's another story. They look over at us and wonder what the hell is wrong with us - how/why we put with it.

[dorothydean]

The purpose of life is not to work. Life should be the way to becoming a good human being and enjoying doing it. “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

[touncy]

grew up hearing the "look for the union label" all the time.. since trickle down/union busting never hear it.. used to be a jingle everyone knew

[brendaboudinot]

Love me some Frances Perkins. Use her example often. We owe her so much. She took a lot of crap from the opposition and still accomplished the goals she sought. Look her up, amazing woman.

[bookbwitched]

Very good! Savored, Shared & Saved. Thanks.