Monday, 4th May 2009
Working time directive opt-out safe - for now
Conservative MEPs have seen off the latest bid of Labour and Liberal Democrat MEPs to limit the amount of overtime British workers can put in after talks aimed at finding a deal on the Working Time Directive collapsed in Brussels, Struan Stevenson, Scottish Conservative MEP, said.
A "trilogue" negotiation between the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament and the European Commission was aimed at finding a way round the impasse that developed after the parliament voted to scrap the opt-out of the 48-hour maximum working week last December.
Conservative MEPs have been at the forefront of the campaign to retain the opt-out, which they argue is about a worker's right to choose.
Labour and Liberal Democrat MEPs wanted Brussels to dictate how many hours you are allowed to work. Conservatives have fought for your freedom to choose.
The inability to find a compromise means that the Working Time Directive review will fail and the British opt-out will remain by default. But Struan has warned that Labour MEPs will undoubtedly attempt to end the opt-out again after the European Elections.
Struan said:
"Freedom of choice is what we stand for as Conservatives. The best way to ensure we retain the opt-out is to get rid of the Labour MEPs. They will try to bring it back after the election.
"Over three million people in the UK work more than 48 hours a week, and in these tough times it is more important than ever that people should have the free choice of how best to fend for their families.
“This outcome is good news not just for Scotland’s retained fire-fighters and care home workers who feared for their livelihoods: it is good news for ordinary workers throughout the area who just want to get on with their job.
'"I am alarmed that the SNP government has decided to force the working time directive and the 48 hour week on Scotland's health service from August. I believe that this will have a detrimental impact on health care in Scotland with young doctors having to spend more and more time 'on call' to meet the requirements of the directive, rather than training to be surgeons. I have received a great deal of correspondence from NHS sources claiming to be deeply concerned about this.”
A recent letter from Specialist Registrars in Grampian stated that:
“Enforcing the restrictions on our working patterns will be detrimental to patient care and safety.”
