Burnham: Fire-fighters retain the right to work

8.10.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 28th Apr 2009

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.