Work Week Quotes
This was a description of the famous Lawrence, MA, textile mill strike.
These work hours, 6 days a week were typical for Russian workers of the time. The Russian workers were ripe for any revolution or reform that promised a better life.
At the time many people worked 60 hours a week and those on piece work to make ends meet worked much longer.
She had a concept and a plan whereby people in their late teens and trenties would work very hard--long days rather than shorten the work day. But thereafter, if they wished, they would recieve a basic living and would not have to work thereafter. For much work sustained concentration over long hours is not only necessary but is preferred by many of the workers--scientists, scholars, entrapraneurs, computer programmers, are just a few. This is what many very successful people have been choosing--they just change careers. Some ironically dpend as many hours at the second and third career as the first.
Remark made during the Cuban missile crisis.
The French solution to their high unemployment problem was to mandate a 35 hour workweek and ban overtime. The effect on business was to dramatically increase the percentage that the employer has to pay for fringe benefits. This raised the cost of labor and along with the French tradition of not working very hard. The economy weakened and the unemployment rate was still very high.
Shabbat is the Hebrew word for the Sabbath. In Israel there is conflict between ultra-orthodox Jews on the one side and secular Jews, Christians and Arabs on the other regarding store openings and closings on Saturday—the Jewish Sabbath. The orthodox want the power of the state to force stores to close on the Sabbath. The others want the freedom of the individual to either close or open a store, to shop or not to shop, to keep Friday as the Sabbath as the Muslims do, Saturday as the Jews and a few Christian sects do, or Sunday as most Christians do. This used to be a major issue in the United States. Local communities all had what were called “Blue Laws” that controlled the Sabbath. The courts however found these unconstitutional and these issues have disappeared as political issues in America.
This argument and variations have been and are used to oppose virtually all increases in minimum wage scales, safety requirements, overtime requirements, and other labor reforms.
The U. S. Senate had deteriorated to the point where Senators were only working 3 days per week—Tuesday through Thursday. The Senators would spend the other 4 days in their home states—usually raising money for the next election where millions of dollars will be needed.
