Progressive staffers withdraw request for shorter work week

The Congressional Progressive Staff Association (CPSA) announced their official withdrawal of a letter requesting a rotating 32-hour work week in a Friday statement.

The initial letter, addressed to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), argued that a reduction in working hours would improve the work done on the Hill.

“The letter failed to make two things clear: First, that progressive congressional staff are dedicated to serving the American people no matter how many hours it takes to get the job done,” CPSA wrote in the statement.

“Second, that there are well-known, longstanding workplace issues that deserve Congress’s immediate attention if it wishes to effectively serve the people,” they added.

The staffers said a 32-hour workweek would not address their problems after Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and other lawmakers criticized the effort.

Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), in a post on social platform X, slammed the request, writing, “I wonder how blue-collar Americans would feel about white-collar workers demanding a 32-hour workweek."

“We are ready to continue the urgent task of serving our bosses’ constituents and advancing the causes that put working-class people first,” staffers wrote in their Friday update.

“CPSA is looking forward to continuing to support staff in their efforts to address these critical workplace issues.”

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