zuk Hours: Vital backing for UK
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tANSPORT Minister William Rodgers has won the agreement the President of the European Council of Transport Ministers Agian Jos Chabert that Britain should have a three-year n-in to the eight-hour driving day.
And last week, Transport workers union leader Jack Jones anted that there would be "great chaos" if the regulation — 3/69 — was implemented in full on January 1 as was planned. Mr Rodgers won the agreement on his last-minute dash to Brussels to see the Council President and was agreed by EEI Transport Commissioner Richard Burke who raised n objections to a presidential compromise.
Under the compromise arrangements, the British driving da would stay at 10 hours for the first 18 months after January going down to nine-and-a-half or nine hours for the next 1 months. It would then go down to eight hours at the end of thre years.
The Belgians had previous!: agreed with Germany that th transitional period should b 18 months. Now, the onl stumbling block for accep tance of the compromise soli, tion is France, which ha totally disagreed with th plan.
Agreement has also bee reached on the propose change from a fixed seven-da week to the EEC rolling wee of any seven days. Mr Rodget put forward the views of th British passenger transpoi industry, but he was told tlli. Britain will probably have t change within 18 months after further negotiations.
Mr Jones has warned thk EEC legislation will have to t handled very carefully if a industry is not to suffer terr bly. He said that much mot backing should be given to N Rodgers in his attempt I re-negotiate the terms.
"I know the Secretary ( State is going to do h damnedest to get a change : outlook in Europe on 543/6 particularly with the Frent Government and we have • put ourselves firmly behir him in this issue," said I\ • Jones.
Mr Jones had warned that, the eight-hour day was intr duced, then the union wou reserve the right to negotia for financial compensation and should any employer f4 to provide adequate compe sation in the view of his drive "the drivers will insist payments," said Mr Jones.
"It could well lead to a stril situation, which is why it is , essential for our friends on ti Continent to understand ti depth of feeling and the pro lems confronting ti industry," he said.