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It's all a matter of timing
Page 9
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In last month's column I said I couldn't wait to see the back of the General Election, and for boring normality to return. I did, however, go to bed on the morning of 6 May with an uneasy feeling that not all was right with the world. My fears proved correct. Less than a week after Blair's third victory, we were being told by Brussels that the UK's opt-out clause in the VVTD was likely to be revoked. VVhat timing! Democratic Old Europe flexing its muscles again. Did the European Parliament wait for 5 May? Did Blair & Co know this was on the agenda? Was it all conveniently swept under the carpet until the new cleaners arrived in May? We may never know.
One thing is certain though: it is a bombshell of sizeable proportions. A rigidly applied set of rules applied to our nonmobile workforce will undoubtedly drive up costs, and possibly cause the demise of the medium-sized manufacturing companies we all rely on for work. Worse still for the consumers, it will stifle the competitive element that breeds first-class service at reasonable cost. We will quite simply become a clone of the worst aspects of Europe How on earth are we in road transport going to cope with a rigid regime of clock-watching? It's utterly impossible. Warehouse, traffic and fitters alike, they all need working flexibility to keep essential deliveries flowing. Industry has already spent countless hours discussing this subject, negotiating and cajoling workforces to adopt and adapt If the UK is going to be a special case, then so be it. It is our choice. We don't need to be protected from "rogue" employers.
The VVTD, rigidly applied, fundamentally eats away at the roots of business. Stopping people working, and taking away their ability to contribute to their own well-being, has a most undermining effect on society.
In fact the only benefit I can see from the EU's efforts is that it will show the rest of the country quite what idiotic rules we in the road haulage industry have to put up with.
"Did Blair & Co know this was on the agenda? Was i swept under the carpet u the new cleaners arrived?'