reducing working hours

(A paper from the attac working group for FairShare Labour, february 5th 2009,  to clarify understanding and enable orientation[1]This concerns a text from the Attac working group “FairShare Labour”. The working group members responsible are Herbert Behrens, Annegret Gestrich, Peter Grottian, Helmut Horst, Stephan Krull, Mohssen Massarrat,  Heidrun Rudolph, Werner Schmiedecke, Margareta Steinrücke and Fritz Tiemann.)

The true face of neoliberal capitalism is now coming to light. The financial crisis has developed into a global economic crisis. Shrinking of the aggregate output, sinking demand, reduction in excess capacities and the destruction of jobs the world over - probably over 700,000 in Germany alone - growing anxiety in people even with “safe” jobs, increasing poverty and insecurity. This is the result of three decades of “neoliberal” policies in extensive parts of the world. Now is the time to take action.