IWR in the news

31/12/07

Businessman is leading light in EU campaign

Gareth Dunning,

MENTION the words European Union or treaties and constitutions to most people and the eyes will start to glaze over.

But for one businessman there will be little else as important in the coming months.

Because boss of Dawsons Music David Briggs is one of the leading lights in a campaign not just to have a referendum about the new European Union treaty but also to raise awareness of what the changes might mean.

Members of Parliament are due to discuss the draft treaty this month and next and the new law, which includes limits on working hours, variations to employment law and trade restrictions, could be in place by early 2009.

And as head of a company that employs more than 90 people, Mr Briggs believes he knows how damaging the proposed changes would be the business in this country.

He added: "It will be impossible for the businessman in the and the new treaty gives the EU a lot more power. There will also be a unifying of laws.

"For example in , employers have eight weeks to decide whether to give someone a permanent contract whereas we have 52 weeks.

"It takes more than eight weeks to discover if someone is suitable for a job.

"It will make me a lot less willing to hire new people and it will make businessmen at large a lot less entrepreneurial."

And he said plans to restrict the working week to 48 hours - a move the UK Government is looking to veto - are also not needed in this country.

"We have a tradition of people working long hours in this country. If we want to work long hours to earn money rather than go to the pub, that should be your right."

He also called on the Government to honour its pledge to hold a referendum.

"This treaty is a constitution in another name and the Labour party promised a referendum on a constitution.

"It would be nice to have a bit of honesty because this Government needs it.

"It is absolutely vital that people know about this because there is so much apathy around.

"It will make a difference to everything from your job to how things work.

"At the moment at least you can speak to your MP to make representations on your behalf if you are not happy.

"But there is no longer going to be that opportunity. People are effectively being disenfranchised."