Campaigners in the architecture profession have created a new union force that is open to everyone working in the industry – from cleaners to senior architects – and which aims to deliver fair pay and regulated working hours.

The Section of Architectural Workers (SAW) said it was setting out an agenda for change across the profession and wanted to see the enforcement of a maximum working week and for overtime to be “optional, pre-agreed and paid”. It is also planning to campaign to improve the social and environmental impact of architecture.

Supporters of the drive include former RIBA presidential candidate Elsie Owusu, Kate Mackintosh, Cullinan Studio partner Robin Nicholson, Collective Architecture director Chris Stewart, and Bartlett School of Architecture academics Thandi Loewenson, Jane Rendell and David Roberts.

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