In an interview published in the newsletter of the European Trade Union Confederation (n°5-Febuary 2005), the Euro-MP Stephen Hugues, co-chair of the European Parliament Trade Union Intergroup and a member of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee, shares his pessimism concerning the revision of the Working Time Directive. (Ref. 06201)
In his opinion, nothing will change until Tony Blair is Prime Minister and even if he is replaced by Gordon Brown, it would not make the British position more relaxed. “Gordon Brown insists the opt-out is necessary for the goof functioning of the UK labour market, but he is absolutely wrong”. (…) “Brown is going to resist until he has the reins of power, but then we may be able to sit down and talk to him and he may accept the logic of our arguments” explains the labour MP.
Irish experience. St
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