Text tabled : A6-0440/2008

  Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL), in writing. – (PT) Today’s defeat suffered by the Council at the hands of the European Parliament is an important victory in the workers’ struggle. The Council has failed to push through its unacceptable proposals to amend the Working Time Directive, which would have jeopardised the victories hard won during over 100 years of labour struggle. I would particularly highlight the attempts to extend the average working week to 60 and 65 hours, to create the concept of ‘inactive working time’, which would not therefore be regarded as working time, and to attack the trade union movement. All of that has been rejected, which also marks a defeat for the Portuguese Socialist Government of José Sócrates, which abstained on the Council common position.

Following today’s vote in the European Parliament, the Council’s proposal cannot enter into force. However, it can open new negotiations with Parliament, in contrast to what would have happened if the motion to reject the Council common position, tabled and defended by our Group, had been adopted.

As a result, despite the important victory achieved, this has not ended the war against the Council’s proposal and certain reformist positions which appear ready to accept something in future negotiations.

We will remain firm in our position of rejection and we call on workers and their trade unions to be vigilant.