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...as EU stalls on hours

7th September 1995
Page 7
Page 7, 7th September 1995 — ...as EU stalls on hours
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• Political wrangling in Brussels is holding back an EC draft directive that could cut working hours to a maximum of 50 a week.

The directive is the EC's response to criticism for leaving drivers out of a working hours directive four years ago which limited general workers to 48 hours a week.

Barry Seal, Euro MP for Yorkshire West and a Transport and General Workers Union representative, is lobbying for drivers to be restricted to 50 hours a week in five 10-hour shifts. The new directive includes issues which would burden drivers with additional stress, including driver tracking devices and rest breaks, he says. Seal is meeting EU transport commissioner Neil Kinnock this week to find out exactly what is delaying the directive.

"I understand there's a disagreement in the EC," he says. "Even unions normally see directives before we do but they've seen nothing yet."

Seal, whose local TGWU branch also wants drivers' working hours cut to 50 hours in five 10-hour shifts, promises to maintain pressure on the EC.

But he warns that the UK Government could use its optout clause to stop the directive becoming law in the UK for years.

It has already derogated the general working hours directive for 10 years.


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