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EU votes to ban Britons (and others) from working overtime
 Or, as the shameless Beeb puts it: "Euro-MPs back tighter work hours"A rule which allows workers to choose to put in more than 48 hours a week may end after MEPs voted to scrap it. They voted to phase out the right to opt out of the Working Time Directive over three years. Unions said the decision was a victory for UK employees, but business groups said competitiveness would suffer. But, they don't seem to have a word for 'competitiveness' in EUtopia anymore. The UK government hopes to block it from becoming law. To do that, it would need to recruit other countries' support to retain the clause under qualified majority voting. That's right: if we Brits want to work overtime in future, we'll have to ask Brussels' permission and prove we're not the only ones. Under the current system - used more in the UK than elsewhere - individuals can opt out if they want to work longer hours. The issue was about "freedom of choice", said the Director-General of the CBI, Sir Digby Jones. "People who just do five hours a week overtime and use the money for a holiday. All I want to know is who's going to pay them for the money they lose." He added: "The European Parliament has learned nothing about the challenge of globalisation. "Presumably these are the same MEPs who will be complaining about employers relocating to China and India in the years to come." Don't worry, Digby, word is that next month the EU's going to outlaw 'reality'. The retention of the opt-out had also been supported by hospitals in Germany, France and Spain and small business groups across the EU. But the vote saw Labour MEPs oppose the UK government line and side with many Socialists, Communists and Greens in backing the changes. [snip: more insanity] This may seem weird, mad even - but we mustn't forget that those of us who aren't in favour of giving ever more power to the EU are encouraging another holocaust. No shit. Posted by: Bulldog 2005-05-11 |
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