Burnham: Fire-fighters retain the right to work (Eleanor Burnham )

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Eleanor Burnham <info@eburnham.org.uk>

Burnham: Fire-fighters retain the right to work

April 28, 2009 8:10 PM

Eleanor Burnham, Assembly Member for North Wales has welcomed the news that the UK is to retain the right to opt out of the European Working Time Directive. The opt-out allows UK workers to work more than 48 hours a week.

Commenting Eleanor, Welsh Lib Dem Shadow Minister for Communities said, "This is excellent news for the retained fire-fighters who have been contesting the opt-out and for the public they protect and serve.

"If the opt-out had been removed there was a very real threat that lives would have been put in danger because the retained fire-fighters would have been prevented from being available for duty.

"91% of the UK could have lost valuable emergency fire cover without the opt-out and that is why I tabled a Statement of Opinion on the issue in February."

Notes:

Statement of Opinion tabled on 16/2/09 read as follows:

This Assembly:

Regrets the vote by the European Parliament to remove Britain's working time directive opt-out

Notes with concern the removal will have on retained Firefighters across Wales and the consequences the removal may have on public health and safety

Notes that a considerable proportion of Firefighters are retained and the valuable service volunteer Firefighters provide

Notes that the Retained Firefighters Union opposes this removal and that if the opt-out is removed and RDS fire stations become unviable under the directive, 91% of the UK will lose valuable emergency fire cover

Notes the potentially fatal consequences for Welsh communities.