Current Events > Germany's largest union escalates fight for 28 hour workweek

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.thelocal.de/20171229/german-union-escalates-fight-for-28-hour-work-week

The largest union in Germany is bracing for a combative start to the new year as it presses demands for a 28-hour working week, warning employers to expect mass strikes in the battle for a better work-life balance.
The mighty IG Metall union, which represents some 3.9 million workers in the metal and electrical industries, says it is ready to flex its muscles after initial negotiations with employers made little headway.

An agreed no-strike period ends on December 31st, and IG Metall chief Joerg Hofmann has told employers to expect brief "warning strikes" from January 8th, and he said more widespread action could follow.

"If by the end of January the employers have not changed their stance, we will consider resorting to 24-hour strikes or calling a vote for a general strike," Hofmann told DPA news agency this week.

Seeing its bargaining power strengthened at a time of bulging order books and record-low employment in Europe's top economy, the union is pushing for a six-percent wage increase.

The Gesamtmetall employers' federation has so far offered two percent, setting the stage for both sides to meet somewhere in the middle.

Far more controversial is IG Metall's call for employees to be allowed to switch to a 28-hour week for a two-year period -- with limited impact on wages.

That demand has been met with fierce resistance from company bosses, and stirred wider debate about quality of life and the future of work in booming Germany.

In certain circumstances, IG Metall says reduced working hours must not go hand-in-hand with a drastic salary cut -- for instance when staff are caring for young children or ailing relatives.

In those cases, the union wants employers to top up workers' salaries to help make up for the shortfall that comes with clocking up fewer hours.

...

"I think IG Metall's proposal is very modern," professor Gustav Horn of the Hans-Boeckler Foundation think tank told the Nordwest Zeitung daily.

He said it would inevitably lead to higher costs that would hurt the bottom line, but could also be a way for firms to hold onto their best workers.

"In future, well-qualified employees will select those companies that offer flexible hours that suit their lives at that time," he predicted.

But Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg bank, said a shorter week would mainly hurt small and medium-sized companies who could struggle to meet production targets.

"If it would be replicated throughout the economy, it could do serious damage," he said, in a nod to IG Metall's track record of paving the way for major changes to the work environment.

IG Metall, which represents the powerful car and machine manufacturing sectors so crucial to Germany's economic success, led the campaign for a 35-hour week in the 1990s.

But this time, it is pushing for a radical rethink on part-time work.

"The time has come for workers to demand more self-determination to adapt working hours to their personal situation," Hofmann told reporters in October.

He said the trend for more flexible working hours in recent years had mainly benefitted bosses who got staff to work longer days.

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3 day work week sounds good to me
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I don't know how people who work 40 hrs., 5 days a week maintain their sanity.
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Volkswagen_Bros posted...

I don't know how people who work 40 hrs., 5 days a week maintain their sanity.

Well, at my work I can post a reply to you. Maybe that helps?
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inb4 some idiot calls them entitled or some shit even though his own life would be improved by such a movement
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Volkswagen_Bros posted...

I don't know how people who work 40 hrs., 5 days a week maintain their sanity.

Techincally I work 37.5 hrs a week because I get 30 mins paid break. I could even switch to 4 days a week if I wanted but meh not work being at work longer imo.
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I'd work 40 in 3 if I could. Its called ambition. Get some.

Its not hard. Don't be a fucking slob, and go to work.
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Volkswagen_Bros posted...

I don't know how people who work 40 hrs., 5 days a week maintain their sanity.

That's really pretty easy. It's the people who work 60+ a week who I don't get. I mean, I get the hustle for $$$ and all that, but what's the god damn point if there's never time to spend and enjoy all that money?
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Volkswagen_Bros posted...

I don't know how people who work 40 hrs., 5 days a week maintain their sanity.

My job is pretty easy. I listen to music/podcasts all day while I work.
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Germans lead the world in work life balance. According to the OECD, Germans work the least amount of hours in the world among other first world countries.

Volkswagen_Bros posted...

I don't know how people who work 40 hrs., 5 days a week maintain their sanity.

It's not as bad as it sounds. All depends on the job.

I can shitpost for several hours a day and still hit my sales quota without taking any work home.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_average_annual_labor_hours_in_OECD_countries

Tupacrulez posted...

I'd work 40 in 3 if I could. Its called ambition. Get some.

Its not hard. Don't be a fucking slob, and go to work.

That's fine and all, but it also depends on the place you work. If a business doesn't treat you well, that'll kill your motivation.
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Tupacrulez posted...

I'd work 40 in 3 if I could. Its called ambition. Get some.

Its not hard. Don't be a fucking slob, and go to work.

in order to actually grasp these issues, you have to think beyond the individual level. worker exploitation is a societal issue, not an individual one
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40 hours is obviously too much.
but at same time everyone on welfare is bad too.

you need movement, excercise, and some work. but not to the point of exhaustian and where you are falling alseep at work. (lots of people are very tired).
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a productive 28 hours vs 40 hours of slacking off, hmm...
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The thing is, if you actually enjoy your job (which is a rarity), 40 hours is a breeze. If you find yourself loathing your job and every single shift is a struggle, 40 hours a week seems like the worst punishment you've put yourself in.

