The break in the negotiations concerning the working time directive (see our article n° 061112) was carefully welcomed in Great Britain, where proponents and opponents are now waiting for the events' evolution. No anti-European or anti-French monologues, no catastrophism, no victory cries or triumphalism: managerial and union teams only reasserted their positions. In Poland, on the other hand, attitudes towards France, Spain and Italy, who blocked the compromise, are more hostile whereas in Germany, third country to lead the pro opt-out negotiations, the media are hardly involved in the controversy. (Ref. 061119)
Moderation in Great Britain: “the question will come into debate again, and when it does, the government will have to remain calm”, John Cridland, manager of the employers confederation CBI, declared. “Those who fight to uproot the opt-out do not understand a thing to the reality of today’s working sphere. The option for individuals to derogate from the 48-hour week is a vital element to the British work market’s flexibility,” he added. As for his counterpart in the Federation of small business
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