There is no natural law determining the amount of time we spend in work. The weekend and the eight-hour day were won by trade unions - and today, arguments for shortening the working week are growing stronger.

Automation and prospects for a rebooted Green New Deal have injected the debate with a new urgency.

Automation could and should bring gains for workers, eliminating work that can be experienced as dull and repetitive, as well as increasing productivity. A well-planned transition would see all workers shorten their working time without reducing their material quality of life: providing more time to recuperate, participate in democratic process and fulfil caring responsibilities.

How can we transition to a shorter working week that benefits workers and the economy? What forces are coming together to make it a reality?

NEF invites you to the launch of our new programme working with unions and businesses to achieve a shorter working week in the UK.

Speakers:

• John McDonnell MP - Shadow Chancellor

• Miatta Fahnbulleh - CEO, New Economics Foundation

• Sharon Graham - Unite Executive Officer
• Ian Waddell - General Secretary of CSEU
• Amie Sparrow - Memiah Ltd, a wellbeing and health communications company trialling a 4 day week with its 30+ employees
• Angela Whitter - Branch Secretary, CWU

This will be part of a series of events on work organised by NEF in collaboration with Tribune Magazine.