100 years of the 5-day week: What trade unionists can learn today

This year, the 5-day week officially turns 100. But, asks Phil Lindsey, head of organising for the 4 Day Week Foundation how did it come about, and what can it teach us about campaigning for a 4-day week today?

On May 1, 1926, Henry Ford became the first major employer to announce a 5-day, 40-hour work week in his factories, down from the standard 6-day, 48-hour week. Ford didn’t do this out of kindness. It was a pragmatic business decision to boost staff retention and productivity (and to sell more cars to his workers, if you believe the man himself).

He was also acutely aware that more time off was a core demand from organised workers. Or, to put it another way: implementing a 5-day week was a strategic move to fend off worker unrest.

While Ford was the first to shorten the working week, it took decades for the practice to be widely adopted. Look no further than the other major centenary in 2026 - the UK’s General Strike over wage reductions and increased hours for miners - to see that the fight for free time was far from over.

In fact, it wasn't until 1946 that the National Union of Mineworkers finally won a 5-day week. What changed over those 20 years was a shift in conditions. In time, the mining industry faced the same productivity, recruitment, and retention challenges that Ford had faced. Crucially, in both cases, technological advancements had already made some improvements to productivity, greasing the wheels for a reduction in working time.

The lesson for trade unionists is clear: winning a shorter working week can take time, determination, and a change in conditions. We must ensure the call for a 4-day week is deeply felt across union memberships now, so the demand is there when the time is right.

There are two caveats to this. One, the stronger our collective voice, the less we rely on conditions being favourable, and, two, in many sectors, conditions are already where they need to be. All that’s needed is a concentrated strength of feeling among union members.

PCS members have already made fantastic progress, both in individual department campaigns, and by successfully pressuring the Scottish Government to pilot a 4-day week in the public sector.

With shorter working week campaigns kicking off across the Trade Union movement, it’s only a matter of time before we change the standard working week once again.

If you want to help spread the word, visit our website for resources. We are here to support organised workers in building campaigns for a shorter working week, so please get in touch at [email protected]