ABSTRACT
Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the duration of working time, together with pay and the relationship between pay and performance, has been “contested terrain” at the heart of industrial relations. It was the struggle initially for the twelve, then for the ten and finally for the eighthour working day that gave rise to the birth and development of the European trade unions in the 19th century. The continuation of these disputes into the 20th century led during the 1960s and 70s to the establishment of the standard 40-hour working week. Even then, the subject of working time remained stubbornly in the foreground. The dispute today focuses not just on the duration of working time but also on its scheduling and distribution over time and, increasingly, its distribution within the economically active population, particularly between men and women.
