NEWS RELEASE
11 May 2005 For immediate release
STUC calls on government to think again on Working Time Directive opt- out
STUC Assistant Secretary Dave Moxham said:
"The decision to scrap the opt-out is welcome but the stated intention of the UK government to oppose it at the Council of Ministers is a disappointment.
"Long hours working is bad for health, bad for productivity, bad for family life and bad for business
"Through extending the averaging period to a year, the European Parliament has gone a long way to meeting concerns over flexibility. Workers and unions have shown ourselves more than ready to engage in workplace partnership to increase flexibility and productivity its time that government moved further to end the long hours culture in Britain"
ENDS
For further information contact Dave Moxham