The death of the 8-hour workday

September 14, 2000

Today, IBM Endicott announced the death of the Monday-to-Friday, 8-hour workday for 500 Microelectronics Division manufacturing employees. After a failed attempt at instituting voluntary 12-hour workdays, the long shifts, including regular weekends, are now mandatory.

Employees will also be required to work every other weekend. There are also scheduled work days on holidays. Vacation days will now cost each employee 12 hours, rather than 8.

Many employees are upset about this new mandatory schedule.

A key area of concern is the impact on families and single parents. Finding child care for 12 hours at a time, and on weekends and holidays, is a big concern. Also at issue is the impact on family time, with employees now unable to participate in family life such as after-school activities and holiday events.

It's time now to join the Alliance and demand a union election at IBM.