On Wednesday 3 May, Violeta Bulc was invited by the European Parliament’s transport and tourism committee to present the Commission’s work programme for 2017 and 2018. She particularly focused on providing responses regarding the mobility package and future social provisions applicable to road hauliers.
Questioned about the weekly rest time granted to transport workers, Ms Bulc asked the MEPs “not to spread rumours”. In a specific reply to a question from Christine Revault d'Allonnes-Bonnefoy (S&D, France), she affirmed that the rest period would remain “unchanged”. As part of the road package to be presented on 31 May next (see EUROPE 11758), there was a possibility of a change to this provision, according to the unions. The latter are concerned that weekly rest time will effectively be reduced.
As part of the current regulatory framework there is a possibility of a derogation to the 45 hour rule for weekly rest time on the first weekend (for a 24 hour rest time) but the remaining 21 hours must be recuperated after three weeks. According to the union, the Commission has made this derogation possible after working three or four weeks in a row and it could therefore could lead to 21 hours of rest being lost a month. The possibility of making rest time “monthly” is causing the MEPs concern with regard to the safety of transporter workers and road users but if the Commissioner is to be believed, this concern is unwarranted.
In reply to EUROPE, Cristina Tilling, the political secretary for the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), explained that this had been in fact the Commission’s initial project. She added that she had not obtained any formal commitment from the Commissioner for Transport on this point during the meeting on 26 April last, following the demonstration by transport organisations in Brussels. The latter also called for a work meeting with the Commissioner before 31 May in an effort to put their demands across and explain the ramifications of this reform. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)