CWU Young Workers: Shorter Working Week

Shorter Working Week

What is the campaign for a shorter working week?

The Telecoms and Financial Services constituency is campaigning for a shorter working week – a meaningful reduction in hours each week for no loss of pay – in every workplace where members have recognition.

More and more employers are successfully implementing shorter weeks in the UK and abroad across a wide range of workplaces and there is no reason why this could not also work in jobs performed by CWU members across the sector.

The campaign brings together the extensive research, external links and the collective strength of trade union members in an effort to secure trials in recognised workplaces.

This week (9^th-13^th March) you’re being asked to show support for the campaign as a first step to pushing employers to agree to trialling a shorter working week.

We are asking you to do the following:

If possible, print the attached poster, or display it on a tablet, and take a photo of yourself holding it. If you’re unable to do so, contact your local branch to see if they will be in your vicinity during the week to help you.
Send your photo to via Whatsapp to the Comms Department on 07907 502 190, including your first name and place of work. Please note this number does not accept incoming calls.
Post your photo to your own social media channels (Facebook, X, LinkedIn) using the hashtag #ShorterWorkingWeek.

We will be sharing photos on the CWU social media platforms through the week – this will need as many people as possible to participate to be effective so please encourage your colleagues to take part too. If any of them are not in the union, ask them to join at join.cwu.org

What is the case for a shorter working week?

Over the past couple of years, general interest in the idea of a shorter working week has increased. In this country, hundreds of employers have been experimenting with reducing hours for no loss of pay with positive results, including:

Better work/life balance
Lower levels of stress
Lower staff turnover
Greater workplace productivity

The CWU’s own member survey from early 2025 also supported this; CWU members in T&FS recognised employers, voiced overwhelming support for the idea. Members expressed the desire to use their extra time for leisure activities, caring responsibilities, or just getting some breathing space in their busy lives.

Take a look at our resources for more information.

What can I do?

At this stage of the campaign there are a number of things you can do to help:

Sign up to our campaign mailing list below
Pass on information with your colleagues- make sure they know about the campaign
Share relevant content on our social media pages
Ask any non-members on your team to join the union- this will only be won through collective strength

A shorter working week will not be won immediately but only by union members showing their strength of feeling. As the campaign develops in the coming weeks there will be more that needs to be done so be sure to keep an eye out.