Strasbourg
The first full week in May following the General election was spent in Strasbourg where much of Jean's time was spent in political meetings and doing press work relating to the working time directive vote.
Jean gave a speech in Plenary prior to the vote where along with the majority of MEPs, she voted to end the "opt-out" of the EU Working Time Directive. Jean Lambert has consistently opposed Britain's long hours culture, which poses a clear threat to workers health and safety. A full explanation of the Report and vote can be found on Jean's website. Her speech on the issue is in the comment section of this newsletter.
As co-author Jean gave a speech to Plenary ahead of parliament's adoption of the joint Resolution on the murder of Robert McCartney in Belfast. Jean also highlighted the case of Brian Douglas who was killed 10 years ago and the need to "break free from a culture of secrecy and fear and to bring the killers to court"
Brussels
Working Time - Part 2! Despite MEPs voting to remove it last month, the Commission the European Commission, in a new proposal on the 'working time' directive, brought the opt-out back into the text. This has in no small part been a consequence of pressure from the UK 'Labour' Government which is a champion of the opt-out. Jean will continue to fight for its removal.
Throughout the week Jean meets with organisations, individuals and NGOs. This month her meetings were typically eclectic including a visit from Sadia Mir on the issue of human rights in Kashmir and a meeting with ADECCO to discuss services, temporary agency workers and working time.
Jean attended the Marchig Animal Welfare Trust Ceremony where the Animals Asia Foundation (AAF) received an award for its work to end to bear bile farming in China. As a consequence, Jean has written a letter to the China Wildlife Conservation Association and her website urges further action in support of the work carried out by the AAF.
Jean supported progress made in Lewisham when she attended a Reception in recognition of Lewisham's Beacon Status in its Sustainable Energy work. The London Borough was promoting its work in Brussels as part of Green Week.
Jean attended the Green Group Hearing entitled 'the Commission could do better' which addressed obstacles that civil society organisations encounter when applying for and dealing with EU Funding.
Having meant to do so for the last few years, Jean finally got round to celebrating her birthday in the company of many friends and colleagues at a post Group meeting reception!
Working time dominated Jean's press coverage where she was quoted in the Independent, the Scotsman, Personnel Today, the Guardian Online, Zee News, El Paísand and via Associated Press Newswires and French Worldstream. Other press highlights included a BBC panel interview on the Constitution, and coverage of Jean's support for the McCartney sisters in Agence Europe and Europe Information. Jean also contributed to an interview for a radio documentary about the ageing population of Europe.
A small delegation of key Employment MEPs met with UK Ministers in London to mark, and by way of preparation for, the UK Presidency of the EU, which begins on 1st July. Jean was part of this delegation which held talks with David Blunkett, and Alan Johnson. She also met jointly with the TUC and the CBI at Congress House. Working time and services were hot topics for discussion.
Jean met with the Maldives Ambassador and his team in London to discuss the situation there, following the tsunami disaster. The issues of EU-sponsored relief, the operation of political parties and a free media were discussed. Jean traveled to the Maldives earlier this year as part of the European Parliament delegation which visited the region in the wake of the tsunami.
Jean visited Kew Gardens twice this month! The first event was the BCTV celebration of volunteers as part of the Year of the Volunteer. More recently was the launch of the amazing glass works exhibition.
Jean was the guest speaker at a public meeting organised by a residents association in Hanwell. Jean spoke mostly on the environment and transport, and how community groups can get their voices heard.
Jean participated in the Association of London Government conference on the Services Directive. Jean gave a presentation on what the impact of the directive would be for the London Boroughs and public services.
The Green Party's International Co-ordinator, Margaret Wright, met with Jean to discuss preparations for her participation in a Kurdish civil society conference in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Margaret ran a session on gender issues at the conference.
Jean attended Redbridge Green Fair where she staffed the stall in support of the local Green Party there and helped canvass new members.
Comment on Current Affairs - Working Time
Speech given by Jean Lambert to Plenary on 10th May 2005, the eve of the working time Report vote:
This is an extremely important piece of legislation. The limitation of working time has been an historic struggle for the labour movement and we should not be giving that away in the 21st century.
But according to a recent report from the Work Foundation, based in the UK, the pattern of working in excess of 60 hours a week is prevalent now throughout the European Union, particularly in certain sectors. I think this is something that we should not be welcoming but should actually be very worried about.
For the Verts/ALEGroup, the control of working time is also about who controls your life, and this working time directive applies to employees. It is very important that people realise that. This is not just about having flexibility as a one-way street, but of bringing in the rights of employees. It is a health and safety issue. Tired workers are dangerous workers, whether they are operating on you or driving home. It is also a social health issue, in terms of a work/life balance, if we want our citizens to be active citizens involved in a whole set of other things. You cannot do that if you are working the entire time.
But the opt-out is a big issue for us. We will be told that this is about workers having a choice. A lot of the evidence shows that it is not a choice. It is something that is put in front of workers who are asked to sign away their rights to avoid employers having to negotiate or do paper work. Indeed, we find that in the UK two thirds of workers do not even know there is a limit to their working time.
7 June, Services press Conference, Strasbourg
10 June, Inmates Conference, students visiting prisoners, London
10 June, Jean speaking Spirit of Fairbridge Floating Art project, London
18 June, New Economics Network Event (Jean speaking), London
22 June, Nansen Refugee Awards, Brussels
23 June, Blair in Parliament to deliver UK Presidency priorities, Brussels
23 June, Refugee week, Jean speaking to Lambeth Green Party, London