Labour MEPs Defy Blair on Working Hours Opt-Out

[fedsron2us]

Tony Blair’s Labour MEPs revolted over working hours today – setting the scene for a bitter wrangle over who runs Britain’s social policy.

The 19 Labour members of the European Parliament joined a multinational majority in Strasbourg demanding the scrapping of the British opt-out from the 48-hour working week.

<snip>

The Labour split across the Channel left Conservative and Liberal Democrat MEPs effectively standing up for Mr Blair in support of allowing individuals to choose how long they work and not be governed by the European Union’s Working Time Directive.

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4540796

Nice to see that at least some Labour politicians remember why their party was created.

[salib]

1. Why would the lib dems support the opt out?

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. They don't think in terms of employers coercing their workers

Like Blair's government and the Conservatives, they have a naive view that a working environment is fair, and that employers wouldn't favour employees who agree to do the extra work and punish those who don't. If you took that view, you'd say it would be a personal right to work more than 48 hours if you wanted. It's those with a trade union background who are more used to the realities of workplace relations.

[ben_packard]

2. 3 and counting... damn newsnight lol NT

[sweetheart]

4. I just love this quote from Alejandro Cercas:

( the Spanish Socialist MEP who led the parliament's review of the working time legislation) “We have today started a long march in favour of our social Europe. Our European citizens want sensible and reasonable working hours and they don't want social dumping in any part of the EU.”

Tony blair & british right wing, meet europe... europe, meet "wankers inc."