As some may have heard on the radio, Brussels has voted in favour of ending Britains opt out clause of the WTD.
If this means that workplace agreements for exceeding 10hrs on nights are nullified and PoAs are no longer allowed, will it finally bring about the decent wagerise we were all expecting until the RHA/FTA’s underhandedness had been revealed?
Oh and that ranting trucker on Jeremy Vine today was spot on. A few more of us should phone in like that.
Conor:
As some may have heard on the radio, Brussels has voted in favour of ending Britains opt out clause of the WTD.If this means that workplace agreements for exceeding 10hrs on nights are nullified and PoAs are no longer allowed, will it finally bring about the decent wagerise we were all expecting until the RHA/FTA’s underhandedness had been revealed?
Oh and that ranting trucker on Jeremy Vine today was spot on. A few more of us should phone in like that.
Yes! Saw it on the news.
I think it is safe to say that we are in the hands of maniacs!!!
Vine: Whats that noise, is someone reversing towards you?
Nearly p’d myself laughing!
What the French guy did not say was that their truck industry does not take any notice of it unless they want to.
Rest of europe ignore it and we implement it.
Bit like being banned on sunday’s in france so they come over here on a saturday night.
They charge for road use and use our’s for free.
We get fined over there for minor indescretions(or what they feel like at the time)here they get away scot free.
level playing field or what?
i wonder if the big companies pressure has paid off 
from what i gather this the the working time regulation that applies to all employment this is not the working time directive we have just been introduced to. up until now most employers/employees have signed out or opted out of this but they are trying to get this clause removed so you cant opt out. (though it will be three years!)
This is why on all the job centre website ads you used to see “this posisition is covered/not covered by the working time regulations”
so at the moment as far as i can see its buisness as usuall for us. 
oh and by the way President blair wants to fight the ruling limiting them all to 48 hrs becasue “its not good for livelihoods and the economy” REALLY!
I,m all for it the sooner i only have to do 48 hours INCLUDING breaks and POA the better, bring it as soon as possible. yeehhaah
I’m Sorry but is that Britain 
Or si it now a dependancy of Germany and France, who seem to rule over it
It’s time your soft government told those ■■■■■■■■ to shove off and made it’s own rules 
Who won WW2 anyway Not Germany thats for sure, and no wonder France didn’t help us liberate Iraq, they didn’t even help us liberate France 
But here’s the best bit… When the WTD was brought for the transport industry, the government said “You’ll have to accept it, end of story”, Now Europe is forcing it on all workers, they have changed their tune, and apparently are not so keen on the idea.
It seems all this government wants to do is kick us drivers and the transport industry in the teeth. If there is going to be a 48 hour working week, then the rules should apply to everybody across the board, regardless, no opt-outs, no special deals, end of story. If not then its discrimination against a particular sector and it should be thrown out lock stock and barrel.
jammymutt:
I,m all for it the sooner i only have to do 48 hours INCLUDING breaks and POA the better, bring it as soon as possible. yeehhaah
Got to agree with jammy on this one sorry boys 
simon
I have said somewhere else on here that the WTD should come with legislation to allow the INDIVIDUAL the choice to opt in or out by written notification to the employer, and the employer shuld be also duty bound to accept the choice of the individual, that way everyone has what we are supposed to have in a democracy…CHOICES!
Just to set a few facts straight here…
CM:
I have said somewhere else on here that the WTD should come with legislation to allow the INDIVIDUAL the choice to opt in or out by written notification to the employer, and the employer shuld be also duty bound to accept the choice of the individual, that way everyone has what we are supposed to have in a democracy…CHOICES!
At the moment, that is exactly what can happen for non-mobile workers. Even for us, a workplace agreement to ignore the 10-hr night rule can be made with just one person…it doesn’t have to include everyone if some people wish to stay within the limitation.
Lucy…the workplace agreement does rely on a majority or all individuals agreeing to the opt out to be enforcable, what I advocate is individual choice that gives each person the real choice to either be patr of the WTD or to ignore it. The individual should also have the right to opt in at any time if they find that unscrupulous employers are taking advantage or using the WTD as a blunt instrument to dictate working terms.
the workplace agreement does rely on a majority or all individuals agreeing to the opt out to be enforcable
Not true. You can perfectly legally have workplace agreements with “groups” of individuals…and just as legally have a “group” of one!
I haven’t time right now, but I’ll dig you out the relevant bit of legislation when I get chance.
Lucy:
the workplace agreement does rely on a majority or all individuals agreeing to the opt out to be enforcable
Not true. You can perfectly legally have workplace agreements with “groups” of individuals…and just as legally have a “group” of one!
I haven’t time right now, but I’ll dig you out the relevant bit of legislation when I get chance.
Really! then I stand corrected and apologise, I have been clearly misinterpreting the bumf I have read. Will be interested to look at what you have when you have time to post. Thank you Lucy.
Pat Hasler:
I’m Sorry but is that BritainOr si it now a dependancy of Germany and France, who seem to rule over it
It’s time your soft government told those [zb] to shove off and made it’s own rules
Shame on you for that old yankee claptrap.
Last Thursday I stood at the war memorial in my little village (pop 300) with, amongst many others, a dozen proud old men who risked life, limb, family, and torture in the Resistance to liberate this region and France.
At least I revere my adopted country and its traditions, whereas you seem to waste no opportunity to rubbish yours. Then you turn on your old one and anyone else about whom you believe the propaganda.
The reason we didn’t help you ‘liberate’ Iraq was the same as why you don’t ‘liberate’ N. Korea, China, Iran, etc. etc. etc. - Namely it isn’t (y)our right or place to do so.
In any case all you have done in Iraq is change one repressive regime for another. Wait and see.
Salut, David.
Hey bondi,the yank as a point,the french think the brits and the yanks “helped” them get france back from the jerry,s,The best one I heard was from the the sun ,how do you spot a french men in a crowd…he,s the one with sunburnt armpits
The WTD they are talking about is the one in operation for people like factory workers, who have until now been given the choice to opt out.
Most people who have the skills and power to choose how many hours they work, work less than an average 48hr week and many of those who work long hours cannot freely opt out.
Eventualy British employers will realise that thier staff are not robots, but need time away from work to relax and spendtime with family and friends. Less hours improve productivity and health and safety.
However for those who want to continue with a long hours culture, all is not lost, the govenment is seeking the support of the new EU states to help maintain it’s opt out.
froggy:
how do you spot a french men in a crowd…he,s the one with sunburnt armpits
PMSL