I'm mostly referring to those that work in retail or the fast-food industry.

One of the hardest part of waking up is coming to the realization that I'm gonna be there for 8 hrs.. It really kills your motivation.
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Nice. US steel industry about to make a comeback!
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AmonAmarth posted...

40 hours is obviously too much.
but at same time everyone on welfare is bad too.

you need movement, excercise, and some work. but not to the point of exhaustian and where you are falling alseep at work. (lots of people are very tired).

I dunno I work 37.5 hours a week at my job and 10 at my part time job. I have a toddler and I seem to have enough time to make dinner every night and spend time with my family. Sure I'm tired but that has more to do with the 2 year old that jumps into our bed and kicks me in the face at 4am
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voldothegr8 posted...

Volkswagen_Bros posted...

I don't know how people who work 40 hrs., 5 days a week maintain their sanity.

That's really pretty easy. It's the people who work 60+ a week who I don't get. I mean, I get the hustle for $$$ and all that, but what's the god damn point if there's never time to spend and enjoy all that money?

They want power and status
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Metro2 posted...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_average_annual_labor_hours_in_OECD_countries

So basically Germans are already the laziest assholes on earth.
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Ciaociaociao posted...

voldothegr8 posted...

Volkswagen_Bros posted...

I don't know how people who work 40 hrs., 5 days a week maintain their sanity.

That's really pretty easy. It's the people who work 60+ a week who I don't get. I mean, I get the hustle for $$$ and all that, but what's the god damn point if there's never time to spend and enjoy all that money?

They want power and status

I do it to pay off my bills. I really don't want to work 60-70 hours a week, but I have no choice if I want to live comfortably. I do refuse OT on my days though
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And here I thought the French were lazy. But Germany is all like "Hold my beer"
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Yes Germans, keep making labor more expensive. That'll help your economy.

https://global.handelsblatt.com/politics/germans-fear-huge-loss-of-jobs-from-us-tax-reform-865577?bfa9

Germans fear huge loss of jobs from US tax reform
German investment in the US is expected to rise by 39 billion because of lower US corporate taxes.

While Americans are anxiously awaiting full details of the tax bill now being finalized in Congress, German economists are warning that the changes sought by President Donald Trump mean that significant amounts of new investment and jobs will shift from Europe to the United States.

Their economy is starting to crumble, their migrant rape crisis is out of control, and their solution to everything is... work less. Awesome logic.
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Ive worked 12s and 60-80 hour weeks in the chem plants, and i currently work 50s at a desk job, its not bad
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Tropicalwood posted...

Metro2 posted...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_average_annual_labor_hours_in_OECD_countries

So basically Germans are already the laziest assholes on earth.

chaos knight posted...

And here I thought the French were lazy. But Germany is all like "Hold my beer"

Yes this is why Germans are famous for their work ethic and craftsmanship *rolleyes*

r4X0r posted...

Their economy is starting to crumble, their migrant rape crisis is out of control, and their solution to everything is... work less. Awesome logic.

Yes we know you're a white supremacist nutjob, thank you.
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Tropicalwood posted...

Metro2 posted...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_average_annual_labor_hours_in_OECD_countries

So basically Germans are already the laziest assholes on earth.

you know 50-100 years ago Germans were called the hardest workers.
looks like its the opposite now.
in fact Germans are the opposite on everything they used to be o.o
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Well, all I know is that the American economy is about to do laps around the rest of the world. I wasn't the biggest fan of Trump's tax cuts, but it is going to give a massive jolt to our GDP for at least a few years. While Europe continues to cut its work week more and more.
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cool
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AmonAmarth posted...

Tropicalwood posted...

Metro2 posted...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_average_annual_labor_hours_in_OECD_countries

So basically Germans are already the laziest assholes on earth.

you know 50-100 years ago Germans were called the hardest workers.
looks like its the opposite now.
in fact Germans are the opposite on everything they used to be o.o

Working less, more productively, does not make one lazy.

And yes, we know you long for the days of Nazi Germany
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RebelElite791 posted...

Yes we know you're a white supremacist nutjob, thank you.

WTF does "white supremacy" have to do with the problems plaguing Germany?
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7-hour days, 4 days a week?
I don't quite understand the math.

One day people will realize working less hours is what the entire human race should strive for. Germany is years ahead of the US on basically everything as far as standard of living goes so it's kinda weird seeing you guys calling them lazy.
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Link HT posted...

One day people will realize working less hours is what the entire human race should strive for. Germany is years ahead of the US on basically everything as far as standard of living goes so it's kinda weird seeing you guys calling them lazy.

CE has a massive hate-boner for Germany in general.
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16-BITTER posted...

Tropicalwood posted...

Metro2 posted...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_average_annual_labor_hours_in_OECD_countries

So basically Germans are already the laziest assholes on earth.

Damn, and Mexicans work hard as fuck. I figured as much after working there with them for a week, but even I wouldn't have guessed they were at the top of this list.

