In the week ended 15th October, 1966 it is estimated that the total number of workers doing overtime in the manufacturing industry (excluding shipbuilding) was just short of two million, or about 33% of all the werkers in those industries. Furthermore, they worked about 8} hours overtime each on average per week. These amazing figures are given in the latest issue of the Ministry of Labour Gazette.
At a time when unemployment is increasing by leaps and bounds a total of 16,784,000 hours overtime are worked in an average week! What is more, these averages conceal even worse figures for particular industries - mostly the very poorly paid. Take "Paper and Board", for instance; in that industry 24,700 workers - 33% of the work force worked an average of 114 hours each overtime. In "Newspapers and Periodicals, Printing" no less than 47.4% of the workers were doing an average of 8 hours each overtime. In two industries the proportion of workers on overtime is over half: "Non-Electrical Engineering” (51.2%) and "Aircraft" (50.4%). No doubt, within these averages for an industry far worse figures would be revealed.
This situation is disgraceful; it is a shame to trade unionism and to the Labour Government. There have been many solemn debates as to how the working class is to spend its time when automation reduces the working week. What wry smiles there must have been on the faces of these two million workers, who, in tho main, are compelled to work these long hours to get a decent standard of living. And what is Mr. Wilson doing about this situation? Despite all the resolutions on the 40-hour week passed over the years he has placed an absolute bar to the reduction of the working week. The Unions must hit back by a big campaign for the reduction of the working week to meet growing unemployment.