Care Revolution Dortmund with stand at the DGB Family Day on 1 May 23 in Westfalenpark

"What would you do with the free time you have gained if working hours were reduced to 30 hours a week?" and "What questions would you like to put on the agenda if you were drawn by lot to become a member of a citizens' council?" We collected answers to these questions from people who came to our stand. For the first time, we had a stand at the DGB Family Day on 1 May, which traditionally attracts several thousand people to the festival meadow in Dortmund's Westfalenpark. People celebrated, ate and discussed at around 50 stands.

At our stand, we concentrated on two topics that have been the focus of our work recently: the reduction of working hours and the establishment of a citizens' council in Dortmund. Texts on each of the two topics were displayed on four boards. It was nice to see that people kept stopping, reading the information carefully and talking to us.

I would like to briefly report on two conversations. A middle-aged woman spontaneously replied to the question of what she would do with any free time she gained: "I would relax." As a result, she would go to work more relaxed than she does now, which would mean that she would get more done and would be sick less often - and at the end of the year, the number of hours worked or the work performed would be almost the same despite the reduction in weekly working hours. She would have been much better off herself and would have been able to provide more for others as well as herself. The question remains: if the reduction in working hours is so sensible, why hasn't it been practised for a long time? Oskar Negt wrote about this in his 2001 book Arbeit und menschliche Würde (Labour and Human Dignity ): "The time pressure that is maintained in an operational manner is (...) perhaps one of the strongest means of keeping outdated power relations functional. Those who are constantly pressed for time will find it difficult to think for themselves and come to their senses..." (S.437)

"I actually like the idea of forming a citizens' council with members drawn by lot. I just wonder about the expertise of such a citizens' council," said one man, for whom his retirement began on 1 May. Question: What about the expertise of elected politicians who spend much, if not most, of their time trying to win or defend a particular post and who are also responsible for several issues at the same time, often without any personal experience? In contrast, a citizens' council drawn by lot would be more representative of the interests and experiences of the population - not just those with German citizenship. Supported by academics, the members could familiarise themselves with a topic without career considerations and work together to develop a proposed solution to a problem without the pressure of a political group.

We were unable to realise our original plan to stage a citizens' assembly - the necessary peace and quiet and time were not available during the festival. However, we did ask which topics were considered very important, important or not so important to be discussed in a citizens' assembly. Everyone was able to choose a topic on a lottery wheel. Most frequently categorised as very important: "The hot months of the year are increasing. Roads and house walls ensure that the heat cannot escape in the summer months. The heat can be (life) threatening for sick, elderly and old people and for children. What needs to be done to reduce heat build-up? To avoid so-called concrete jungles?" The issues of affordable housing and a pedestrian-, cyclist-, wheelchair- and child-friendly city came next.

While we were able to set up our stand quietly in the morning, the dismantling was hectic. A downpour in the late afternoon brought the festival to an abrupt end. Everyone packed their things and fled from the rain - unsuccessfully in our case. There was no time for a friendly farewell to the people at the neighbouring Jusos and DIDF stands. At least we were able to re-establish contact with the city's equal opportunities office. They should also have an interest in reducing working hours and in a citizens' council.

All in all, it was a nice international festival attended by a particularly large number of migrants and a good opportunity to talk to some of them.