I was honestly surprised about Japan's, because I always knew Japan was a very cutthroat country (at least for office jobs,) but I never would've thought they'd be lower than the US or Czech.
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r4X0r posted...

RebelElite791 posted...

Yes we know you're a white supremacist nutjob, thank you.

WTF does "white supremacy" have to do with the problems plaguing Germany?

That's just Rebel's way. He sees anyone to the right of Bernie Sanders as a white supremacist or Nazi.
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16-BITTER posted...

Tropicalwood posted...

Metro2 posted...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_average_annual_labor_hours_in_OECD_countries

So basically Germans are already the laziest assholes on earth.

Damn, and Mexicans work hard as fuck. I figured as much after working there with them for a week, but even I wouldn't have guessed they were at the top of this list.

That only showed how many hours people worked... not how productive they are. Hell Greece and Ireland have higher numbers than the US and look how they're doing. Quantity does not necessarily mean quality.
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DifferentialEquation posted...

r4X0r posted...

RebelElite791 posted...

Yes we know you're a white supremacist nutjob, thank you.

WTF does "white supremacy" have to do with the problems plaguing Germany?

That's just Rebel's way. He sees anyone to the right of Bernie Sanders as a white supremacist or Nazi.

No, just people like r4x who constantly spout their rhetoric and complain about a non-existent refugee rape crisis when they've never even been to Europe.
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It's kind of strange to me to see people against this. You're telling me, you wouldn't want to work less for the same pay? It would almost assuredly be more productive. Weren't there studies that proved like a 30 hour work week was the most effective? Strange to see people against this.
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NightMarishPie posted...

It's kind of strange to me to see people against this. You're telling me, you wouldn't want to work less for the same pay? It would almost assuredly be more productive. Weren't there studies that proved like a 30 hour work week was the most effective? Strange to see people against this.

Half of CE jerks off to this stupid commercial on a daily basis:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNzXze5Yza8
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DifferentialEquation posted...

r4X0r posted...

RebelElite791 posted...

Yes we know you're a white supremacist nutjob, thank you.

WTF does "white supremacy" have to do with the problems plaguing Germany?

That's just Rebel's way. He sees anyone to the right of Bernie Sanders as a white supremacist or Nazi.

hahaha yup he sure does.

He's a nut.
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RebelElite791 posted...

DifferentialEquation posted...

r4X0r posted...

RebelElite791 posted...

Yes we know you're a white supremacist nutjob, thank you.

WTF does "white supremacy" have to do with the problems plaguing Germany?

That's just Rebel's way. He sees anyone to the right of Bernie Sanders as a white supremacist or Nazi.

No, just people like r4x who constantly spout their rhetoric and complain about a non-existent refugee rape crisis when they've never even been to Europe.

Actually he spent a fair bit of time in Germany.
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NightMarishPie posted...

You're telling me, you wouldn't want to work less for the same pay?

Are factory workers actually salaried in Germany?

Volkswagen_Bros posted...

I don't know how people who work 40 hrs., 5 days a week maintain their sanity.

Because we are not lazy people with no ambitions.
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NES4EVER posted...

RebelElite791 posted...

DifferentialEquation posted...

r4X0r posted...

RebelElite791 posted...

Yes we know you're a white supremacist nutjob, thank you.

WTF does "white supremacy" have to do with the problems plaguing Germany?

That's just Rebel's way. He sees anyone to the right of Bernie Sanders as a white supremacist or Nazi.

No, just people like r4x who constantly spout their rhetoric and complain about a non-existent refugee rape crisis when they've never even been to Europe.

Actually he spent a fair bit of time in Germany.

I'm sure he did.
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HypnoCoosh posted...

DifferentialEquation posted...

r4X0r posted...

RebelElite791 posted...

Yes we know you're a white supremacist nutjob, thank you.

WTF does "white supremacy" have to do with the problems plaguing Germany?

That's just Rebel's way. He sees anyone to the right of Bernie Sanders as a white supremacist or Nazi.

hahaha yup he sure does.

He's a nut.

bernie sanders is barely left of center
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NightMarishPie posted...

It's kind of strange to me to see people against this. You're telling me, you wouldn't want to work less for the same pay? It would almost assuredly be more productive. Weren't there studies that proved like a 30 hour work week was the most effective? Strange to see people against this.

At some point, you have to start empathizing for business owners though. Proposals like this would just kill their bottom line, there is no way that productivity would increase enough to justify cutting that many hours out of the average work week.
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RebelElite791 posted...

AmonAmarth posted...

Tropicalwood posted...

Metro2 posted...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_average_annual_labor_hours_in_OECD_countries

So basically Germans are already the laziest assholes on earth.

you know 50-100 years ago Germans were called the hardest workers.
looks like its the opposite now.
in fact Germans are the opposite on everything they used to be o.o

Working less, more productively, does not make one lazy.

And yes, we know you long for the days of Nazi Germany

it seems you are the one promoting master germanic race, not me.
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Good for them. A shorter, more concise and efficient work week benefits everybody.

America has it so fucking backwards it's insane. My girlfriend and I are lucky, we both work 30 hour work weeks which is basically unheard of around here -_-
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