LABOUR MEPS FOILED IN ATTEMPT TO END OPT-OUT
April 28, 2009 12:00 AM
Attempts by Labour MEPs to limit the hours that North East employees such as firefighters, care workers and green sector workers could work each week failed late last night when it was announced that Britain would retain its opt out from key provisions of the EU's Working Time Directive.
Negotiations between a European Parliament delegation and a delegation representing European Governments collapsed last night. This means that proposed changes to the Working Time Directive that could have threatened Britain's opt-out from the 48 hour working week will not go ahead.
North East Euro-MP Fiona Hall said: "Labour has been completely divided on this. Labour MEPs lead by Stephen Hughes clashed with the Labour government. Ministers wanted to keep the opt out and Labour MEPs wanted to force Britain to fall into line.
"I opposed ending the opt out because it would have seriously affected the accepted work patterns of employees in a number of sectors, including care workers, retained firefighters and workers in the North East's new green energy industries.
"At a time when hard-working people are struggling to keep their headsabove water, it would not have been fair to have stopped people working more than 48 hours a week if they wanted to."
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats