Unions oppose directive holes
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• A trade union delegation met European transport ministers last month to voice its opposition to the implementation of the Working Time Directive.
The European Transport Workers Federation, including representatives from the United Road Transport Union (URT1.1) and Transport and General Workers Union (UM, told the ministers that it opposed the three-year exemption for owner-drivers.
Douglas Curtis from URTU says: "The primary issue concerning us was the introduction of the Working Time Directive to the road transport industry and the proposal that self-employed drivers are not exposed to it for two to three years. We think this will just create a serious incentive for firms to sack their existing drivers and make them self-employed."
However. Curtis concedes that very little can be done to alter the European Commission's proposals. which have been endorsed by the European Council of Transport Ministers, particularly as the UK government has taken an active role in ensuring the directive does not apply to the self-employed.
Other issues discussed included changes to drivers' hours regulations and the changes in the driver training rules.