Clear roads till the spring
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• UK operators should be free of Continental blockades for at least four months, following a decision by transport unions to discuss industrial action in the Spring.
The two major international transport unions have given the European Commission's draft Working Time Directive a cautious welcome, saying they plan to discuss the proposals later this month.
However, no decisions are expected to be taken on encouraging drivers across the EU to block roads until the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) and the FST, the umbrella organisation for EU transport unions, meet in April. But if the two groups are unhappy with the progress of translating the EC proposals into EU law, the ITF threatens further blockades.
The ITF had asked the Commission to confirmed that the proposed Working Time Directive would overrule driving hours regulations 3820/85, which, it says, allows working weeks of more than 80 hours. "The regulations are designed to work in tandem," says a spokesman.
The ITF called an international day of action on 8 September to highlight the need to cut drivers' hours. French drivers blocked ports and major roads in their country.