Drivers press for hours cut

Union officials last month pressed transport minister Lord MacDonald for urgent action to cut drivers' hours as part of a worldwide day of action organised by the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF). Drivers in the UK and European Union (EU) are currently awaiting the outcome of EU-level discussions about extending the EU working time directive to "mobile" road haulage workers.

At the same time union officials from the Transport and General Workers Union met Welsh first minister Rhodri Morgan and lobbied the Welsh Assembly for action.

At an international level the ITF road transport day of action on 4 October broke all records with 250,000 professional drivers taking part.