Britannia Radio

This is the true face of Labour. They want a centrally controlled
state where nobody may do what they want to do and work as long as
they want, to protect and better their families. Workers and
employers agree on this; it is just the socialists and the trade
union bosses who want more power for themselves over the people and
their members. .

And the EU breaks a promise. A deal was arranged to agree - against
our wishes - to a Temorary workers directive and in return we were to
be allowed to keep our opt-out here. We delivered - The MEPs broke
their promise.

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[SEE also"They choose a recession to wreck those who employ people !
MAD!" - 23/10/08
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TELEGRAPH 5.11.08
Britain could lose 48-hour working week opt out under EU changes
British opt-out from the European Union working time directive, which
caps the working week to 48 hours, is under threat as Labour MEPs are
preparing to reject calls for the country to be exempt from the rules.

Bruno Waterfield in Brussels and James Kirkup

The move has brought accusations that Labour members are trying to
add red-tape to British companies just as the coming recession puts
business under added pressure.

In June the UK agreed with other EU members that Britain could remain
outside the European working time directive in exchange for boosting
temporary workers' rights. The opt-out allows UK workers the choice
to work more than 48 hours in a week.

The continued British opt-out must be endorsed by the European
Parliament, but Labour MEPs on the parliament's employment committee
are set to push through an amendment that would end the opt-out in
three years.

British ministers have vowed to keep the opt-out, and if MEPs vote to
end it, the issue will have to be decided by a summit of European
leaders. The final decision would be taken by a qualified-majority
vote, leaving Britain without a veto.

In September, the Labour conference in Manchester endorsed a union
motion calling for an end to the opt-out, and Labour MEPs are
responding to grassroots pressure on the issue

Gary Titley MEP, Labour leader in the European Parliament, said the
vote on Wednesday would allow the parliament to open talks on the
directive with EU heads of government. He insisted his MEPs had taken
no final decision on the opt-out.

But business leaders warned that Labour MEPs could harm the UK economy.

Peter Schofield, Director of Employment and Legal Affairs at
manufacturers' organisation EEF said: "At a time of great economic
uncertainty, the last thing we need is for MEPs to vote for something
that will create burdens for employers and could lead to people being
unable to work overtime if they want to."
"If the European Parliament does vote to scrap the opt-out it will be
vital that our Government continues to take a tough line in the
negotiations that will follow."

Liz Lynne, a Liberal Democrat MEP, said: "Scrapping the opt out would
be a bitter pill to swallow for businesses and many hard working
people who want to boost their earnings in difficult economic times.
"Gordon Brown now faces a huge test of his leadership in securing the
support of his own Labour MEPs, who have consistently voted to remove
the UK's opt out of the 48 hour week."