35-Hour Week Campaign

AEU - 'Toward a 35 hour week' Booklet, cover.png

Campaign booklets produced by manufacturing unions (1980), from the Bob Hawke Collection, RH10/31/315

Having achieved a 40-hour week in 1948, a declaration was made at the 1957 ACTU Congress that a shorter working week of 35 hours would be at the forefront of its campaign platform.

It was argued that reduced working hours lead to an increased standard of living, allowed for the spreading of available work across workers, and gave workers a share of productivity gains arising from the impact of technological change.

Labor Council of NSW - Circular to 35-hour week delegates.png

35-hour week address by the Labor Council of NSW (1973), from the Bob Hawke Collection, RH10/31/315

ACTU - Minutes of Meeting 35-hour week, 1973.png

Minutes of meeting with union members (ACTU, 1973), from the Bob Hawke Collection, RH10/31/315

Metal trades industry union bulletin on the 35-hour week campaign (1980), from the Bob Hawke Collection, RH10/19/219

Campaign bulletin produced for metal trades workers (1980), from the Bob Hawke Collection, RH10/19/219

Union newsletter on the 35-hour week (1980), from the Bob Hawke Collection, RH10/19/219

The 1979, ACTU Congress authorised a coordinated campaign for a shorter working week and, when the Metal Trades Industry campaign faltered in 1980, the ACTU took up the fight.

While some industries including stevedoring, oil, and power, were successful in achieving a shorter standard working week, the campaign for a standard 35-hour week for all Australian workers did not succeed.

ACTU - Press Statement re Shorter Working Week.png

Press statement by Hawke regarding the 35-hour week (ACTU, 1980), from the Bob Hawke Collection, RH10/19/219

Letter from Rex Mun, Waterside Worker's Federation 1980 WWF re 35 hour week .png

Letter from the Waterside Worker's Federation to Hawke regarding the 35-hour week resolution (1980), from the Bob Hawke Collection, RH10/19/219

ACTU - Background Information, National Wage Case.png

ACTU background information bundle on the National Wage Case, from the Bob Hawke Collection, RH10/19/219

Letter from Rex Mun, Waterside Worker's Federation 1980 WWF re 35 hour week - p. 2.png

Notice of 35-hour week resolution attached to letter, from the Bob Hawke Collection, RH10/19/219

'Shorter hours, more jobs' campaign stickers.png

Sample of campaign stickers, from the Bob Hawke Collection, RH10/19/219

As recently as 2003, the ACTU Congress released a policy confirming a commitment to continue to bargain and campaign for reductions in the standard working week to 35 hours in appropriate industries.

Explore more

35 hours and wage justice - Tribune (1980, June 4)
35 hours, new fight looms - Tribune (1981, March 25)
A shorter working week: lessons from recent history - Green Left (1998, May 20)
Miners to strike in claim for 35-hour week - The Canberra Times (1970, April 13)
Workers speak on 35 hours - Tribune (1980, September 17)

➥ For information on the library's collection, visit the Bob Hawke Guide or explore the Bob Hawke Collection.