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Germany: towards 32 hour week - "It represents a fairer distribution of the wealth created by productivity gains in the industry created by the workers" (www.industriall-union.org)

submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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"For far too long, the lion's share of the benefits from our increased efficiency has gone to the top, sidelining those who are at the very heart of this production. It's time to level the playing field, ensuring that our workers directly benefit from these advancements by offering them improved working conditions and an enhanced quality of life."

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

I believe the size of trucks and the load has increased over time = efficiency improved. Granted my reasoning doesn't work for every field but I am always slightly annoyed when someone comes with an example were it doesn't work as an excuse to shot down less working hours for everybody.

But your example is good in another way. In a not too distant future truck drivers might be replaced by self-driving trucks with probably a long time in between with assisted driving that still needs human oversight by a driver. I know the first thought is "but jobs" but that's progress and change that has always been there. I don't know about the US but in Europe the workforce is shrinking and we could use skilled and able people almost everywhere.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

We're a long way away from automated trucks. Additionally the amount hauled hasn't changed in some 80 years.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

I don't think that's really true. Follow-the-leader tech is really promising. Lots of tests on open roads. Like this one.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

There are predictions we're going to see level 4 self driving vehicles this decade. But yes you're right about the amount hauled.

But I've been thinking. The issue seems to be truckers are paid by the miles driven and try to squeeze in as much as legally possible. The obvious solution would be to change this.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

The current issue in trucking has come about from constant connectivity. It used to be that drivers picked up a load then some time later delivered it. Now it's tracked every second and if you're late you get fined because they expect that load to get there in the exact amount of time they calculate that it's possible. I'm outside of that kind of trucking but can absolutely understand the issues.

It's called JIT (just in time).