UE confirms it endorses the 32-hour workweek bill
United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of AmericaLabor union, in an emailed statement from its communications director
The United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) confirmed in an emailed statement from its communications director that it endorses the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act. UE said the bill aligns with a resolution its delegates passed at their 2025 convention calling for a shorter work week with no loss in pay.
“I can confirm that we did, indeed, endorse the bill. ... The Sanders bill is in line with our resolution, "A Just Economy for All" ... which "Reaffirms ... our goal of reducing the work week" and "Calls upon the labor movement to pursue a shorter work week with no loss in pay."”
Emailed statement
Read the full email
I can confirm that we did, indeed, endorse the bill. It is common practice for us to endorse bills by responding to requests from bill sponsors without making separate public statements. The Sanders bill is in line with our resolution, "A Just Economy for All," which was passed by rank-and-file delegates at our 2025 convention, which "Reaffirms ... our goal of reducing the work week" and "Calls upon the labor movement to pursue a shorter work week with no loss in pay": https://www.ueunion.org/ue-policy/a-just-economy-for-all Let me know if you have any further questions. Jonathan
Where this statement fits
Should Congress Enact Bernie Sanders’s 32-Hour Workweek Bill?
On September 8, 2026, Rep. Mark Takano introduced H.R. 10323, the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act; Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced the Senate companion, S. 5384, on September 14. The bills would phase the federal weekly overtime threshold for covered nonexempt workers from 40 to 32 hours and add daily premium-pay thresholds; they would not set a universal cap on work hours. Supporters urge Congress to enact them as a way to share productivity gains, while opponents predict harm to jobs, benefits, and prices. The dispute is whether Congress should enact the paired proposals.
Source and context
Emailed statement
Emailed statement from UE communications director Jonathan Kissam to Dispute Index confirming endorsement of the 32-hour workweek bills
I can confirm that we did, indeed, endorse the bill. It is common practice for us to endorse bills by responding to requests from bill sponsors without making separate public statements. The Sanders bill is in line with our resolution, "A Just Economy for All," which was passed by rank-and-file delegates at our 2025 convention, which "Reaffirms ... our goal of reducing the work week" and "Calls upon the labor movement to pursue a shorter work week with no loss in pay": https://www.ueunion.org/ue-policy/a-just-economy-for-all Let me know if you have any further questions. Jonathan
About this source
Emailed reply from Jonathan Kissam, communications director of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE), to a Dispute Index question asking whether UE had a public statement on the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act after the bill's sponsors listed UE among endorsing organizations.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Dispute Index asked UE whether it had a public statement on the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act, after the bill's sponsors listed UE among organizations that endorse it.
After the quotation
Kissam said UE endorses bills of this kind by responding to sponsors' requests directly, without issuing separate public statements.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case tracks positions on whether Congress should enact the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act. UE confirmed it endorses the bill and tied that endorsement to a standing union resolution calling for a shorter work week with no loss in pay, so we labeled it Defends/Excuses alongside the bill's other supporters.
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- UE confirms it endorses the 32-hour workweek bill
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The Dispute Index. "UE confirms it endorses the 32-hour workweek bill". First published: 2026-09-29. Last updated: 2026-09-29. https://disputeindex.com/events/3251-the-united-electrical-radio-and-machine-workers-of