Introduction – Don Sutherland

In this article Laurie explains the reasons for the surge in the late 1970s in popular support for a shorter working week, starting with the demand for a 35 hour week.

He joins together the history of the demand in the union movement, the immediate developments unfolding at the time, the drive coming from workers themselves, the “political economy” of the time – impending recession, “structural adjustment” undermining Australian manufacturing, other dimensions of economic and environmental crisis, and, of course technological change – the strategic and tactical challenges that would face unions and their members.

Probably The Mercury, 18/6/80