Press area

Say No to an 84-86 Hour Work Week for Professional Drivers!

6 October 2009

ETF Demonstration Against the Exclusion of Self-Employed Drivers from the Revised Sectoral Working Time Directive

The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) will hold an action in Brussels on 7th of October 2009 to protest against EU plans to eliminate working time limits for self-employed professional drivers.

An ETF group of trade union activists from 12 European countries will circle the Rond-Point Schumann from 08:30 to 10:30, to raise awareness of the European Commission and the Council on the implications this decision will have on fair competition in the sector, on occupation health and safety and on road safety in Europe.

If enacted, this controversial legislation could increase the potential workload of self-employed professional drivers to a maximum of 86 hours working time a week, every week of every month in every year! This would result in the increased presence of overworked, fatigue filled drivers on European roads. Studies have established the strong link between fatigue and delayed reaction time, which can result in serious accidents. Tired drivers pose real threats to themselves and to innocent bystanders!

When: Wednesday, 7th October 2009 at 08:30
Where: Rond-Point Schumann

For more information, please contact:
Roberto Parrillo, President ETF Road Transport Section, at rparrillo.transcom@acv-csc.be
Cristina Tilling, Political Secretary for Road Transport, at c.tilling@etf-europe.org (+32 (0)478 / 55 81 35)

ENDS

Print this page

Related press

1 October 2009
The ETF alerts: The European Parliament takes a step back from promoting safety on European roads
On 29 September 2009, the Employment and Social Affairs...

Back to current press releases