LIB DEMS ATTACK EUROPEAN COMMISSION PLANS ON WORKING TIME RULES
September 22, 2004 12:56 PM
Liberal Democrat MEPs today attacked proposals aimed
at challenging the British opt-out from the EU Working
Time Directive.
On the day that the European Commission unveiled a
plan to involve trade unions in negotiating
arrangements for employees to work more than 48 hours
a week, the Liberal Democrats toughened their approach
towards the EU by declaring it a step too far.
Liz Lynne MEP, the party's employment spokesman in the
European Parliament, said that it must be left to
individuals to decide how many hours they wished to
work.
"We want employees to have the protection of law from
being forced to work excessive hours against their
will, but it should be up to them to decide if they
want to earn extra overtime payments.
"Only 20% of workers even belong to a trade union in
Britain so it is quite wrong for the European
Commission to assume that the unions can be involved
in negotiating on behalf of everybody."
Liberal Democrats have used their party conference
this week to insist that, while content to be known as
Britain most pro-European party, they regard
themselves as constructive critics campaigning for EU
reform and improvement.
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